Aberlour A'bunadh

Batch 25

The medicinal bottle looks too small to contain 700ml, especially as it comes in such a large box. The colour however is far more reassuring, a dark enriched copper, burnt sienna perhaps.

Aromas of sherry, toffee, dark rum, a clove or two, not exactly complex but a good nosefull of strong complimentary smells. On sipping there is massive delivery of sweet toffee sherry flavours and a surprising lack of burn for the 60% abv. Other flavours develop once you’ve got over the initial wave of sherry including some bitter cherries, dates, more of that dark rum and cloves. I do not habitually dilute this malt but a few drops of water brings out some medicinal herby almost menthol like notes on the aroma and in the flavour which are add interest. Some mild smoke comes through on the finish with some minor hints of coffee (mocha) and dark chocolate but this is still all about the sherry.

This is the essential sherry cask malt, and brilliant value for money. They must use some sort of blending alchemy to achieve the smoothness at 60% while including enough young whisky to keep the price reasonable. However they do it, I hope they continue to for many years to come.