Aberfeldy 15 Year Old Limited Edition Batch 2919

While Aberfeldy is still mostly used as the heart of the popular Dewar’s blend, it was revamped in 2014 and put back on the map as a single malt. Today I try the new Limited Edition, a 15 years old that got a regular maturation on bourbon refill and re-char casks before being finished for another 5 months on Pomerol red wine casks from Bordeaux. It is the brainchild of Malt Master Stephanie MacLeod.

The typical soft nose with a truckload of honey and red apples shows itself immediately, while the influence of the robust red wine is limited to some cinnamon, Christmas cake spices, coconut, cocoa and Maraschino cherries. If you fear the wine would dominate the soft spirit, you need not worry.

It is soft and immediately sweet again, which is no surprise at all. The honey comes first with nougat, cherry liqueur and apricots in its wake. Hint of Reine Claude plums and gooseberries. Cinnamon with a hint of cloves. A soft peppery note and lovely touches of wood. But at no point does the malt turn winey nor oaky. This is Christmas in your glass.

The finish is mildly drying on cocoa and nutmeg.

Nice Aberfeldy in which the finish on wine casks brings something extra, without the loss of character of the malt. Pleasant surprise. Just 60 EUR? This one can go under the Christmas tree.

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