Stop number 106 on the SDT is Braeval. This stop marks the final destination of the tour (at least of the active distilleries with bottles on the market [plenty of newcomers in the coming years]). What a journey it’s been...over a year and a half and it comes down to this 22 year old single malt from the independent bottlers at Samaroli. This Speysider is bottled at 45% ABV and is non chill filtered and natural color of a yellow gold. The nose opens up with green grapes, crisp red apples, pears, apricots and oak. Vanilla custard with a little lemon zest in it and very faint banana. After a few minutes a malty character comes in with some floral notes and a touch of honey. A bit salty as well, like a pretzel. Powdered ginger, nutmeg, hazelnut and walnuts. Toffee, more vanilla and oak and a very distant coffee note. Water softens everything and brings out a very light grapefruit note and some semisweet chocolate. Fair warning though, this one is easily drown. The palate is quite delicious at first with dried apricots, oranges and baked apples. A sweetness like raspberry or strawberry candy. As the flavors start to really develop on the tongue it moves away from its sweet/fruity beginnings. More and more heat builds and it becomes slightly bitter. Black licorice, oak tannins and ginger. Some vanilla and toffee round it out. Water takes away much of the heat, but not so much the bitterness. A medium bodied mouthfeel that is lightly oily and mouth coating. A medium long finish that is dry with tannins, grape skins, apricots and licorice. At over $200 this is a hard pass, but overall this is a good whisky. No real shortcomings on the nose, but the palate fall just a bit short. A typical Speyside profile, done rather well with the cask (first fill bourbon) doing much of the work. It’s not quite a 4 for me, but a solid 3.75. Thanks to @LeeEvolved for the sample. Cheers