Every time we hear a name, we make assumptions – about people, companies and brands. Indeed, for countless generations humankind has been preoccupied with names – we label everything. And indeed despite no one wanting to be put into any sort of particular box, we naturally invent new boxes to put ourselves in to regardless. Words have a proven psychological effect – even on a base level, certain letters (k,t,z etc) when pronounced phonetically sound angular and jagged, whereas others (l,m,n etc) have more of a feeling of roundness and smoothness. In the case of whisky, brand names, bottler names and even distillery names all can be judged by both their allure as a word, but perhaps more practically, we can see impacts in terms of their desirability. Shakespeare was quite right to ask what’s in a name – names are important.
This month’s Young & Spritely offering comes in the form of a 7 year old Braeval drawn from 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel.
Braeval time with a 7 year old drawn from a 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel.
Young Braeval laid down in May 2010 and matured in a refill ex-bourbon barrel. View on SMWS
There’s not been too many Society Braeval’s – the previous one was way back in 2007. Indeed, it’s rarely seen as a single malt, with only two bottlings in the Chivas Reserve Collection and a handful of releases each year from indy bottlers. This example was laid down in October 2008 in a refill ex-bourbon barrel. Light & Delicate profile.
Over to Braes of Glenlivet – otherwise known as Braeval. One of Speysider’s newer distilleries having been constructed in the early 70s. This Society bottling comes from a 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel at 9 years of age.
Heading over to Braes of Glenlivet for this surprisingly mature and surprisingly reasonably priced 22 year old drawn from a refill ex-bourbon hogshead.