When did Brora close? 1983 Having closed in 1983 during one of the most challenging periods for the industry, the reopening of Brora marks the first revival of a famous “lost” name in Scotch and represents a major signal of confidence in the future growth of the category For decades Brora has been viewed as one of the lost icons of the whisky world. During its time of closure, the distillery and its whisky gained legendary status among whisky connoisseurs the world over. The restored distillery will now safeguard a sustainable future for Brora, with the installation of a biomass boiler powered by sustainably sourced wood chips from Northern Scotland.