Braeval 12 Years Old

Braeval is another blending workhouse within the Chivas stable of Speyside distilleries, set near the distilling hotbed of Dufftown. Established in 1973, it was originally called the Braes of Glenlivet before switching in 1994 to avoid further confusion. Famously, the distillery was designed to be operated by one person, which was quite a feat in the 1970s. Despite the modern interior and purpose, the exterior offers many traditional touches compared to other constructs of the era. Braeval has enjoyed sizeable investment, with an expansion to 6 stills in 1978 and until 2016 it relied on a traditional rake tun, with its first official bottling following the year after. The Secret Speyside Collection now plays host to several well-aged ex-bourbon expressions, as Chivas tries to lift its profile amongst whisky enthusiasts and showcase its impressive maturing stock.