In our newly formed Nurnberg International Whisky tasting group, one member is a total Aberlour fan! So much so that he enthusiastically and very generously offered to “anchor” an evening dedicated to Sherry with two Aberlour expressions!
- Aberlour 16 year (AB16 2-22) 40%
- Aberlour A’Bunadh Batch 77 (22 March 2023) 60.8%
For those not familiar, Aberlour is known for its consistent use of ex-Olorosso sherry casks.
The last time I had a 16-year-old Aberlour, it was a very special evening featuring whiskies hand-filled at the distillery by our host, who was a brilliant whisky brand ambassador in India for some select Scottish distilleries. So it was a treat to finally try the standard 16-year, which is a blend of American oak casks and Sherry oak casks.
Aberlour 16 year Double Cask Matured (AB16 2-22) 40%
- Colour – Deep dark amber, almost ruby!
- Nose – Gentle at first, very juicy with generous dark ripe fruits – think warm dates
- Palate – A sparkle of sweet spices! Some cinnamon, cloves and a hint of ginger.. this was soon joined by rich chocolate with a hint of salted caramel, delicious!
- Finish – Slight bitter cacao
It was simply delicious! Rich yet not overwhelming, utterly enjoyable just “as is!”. This led us to remark how astounding it is to have such robust flavours at a “mere” 40%. For those who are accustomed to cask strength or at the lower end a “connoisseur” strength of 46%, whiskies at 40% can come across as a bit insipid. Not this one! Even though the label did not specify 1st Fill, it was clear this must be the case – at least for the Sherry part of the ex-Bourbon / ex-Sherry cask combination.
Depending on where you buy and which batch, you can still find an Aberlour 16-year in Germany for between Eur 61 – 78.
As for the next? For years, Aberlour’s A’Bunadh was a favoured cask-strength sherry bomb, readily available at Changi International Airport in Singapore. It was also quite affordable – great value for a superb dram – typically quite an intense sherry “bomb!”
Fast forward a decade, and Aberlour is still producing different batches of their cask strength A’bunadh – known to be sherried and intense! However, it has been joined by a spin-off expression A’bunadh Alba for those who are after an intense ex-Bourbon cask experience instead.
What did we think of the “Original” sherry expression?
Aberlour A’Bunadh Batch 077 (22 March 2023) 60.8%
- Colour – Dark burgundy with bright amber and ruby gem tones
- Nose – There is no question this whisky was matured in sherry casks, however, it was surprisingly mild! In addition to the standard sherry elements, there was creamy milk chocolate, joined by a dusting of bitter cacao, some nougat and chocolate ganache, topped with caramel vanilla ice cream… beneath all of this sweetness was a rum-like coffee liqueur
- Palate – Mmmm…. simply marvellous! Soft and divinely dessert-like, rich and robust, yet not too intense – a perfect balance. Some marinated jammy dark fruits, raisins, nuts, mocha, creamy buttery biscuits, dessert in a glass!
- Finish – Sooo good! A delightful spice, chocolate, joined by cinnamon, berries and closes with a nutty element
- Water – For many, it made the whisky even more accessible
What a treat! I was so happy to revisit this Aberlour expression. In many ways, I think this is even better than some of the ones I tried a few years ago!
One described it as an Opera torte – once mentioned, the description stuck! Why? As every element in the cake fit! From the layers of almond sponge cake soaked in coffee syrup to the ganache and coffee French buttercream slathered between the layers, and then covered in a chocolate glaze.
What about the official tasting notes? Here you go!
- Nose – Aromas of mixed spices, praline and spiced orange harmonising with rich, deep notes of Oloroso Sherry
- Palate – Orange, black cherries, dried fruit and ginger spiked with dark bitter chocolate and enriched with Sherry and Oak. Full-bodied and creamy
- Finish – Robust and intense with bitter-sweet notes of exotic spices, dark chocolate and oak
And what would this expression set you back? Currently, it can be purchased in Germany for Eur 75.
Curious about other tasting experiences with Aberlour? Read on:
Our sherry evening also featured:
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