Rarity, Quality, and Value in a Standout, 17 Year Old Single Malt Cask
1998 Braeval 17 Year Old “Hart Brothers Finest Collection” Cask Strength Single Sherry Hogshead Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival) ($99.99)
Off-the-charts collectible appeal for Scotch connoisseurs
The driving force behind our spirits program is our buyers’ relationships with their suppliers, and one of our favorites is the inimitable Hart Brothers, blenders and wholesalers of some of the finest single malt casks available. It’s no surprise that they’ve brought us one of the most outstanding combinations of rarity, quality, and value that we’ve seen in a long time. Single malt casks from Speyside’s Braeval distillery are incredibly scarce on the market, even for independent bottlers like Hart Brothers. So, when we were offered this utterly unique, 17-year-old refill hogshead selected by master blender Alistair Hart himself, we took all we could get our hands on. This singular dram is all about intensity, with a bold fruit profile that handles the sherry influence perfectly, while offering up sustained, savory elements that round out the amazingly complex finish. Collectible, age-stated Scotch seldom comes through at this price, and we have the last remaining bottles in the U.S. market, so anyone hoping to make this rarity a part of their collection should act fast.
The Hart family have been licensed victuallers and publicans in Paisley on the outskirts of Glasgow since the 18th century, but it was in 1964 that brothers Iain & Donald Hart incorporated the company as Wine & Spirit Wholesalers and Scotch Whisky Blenders. Alistair Hart, who still selects casks for this special line today, came on as Chief Blender in 1975. His charge at the time was to secure and select the finest casks of single malt that were not readily available to the market. Their commitment to excellence is second to none in the industry, and they’ve built a reputation for acquiring high-quality stocks and bottling exceptional single casks. This gorgeous single sherry hogshead from the wonderful Braeval distillery is bottled without chillfiltration at a cask strength of 58.5%. Deeply complex but not totally overpowered by the sherry, it will show bold fruit, rich malt, complex pinewood notes, and dense, nutty sherry on the finish. Considering this sells in the UK for upwards of £120, we believe this is one of the better deals out there considering the rarity and quality. K&L purchased the last 276 bottles and are currently the exclusive source for Hart Brothers in the U.S.