Aberfeldy 12 Year

Hint of peat, spice

I had been eyeing Aberfeldy 12 for a few months while checking on available bourbons and other Scotch bottles at local stores before I made the plunge. I was enticed by the golden case encapsulating the beautiful bottle therein. I've had a few pours now, changing things up: neck pour/no neck pour, with a drop of water/without, on the rocks (god forbid)/neat. Overall, it's a pleasant drinker. I pick up all the notes mentioned in the expert review, fairly easily. The honey component is quite nice and is the standout. However, I leave each dram feeling like it could use a bit more. At the end of the day though, it's nothing to scoff at. I think if you're getting into whisky, this is an affordable entry bottle that will provide a few reasonably priced thrills but as you become more experienced you'll be left wanting just a bit more, even if it costs another $10-20. Worth a buy, but rethink where you spend your precious currency after that.

Feeling nostalgic, I decided to pick up a bottle of Aberfeldy 12. When I actually wrote my review of the stuff, I was just starting to get into good whiskey and so I thought a revisit was in order. The nose is interestingly fruity on this maybe a little too much so. It seems to dominate the smell. That fruity sweetness mingles with a bit of tart for the initial taste. Towards the middle, some toffee blends in with the fruit and the finish ends up a little nutty and by end of the taste. That powerful red fruit flavor profile has all but vanished. The aftertaste is a bit interesting... almost like a powdery cocoa. Aberfeldy 12 really is quite good and runs the full gamut of flavors. Its a good value proposition and is always readily available.

Honeyed flavor, but gentle. My palette goes numb to the flavor after a dram, so this is an excellent starter drink