Aberlour A'Bunadh Edition 1 Sherry Cask Collection

 

 

 

56,2°

Distillery : Aberlour - Speyside

1st Fill American Oak and Oloroso Sherry Casks, 1st Fill Oloroso and PX Sherry Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In 1998, Aberlour launched the A'Bunadh series, which would go down in whisky history. It is a cask strength whisky aged entirely in Oloroso sherry casks. It was a resounding success, with 84 batches released until 2024. That year, the series came to an end and was replaced by a new series, A'Bunadh Sherry Cask Collection, which was launched the following year, last October. Here is the very first batch. The difference with the original A'Bunadh seems to be that, this time, the maturation is not entirely in sherry casks. A few American oak casks are also used. However, the finish is 100% sherry. I have stated that it is also uncoloured, as some websites specify this, but I am not entirely convinced. I have no idea how many bottles have been produced. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It is creamy and balanced, although the sherry is quite intense. A lovely woodiness to start with, followed by dried fruit, slightly candied, dates, red apples, cherries, raisins, soft toffee, Tatin tart sprinkled with cinnamon, chocolate sarments du Médoc with orange, candied ginger. On the palate, Belle Hélène pear and vanilla caramel, intense spices, nutmeg, cloves, apple compote. Powerful and very long finish, brown sugar wafers, fig biscuits, lemon tart. Slightly smoky wood, hazelnuts and cashews. 

 

In Short, 

A beautiful roundness, very indulgent, and a sherry that is not too overpowering, although very present. I find that it works very well, and is more balanced than some of the A'Bunadh whiskies from the old series, where the sherry was really very strong. The nose is very subtle and complex, but lacks a little depth. The palate is very good, and the finish is fantastic. I was really surprised by the quality of the product. However, the price is a little high for a non age-statement whisky. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                            Lil'Ed and The Blues Imperials - I Still Love You

Aberlour 18 yo Double Sherry Cask Finish Batch N°004

 

 

 

43°

Distillery : Aberlour - Speyside

American Oak and European Oak Casks, 1st Fill Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

The Aberlour 18yo has been around for a long time, apparently since the 90s, but back then it was a limited edition, reserved for the French and American markets. From 2008, it became part of the Core Range, and available worldwide. At that time, it was coloured and cold-filtered. But in 2022, there was another change: it was now finished in 1st Fill Sherry casks, and divided into Batches. The first Batch was launched in 2022. The advantage was that it was now colour-free and unchill-filtered.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The sherry is quite pervasive, velvety, unctuous, apple crumble sprinkled with cinnamon, quince jam, orange marmalade, caramel and treacle, kneaded leather, blueberries and blackberries, slightly charred wood, fireplace. On the palate, as much sherry as ever, but it's very well done, almost bewitching, dried fruits, dates, apricots, figs and bananas, a few currants, ripe yellow peaches, melting toffee, rich spices, nutmeg, cloves and, of course, cinnamon. Long finish, ginger, sweet potatoes, plantains, lychees, earthy notes, roasted hazelnuts, pan-fried mushrooms.

 

In Short, 

It's deep and expressive, just what you'd expect from a bottling of this type. It seems to me that it's much better than the classic Aberlour 18yo, which was distributed between 2008 and 2022. The Sherry is more intense, brings more flavour, and the influence of the wood is very well controlled. On the other hand, the price has risen considerably, and the value for money is not very attractive.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Maurice John Vaughn - Computer Took my Job

Aberlour 17 yo Crafted Small Batch N°1.2

 

 

 

58,8°

Distillery : Aberlour - Speyside

57,4% European Oak Casks, 42,6% American Oak Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

A year ago, the distillery launched this bottling, the result of a blend between European oak casks, probably Sherry, and American oak casks, probably Bourbon. One website claims that this is a very limited edition of 432 bottles, but this seems strange to me, as several casks were used, unless they were very small casks.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, it's very mellow, brioche, cake dough, then honeyed, acacia honey, pine needles, dry earth, dried prunes, dates, figs, bananas and grapefruit, a dash of vanilla and a zest of lemon. On the palate, the fruit is a little more present and unctuous, but there's also the harshness of wood bark, resin, maple syrup, blood oranges, medlars and slightly mealy apricots. Intense spices, cumin, cloves. Long, fairly explosive finish, liquorice, very spicy, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, pineapple juice.

 

In Short, 

A very solid Aberlour, in keeping with its reputation, with lots of fruit and velvet. The wood influence is intense, which makes me think that the casks must indeed have been small. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes the profile, although it's expensive for what it is.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Salin - Painted Lady

Aberlour A'bunadh Alba Batch 007

 

 

 

58,9°

Distillery : Aberlour - Speyside

Ex-Bourbon Barrels 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Everyone knows the Aberlour A'bunadh, which have been around since 1998 and have over 80 batches of intense Sherry Bombs. But the A'bunadh Alba are much more recent, the first dates from 2018, and they are aged exclusively in Bourbon casks. After Sherry Bombs and Peat Bombs, perhaps Aberlour has invented Bourbon Bombs? I'm joking, but it's an excellent initiative, at the rate of one or two Batches a year, we're now waiting for the 10th Batch, but the one I was able to taste was Batch 007, released in early 2023.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's quite unctuous, hazelnuts, a dash of vanilla, white fruits, mirabelle plums, green apples, juicy pears. Some toasted cereals, chestnut leaves, young but already varnished wood, warm bread, just out of the oven. A certain country freshness. On the palate, the alcohol makes itself felt a little, but it remains solid: shortbread biscuits, cat's tongues, wood varnish, various fruit pulps, apricots, white plums, mashed banana. Fairly powerful spices, but no less so than the finish, which is explosive but not very long, roasted nuts, birch bark, earthy notes, pheasant meat, melon.

