Aberlour A'bunadh
Lucifer
5 585
Review by @markjedi1
- Nose~
- Taste~
- Finish~
- Balance~
- Overall85
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I have tried quite a few a’bunadh in my day, batch 60 only last November, but recently got a bottle of batch 66. The buyer was not very fond of it and asked me to take it off his hands. I did so gladly, so here we are with this sherry monster that will brighten up my day.
It is very sweet on the nose on krieks, candied orange peel, plums and hazelnuts. But it has to be said: there is a scent of struck match too. Baked banana, ginger and some green garden herbs. Mashed potatoes with an overdose of nutmeg.
Despite the high ABV, the arrival does not burn. Sure, it’s a sturdy fellow, but you do not need water per se. Toffee apples, oranges marmalade and… Wellington boots. Oh, well. But not so much that it becomes annoying. Very spicy, though. Cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and some black pepper. Becomes quite creamy midpalate.
The finish is long, warm, dark & sweet but at the same time quite drying with lots of wood.
Far from bad, but less good than some of the older batches.
Nice review. It's good to be reminded of one of the Scotches that really charmed me into this journey. For me it was batch 33. Since then I have tasted from 14 batches ranging from 10 to 58. Since I opened my first bottle there has been no time when I did not have any in my home (and probably almost no time when I didn't have an open bottle in my cabinet.
Most batchesI've tried have been solid. I admit that the bottles are lasting longer and longer as my exploration of whiskies has expanded. In 2011-12 I would have laughed if you suggested a bottle would be around for 3 years. But when I come back to it it's always worth it.
I have a bottle of batch 65 (and I'm sure 66 is long gone) which I will save for when I turn 65. And I have plenty of others to fill in the gaps in between.