Three little Glendronachs, perfectly cooked up


May 13, 2025

A trio of very young, slightly mad Aberfeldy

There aren’t many left that haven’t been finished in some improbable cask, are there?

Common myrtle (Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle)

Aberfeldy 9 yo 2014/2023 (59.7%, OB, Exceptional Cask Series, bourbon and Scottish oak finish, casks #590005–590009, 1152 bottles)

The last time Scottish oak was given this kind of spotlight, I believe it was by Glengoyne, quite a few years ago—unless you’ve got other examples... Colour: light gold. Nose: very toasty, crème brûlée, flambéed banana, fudge, nougat. It’s compact and cheerful! With water: ah lovely—white beers, small-berry eaux-de-vie, service tree, rowan... Mouth (neat): yes, this is good—on sesame oil, definite fudge, and a few drops of Gewurztraminer marc that are rather unmistakable (where does that come from?) With water: back to oils, grape pips, sunflower... What fun! Finish: long, curiously precise, oily, very prettily herbal, then toasty again right at the final signature. Peanut butter. Comments: a very, very lovely young creature—light-years away from those improbable and utterly pointless winey finishings.
SGP:461 - 88 points.

Aberfeldy 10 yo 2013/2023 (58.7%, Signatory Vintage, Archangel No.3, Kirsch Import, 1st fill oloroso sherry butts, 1343 bottles)

Yet again with that rather fearsome label—so is this young whisky actually lethal? Colour: deep gold. Nose: at last, the return of deep-fried Mars bars, rust remover and slightly charred plywood. Just teasing—it does actually smell very nice. With water: loads of metal polish and motor oil, old tools and firwood charcoal. Mouth (neat): caramel with tar and pepper, smoked tea, and charred American-style bacon. A malt for the Bandidos? With water: a return to civilisation—well, nearly. Propolis and natural rubber. Finish: long, resinous, herbal, with even more propolis. Comments: a rather mad little Aberfeldy, let’s be honest. We do like a bit of madness at Château WF, but the surprising official might have ruined the game.
SGP:362 - 85 points.

Speaking of craziness…

Aberfeldy 10 yo 2014/2024 (60.7%, Fragrant Drops, refill bourbon, cask #252, 207 bottles)

Fragrant Drops—what a lovely name! Colour: light gold. Nose: malt in its purest form, with oils (peanut, sunflower) and a little light earth, fresh sawdust, apples from an old garden and green tea. It’s absolutely pristine. With water: damp chalk and pizza dough, sourdough starter, grist, tapioca... Mouth (neat): oh yes this is good—not complicated, but full of gorgeous notes of young calvados, lawn juice, grape seed oil and green pepper. With water: in come the fresh fruits—admittedly a little late—but also myrtle, plus lime and prickly pear. Finish: long, fresh, natural, malty, with more green apple and lemon. Lovely crisp edge. Comments: couldn’t be more natural. A demonstrative young malt whisky, we’d say—just a whisper immature, but who cares, right?
SGP:451 - 87 points.

Check the index of all Aberfeldy we've tasted so far