 

In Short, 

I thought it was a great success, very well done. It gives everything that a Cask Strength Bourbon bottling can give. Of course, it's quite young, but there's character and creaminess, a certain complexity too, and length on the palate. The price, on the other hand, is a little exaggerated, I think you'll have to wait for a promotion.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Delta Sleep - Figure in the Dark

Aberlour 2008 Artist #14 Rothes Glen 15 yo

 

 

 

58,9°

Distillery : Aberlour - Speyside

Sherry Oloroso Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

The Artist #14 range, launched on the occasion of the Whisky Live Paris 2024, includes this 15-year-old Aberlour aged in Hogshead Sherry. The label features a painting by Victor Ekpuk entitled Found Green. 257 bottles are on sale.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very intense and heady sherry, dark chocolate, in which someone must have forgotten one or two coffee beans, blueberry jam, blood oranges, exotic fruits such as papaya, watermelon, pomegranate, with black berries and muscat grapes, sultana pudding, redcurrants, candied ginger, apricots and dates. Forest undergrowth. It's silky on the palate, but a little light, with pineapple and mango, crème brûlée, guava. Spices under control. Very long, intense finish, pipe tobacco, blackcurrant, dried bay leaf, heather earth, salted butter caramel, wild strawberry coulis. Shortbread biscuits.

 

In Short, 

A very deep and rich Sherry, like you'd find in any old Aberlour, but this one is still a bit young and lacks a touch of complexity. There's a certain freshness as well, and lots of fruit of all kinds. A great pleasure for fans of the profile, but the price seems very excessive to me.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Betty Fox Band - Slow Burn

Aberlour 1991 Whisky Sponge Edition N°92 33 yo

 

 

 

49,7°

Distillery : Aberlour - Speyside

Refill Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Decadent Drinks

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

We're coming to the end of the Whisky Sponge series, which is due to stop at the 100th bottling, as promised by Angus MsRaild, co-founder of Decadent Drinks. And with each new issue, we have the feeling that it's getting better. Here is an Aberlour that is the result of blending two Bourbon Refill Hogsheads, one filled in 1989, the other in 1991. Only 297 bottles were made.

Let's Taste It : 

Nice airy fullness, with juicy and gourmand fruits, lemon tart, vanilla and agave, mango and pineapple. The whole in a superb balance. A touch of wax, candle wax, Normandy butter, green apples. A slight hint of citrus in the background. Then it becomes more vegetal, with green plants and succulent leaves. On the palate, it's still fruit salad, it's silky, grapefruit, lychee, with woody notes, spices, pepper, cumin, fermented red cherries. Very fine, vigorous and long finish, varnished wood, molasses, melted caramel, dates, cola, liquorice. Candied lemon in retro-olfaction.

 

In Short, 

The quality of the Aberlour distillate can be judged from this bottling, which is certainly one of its finest. There's a magnificent fruitiness, which you'll have to come back to several times before appreciating its full flavour, and very fine herbal notes. This is something you absolutely must have if you appreciate the distillery. On the other hand, the price hurts.

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Wet Carpet - Shadowx

Aberlour 21 yo Crafted Small Batch Limited Release 2023

 

 

 

47,4°

Distillery : Aberlour - Speyside

1st Fill American Oak Cask

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

For the Whisky Live Paris, Aberlour often provides one of its finest casks, so that the contents can be sold exclusively in France by the company organising the event, La Maison du Whisky. Here we have a simple 1st Fill American oak cask, which must have previously contained Bourbon. A total of 138 bottles have been released to join the shelves of spirits shops.

Let's Taste It : 

Attractive, gourmand and fruity nose, with a heady fullness, vanilla, mirabelles, greengages, juicy pears, candied lemon, a few malty and cereal notes, cut hay, ripe wheat, evolving towards exotic fruits, papaya, mango, and coconut milk. Cardamom and woody liquorice, light floral touches. The palate is as fruity as ever, with banana, pineapple and lychee, and creamy, custard, mentholated. Light, harmonious spices, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric. A bit drying at the end. Long, fairly explosive finish, in a hullabaloo of cereals, barley, millet, corn, earth and hazlenuts crumbs in the background. Tart apple juice.

In Short, 

A fine success, combining fruits and cereals in a well-balanced symphony. It's a friendly whisky, but also very nuanced. Unfortunately, it's very expensive, so it's best reserved for absolute and very wealthy fans.

Score : 90

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                                     Pat Metheny Group - Have you Heard?

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