Braeval 1989 DeDr Whiskyland - Chapter Twenty Six

Really intriguing dram - in a good way. Tasted from a 10ml sample.

https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2026/06/27/the-whisky-event-2026-part-2-2/ C: Similar territory to the Tamnavulin on the nose with these barley = wood oils. To taste is something else; on pollen and perfume, all the time maintaining that barley-root faithfulness. 88+

My first Braeval and it’s slightly disappointing for a 36yo dram as there’s not as much oomph or complexity as I would expect, considering the almost £500 at retail, I would not say that it is worth the price

Good balance

Grant and Friends Tasting Braeval Whiskyland #26 - 36yrs, 1989 WB292159 Super aged, oaky, malty, honeyed beauty with hints of orange fruits. Very mature and delightful. Of all the Whiskyland releases that have before this it probably is the most comparable to Gibe Grant (Caperdonich) Chapter #9. 90 Mystery Malt Series 5 Glen Elgin 13yrs Thompson Bros WB290501 Nose Honey, flour, fresh cut flowers, cinnamon, toffee, fresh yellow fruits, green grapes Palate Citrus, fresh, bright, great viscosity, white wine, yellow fruits, cinnamon sugar Finish Dry, hint of gin and tonic, mineral water quality, easy as you like. This certainly wasn’t the Mystery Malt I was hoping for but having done the exercise there are some characteristics shared with classic malts like Clynelish. This is truly very good whisky. 86 Grant’s Stand Fast 1930’s (Not a Glen Grant, no whiskybase ID) Nose Absolute fruit basket, all the fresh yellow, orange and red fruits you can think of, big raspberries, sweet, red cloud lollies, cranberry juice, thick Palate Continuation of the nose, all the elements coming through with lovely viscous honey texture and quality Finish Flutters back with a lovely cinnamon sugar and red fruit sweetness before drying and slight bitter green apple This is magic. Just excellent. The whisky couldn’t keep pace with the nose but amazing nonetheless 93/90/90 Glen Grant 10yr old Moray Bonding 1950’s 70proof WB107986 Nose Oranges, mandarins, honeys, orange skins, thick, waxxy, Palate and Finish Pure class. This is rather simple and precise whisky but this is a feature 90 Glen Grant 1969 39yr old Duncan Taylor “Lonach” WB9279 Classy old sherried malt with all the dried fruits, leather, tobacco, and silky mouthfeel you’d look for. An ever so slightly bitter finish probably stops it from reaching truly sensational heights. A lovely oaky aged whisky nonetheless Gorgeous - 90 Glen Grant G&M 1970’s 100 proof WB261719 Strong DNA here. Sharing all the same qualities really as its predecessors matured in patient wood but just taking it to another level… this is the pick of the Glen grants I think. 91 Glen Grant 25th Anniversary Dornoch 1998, 26 yrs Thompson Bros Lovely bright, oaky, fruity distillate forward whisky. Great dram. Excellent stuff. 90 Imperial Whiskyland #27 - 27yrs, 1998 Nose Malty, honey, oaky, floral, very ex bourbon with a great deal more maturity than Chapter 13 Imperial. Heavy on the honey. Palate Great weight, honey, some yellow fruits lying underneath, great weight and viscosity, very malty Finish Vanilla and malt biscuits, cinnamon, malty, chewy and shortbread Really strong Whiskyland. This is altogether more mature and powerful than Chapter 13 but lacks the pizzazz and brightness than makes that one a masterpiece compared to this mere top quality highly excellent malt. 91 Candlekitty 15yr old Decadent Drams This compares very favourably to a very strong lineup. Clean, waxy, honeyed, floral, cinnamon and salty Clynelish. Wonderful wonderful excellent impeccable Clynelish. 91