
August 18, 2016

Little duets, today indie Aberlour

In theory, we should find truckloads of western orchard fruits today, since these babies will be un-sherried, let’s see…

Aberlour

Aberlour 21 yo 1995/2016 (51.5%, Douglas Laing, Old Particular, refill hogshead, cask ref #DL 11063, 278 bottles)

Colour: white wine. Nose: indeed, starts with a little varnish and acetone (nail polish remover), but goes on with many ‘western’ fruits, gooseberries, greengages, apples, white currants, while there are touches of ‘good’ sulphur in the background (flinty sulphur rather than eggs or cabbage, or even raw native sulphur). With water: more of all that. Swims well but doesn’t change much. Perhaps a little more clay? Mouth (neat): it’s really powerful, and probably one of the most ‘naked’ middle-aged Aberlours I’ve tried to this day. Brutal fruits and bitter grasses, cider apples, green melons, lemon zests… It reminds of some young Rosebanks. With water: this feeling of sweets covered with grass juice and even bitter rocket salad. A sharp Aberlour! Finish: long, and very grassy. Cinchona in the aftertaste, Campari, lemon… Comments: quite beastly! The equivalent of A’bunadh, only without any sherry. SGP:471 - 85 points.

Aberlour-Glenlivet 25 yo 1990/2016 (51.4%, Cadenhead, Small Batch)

Colour: white wine. Nose: similar, which was to be expected, but rounder and smoother, seemingly, with a little vanilla. Mirabelles and quinces plus ripe gooseberries and fermenting apples. Make that artisan cider. With water: it’s the barley that becomes more talkative, with a little brioche, dough, croissants (and why not?) Mouth (neat): really lovely and very typically Aberlour, one of the fruitiest spirits up there. Oranges, more mirabelles, more quinces (as jelly) and more ‘sweet’ apples. Say golden delicious, but I’m no apple expert. Solid body at this strength, of course. With water: oh it’s getting a little tropical! Guavas, perhaps? Also pears. Finish: quite long, very ‘natural’, malty and fruity. Comments: a relatively smoother, and more mature naked Aberlour. Really does the job. SGP:561 - 87 points.

Check the index of all Aberlour I've tasted so far