Diageo releases Brora Triptych rare whisky collection

A trio of single malt whiskies from the 'lost' Brora Highlands Distillery has been released.

The whiskies - aged 38, 43 and 48 years - are presented in handcrafted Glencairn Crystal decanters. Each limited-edition set of the Brora Triptych includes three 500ml decanters and has been individually numbered by Glencairn.

The stopper for each whisky in the collection is different, with a metal top half and a coloured lower half: the Timeless Original 38 Years Old has a copper top with a turquoise colour below; the Age of Peat 43 Years Old has a silver top with a dark blue colour below; and the Elusive Legacy 48 Years Old has a gold polished brass top on an amber stone effect beneath.

The Brora Distillery ceased operating in 1983, subsequently causing its expressions to gain a coveted status among whisky collectors. After almost four decades out of action, the distillery is set to open again soon following a three-year restoration project by Diageo.

The Brora Triptych decanter project is the first time that Glencairn Crystal has used a new process to create the three stone patterns on the hand-crafted metal components. This process, which allows a colour coating to be placed over the metal, will enable Glencairn to use a broader spectrum of colours in decanter design and creation.

Kenny Tweeddale, new product development manager at Glencairn Crystal, who led the project, said: "It was an honour to produce the decanters for this very special collection of single malt whiskies from such an iconic distillery that closed its doors nearly 40 years ago. 

"It was also an exciting, groundbreaking project for us in that we were able to use a new process for the first time to bring the beautiful colours featured on the decanters to life. We have been delighted with the excellent results and will continue to use this technique for future projects."

Brora Triptych will be available from mid-May from the distillery upon the site's completion and will also be sold online via brora.com, and through specialist retailers priced at £30,000.

29 April 2021 - Bethany Whymark