Aberlour 12 Year Old Double Cask Matured

Here’s a popular one. Everyone knows Aberlour for their sherry. The A’bunadh is, for good reason, considered their pièce de résistance. But for the longest time I didn’t explore anything else from their range. Time to fix that. I’ve tried the 10, but I think the 12 is a better place to start.

Nose: Typical, pleasant sherry notes on the nose. Sultanas, big apricot, cinnamon, rum, caramel, brown sugar, red apples, red licorice, leaves.

Palate: Somewhat oily mouthfeel. Apricots, berry jam, stewed fruits, coffee, dates, unsweetened orange juice, pineapple, and bitter melon.

Finish: Medium and fruity. Apricots, dates, red apple, mango, pineapple, cinnamon, orange juice, dark chocolate, coffee, oak. An unusual bitterness counterbalances the sweetness, with rhubarb and bitter melon.

Thoughts: It’s a particularly fruity one, even by sherried standards. I like the apricot, pineapple, and chocolate notes here. However the sour notes of rhubarb and bitter melon do occasionally overwhelm the sweetness, which detracts from the balance as well as my personal enjoyment. And while it may be quite full-flavoured for a whisky at 40%, it’s still a whisky at 40%. A good dram, and a nice introduction to Aberlour’s brand of sherry, but it’s not very balanced and gets too bitter for my taste.