Aberlour 2002 Single Cask Selection 18 yo c. 2575

 

 

 

62,6°

Distillery : Aberlour - Speyside

1st Fill Sherry Hogshead

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

At Aberlour, the Single Cask Selections are the best. For the past twenty years, they have brought together around a hundred casks, aged in warehouse No. 1 of the distillery, and bottled without having been modified in any way. Here we have an 18 year old, distilled in 2002, and reserved to La Maison du Whisky, that's where it would be sold exclusively. 252 bottles were filled, and of course it is a Sherry cask, as it is most of the time.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Rich and deep sherry, very balanced, a bit round. The red fruits are sweet, blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, but also gooseberries, it is a real basket. Woody depth, I find myself in a very dense forest, with ferns, heather, wet bark, everything you need. Rich, black earth, smoky hints. On the palate, it is very successful, we have a Sherry that is not at all sickening, on the contrary it can be drunk easily, on marzipan, liquorice, various red fruits again, some cola seeds, cocoa powder, raspberry coulis. Nutmeg and hazelnuts to give a nice fullness. Long finish, powerful and friendly, it envelops the mouth without burning it, rich spices, earth and charcoal, fruits in retro-olfaction.

 

In Short, 

Let's be clear, this is one of the best Sherries I've had. Among those which are unpeated, of course. It's really rich and at the same time balanced, that is to say that nothing stands out excessively, it's neither too sweet nor too syrupy, nor excessively fruity. In a word, it's perfect. There's everything I love about Sherry, and nothing too much. In addition, the alcohol is superbly integrated, which is a feat with such a high rate. The problem, however, is the price, which is quite stratospheric. But hey, it's to be savoured, we don't buy or drink these things at the slightest opportunity. It's too intense to be an everyday dram.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Cande y Paulo - The Thrill is Gone