Aberlour 18 Year Double Cask Matured

Smooth with fruity notes

I had the privilege to try this 18yo Aberlour again thanks to my Long Island connection, @Scott_E. I initially had a bottle of this way back in 2016 and found it fantastic. It’s a sherry bomb that has all the rounded edges you’d expect from a quality, well-aged 18 year old. This is bottled at 43% and that’s about the perfect sweet spot IMO. It’s amber and gold in the taster and makes lots of legs and droplets after giving it a swirl. The nose is completely caramel/toffee and sherry sweetness. There’s an underlying syrupy malty-ness that makes it dessert-like and savory from the start. The palate is warm sherry, apples and pears, light vanilla and some robust oak tannins. The finish is long and has a great lingering warmth. It’s ultra smooth and leaves melted toffee notes hanging around well after the finish. Excellent. This is a solid 4, maybe 4.25 stars. I enjoyed this one much more than the later batches of the A’bunadh and the much simpler, 12 year. That 16 year offering is a money grab that should be totally avoided. I recently bought 2 bottles of the new Casg Annamh- which means “rare cask” and will be reviewing those in the coming weeks. Thanks again, Scott. This was a treat. Cheers.

Another consecutive Wednesday and I find myself perfectly alone. Let me kick it up with a gifted 18 year Aberlour while I finish season two of Westworld. A rich, but gentle sherried beginning, undoubtedly. Orchard fruits aplenty, but complementary to the sherry. Plumbs, oranges, peaches, apricots and apples. A mild sweetness entwined amongst all the aromas of vanilla cream, salted caramel and cocoa. The whisky arrives with a spicy sweetness of vanilla and white pepper. Orange, honey, cocoa sweetness comprise the core flavors on the palate. There are small currents of brown sugar, almonds, caramel, raisins. The finish is long with orange bitters, oak tannins, charcoal and cinnamon. Unabashedly a sherried scotch, if anyone who is familiar with Aberlour. The opening nose draws you into the depths hoping to discover more. The palate is the weakest segment of the whisky, being short and light with the flavors. Quite good overall and balanced well. This would make a good pairing with a mild cigar and time...and may have to try that sooner than later. [$120][90/100][Tasted: 7/18/18]

Fruits boom, especially peach and orange; vanilla, caramel, a bit spicy. Very easy dram for the hot summer night!

smooth, huge caramel on the back end, sweet finish