Whisky: Celtic Revival 12 Year, Brave New Spirits

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 46%

Cask: American Bourbon Oak Casks

Age: 12 Years

Nose: Soft and fruity with apples, pears, and a kiss of lemon zest; fresh cereals with toasted oats and malt cakes, buttery pastries stuffed with apples, and brown sugar; very spring-like with green grass, meadows, and floral orris or nasturtium.

Palate: Medium-bodied, grassy, and bright, with honey-sweetened oatcakes, sliced apples, buttery pastries, green grass, a touch of freshly crushed sugar cane, and a kiss of citrus at the end.

Finish: Medium to long with mellow orchard fruits, grass, and pastry.

Score: 7 (84)

Mental Image: Sprites in the Spring

Narrative & Notes: Soft, fruity, refreshing— this was the perfect Spring or summertime whisky with its bright orchard fruits and green grass. It was never too sweet, always immaculately balanced, and well-structured with a surprising depth for something so young. I really liked this and thought it low-key stole the show at the tasting and not just among the Brave New Spirits bottles, but among everything that was poured. I was not alone, and I heard from friends who attended the previous night that this was their favorite bottle of everything on offer. It is not often a whisky feels friendly enough to introduce someone to scotch and also suitable for sipping on in quiet contemplation or dropping at the beginning of a tasting lineup.

Our Brave New Spirits guide for the evening informed us that this was a Linkwood— though the bottle carries no identifying information.  This seemed to be a theme on a few of the Brave New Spirits bottles; either the distillery was unidentified, or it was not clearly described, even when we were told that the distillery’s identity was no secret.

Perhaps the Celtic Revival varies by batch? It was a bit hard to say as Brave New Spirits uses an absolutely eclectic mix of different labels and bottle shapes— it was all very playful and fun, though perhaps a bit much at times.  Occasionally, we wondered if the bottler had just bought up unused glassware.

Overall, my label qualms aside— and I do like the playfulness, even if I would appreciate a bit more standardization— this was delicious whisky and one of my absolute favorites of the night.  It was even better when I revisited it at home a week later.