Local Delivery Available
Stores Temporarily Closed
Curbside 11am-6pm Daily
Braes of Glenlivet (Braeval) 29 Year Old "Sovereign Wax Top" K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml) SKU #1422030

Price: $249.99

Add To Waiting List

Tasting Notes

The young Braeval distillery, originally known as Braes of Glenlivet, is a relative newcomer to the Speyside whisky scene. Construction began in 1973 and the plant was designed as a workhorse malt for the Chivas Brands (at the time Seagram's owned them). The location of the distillery is not far from their namesake, Glenlivet, and the name translates to the 'hillside in the valley of the river Livet.' The name was originally intended to be an example of how to properly express the geographic location, which many other distilleries used at the time, but Seagram's had trademarked. Ultimately, they would win the right to use the word Glenlivet on their other distilleries' labels exclusively and therefore renamed this distillery appropriately. Always considered a high quality base malt for the blenders, Braeval was promptly shut down after its sale to Pernod Ricard in 2001. Thankfully, they reopened the plant in 2008. This old cask bears the name the distillate had when it came off the still almost 30 years ago and represents one of the finest examples of the rare distillate we've ever come across. Even at this age the malt remains fully intact without any semblance of degradation. Extremely complex and chock full of classic Speyside aromatics coupled with a bevy of unique flavors. This is truly the finest old Braeval we've ever come across and a must-have for anyone looking for proper old Speyside malt at an altogether reasonable price.

Related items

Staff Reviews

  • David Othenin-Girard
    By: David Othenin-Girard
    11/20/2019
    K&L Staff Member
    We often over look Braeval because it's not the sexiest malt. The workhouse malt for many blenders has a relatively good reputation, but has never been released as a single malt so consumers tend ignore it. But anytime we see it listed by it's original trade name we must take note because that means it's old! This is unquestionably the best Braes of Glenlivet I've ever had (admittedly I haven't had too many), but even beyond the oddity of seeing a cask of this stuff at this age, it's simply delicious malt. It has everything I want from a great old Speyside malt and much more. The nose starts with an absolutely gorgeous dark maltiness. Behind that sweet syrup of stone fruits, complex herbs, bitter barks and mint. Despite the high proof and not atypical of very old malt, this one improves much more with air than water. Even a drop of water seems to draw some astringency out. But if you keep adding you'll find it goes full circle into the pretty peaches and herbal tea thing we started at. That said, I'd recommend not touching this one with water if you can handle it. On the palate, tons of bold malty flavors, growing influence of the mint and dried herbs taking over. Hints of fruit and citrus remain, but they're thinly spread across a slice of rustic country bread, sprinkled in salt and mint. A truly exciting and almost profound little malt, just remember, NO WATER!
  • Andrew Whiteley
    By: Andrew Whiteley
    6/13/2019
    K&L Staff Member
    Crazy spices dominate the palate. All spice, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg just to name a few. It's intense and pretty all at the same time. It's not often the first thing that comes to mind on a nearly 30 year old whisky is zip, but this has a piquant zest and tingle to it that makes it feel alive. The Braes of Glenlivet, as it was known (today, simply Braeval), sits very near its more famous brother, The Glenlivet. While the two facilities share a style, the Braes seem to sport more of a rich mid palate, although to be fair, it's not exactly an apples to apples comparison as a comparatively old Glenlivet will cost you a small fortune.

Inventory

Real Time Inventory by Location:

The item you have chosen is not in stock in our retail stores or within our main warehouse.

Product turnaround time varies by location of inventory and your chosen method of shipping/pickup.



Email Alerts - exclusive access from K&L