Bruadar

Appearance: Yellow gold. Aroma: Berries, apple juice and a hint of vanilla with a background aroma of whisky. Flavour & Texture: Sweet berry arrival that has an odd artificial quality. Honey, vanilla, very mild sweet cinnamon and a touch of cider apple. The texture is like thinned syrup. Originally this liqueur was marketed as “Scottish Highland” before being re-named Bruadar (which is Gaelic for “Dream”). It is produced by Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers who also bottle the Carn Mor range of whiskies and Old Perth blended scotch. The original recipe was changed in 2021 and the product re-launched in new packaging and with slightly higher abv. The photo I've included shows the new presentation. It is very sweet like all liqueurs but not as syrupy as some. There is a less intense honey character than in either Drambuie or Glayva and the natural tart flavor of sloe berries balances the sweetness. Apart from taking it neat as an after dinner liqueur (it teams well with bittersweet chocolate) the makers suggest using it as a cooking ingredient. I could imagine it working well as a topping for rich desserts such as chocolate pudding or as a sweet glaze for roasted meat. It does have one off-putting quality for me. The nose has a resemblance to the artificial berry flavouring used in some cough medicines and it is hard to avoid the association. As the level in the bottle has diminished I've noticed this more and more and although I enjoyed it initially I'm pretty much over it now and the bottle is still a third full. I don't think I would buy it again. “Average” : 79/100 (2.75 stars)

The Whisky gives a bite to the tongue, the honey carries a lot of sweetness, and the sloe balances nicely between. Slightly smoky finish. Very pleasant desert/celebration liqueur.