Aberlour 21 y.o. Single Malt

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 48% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

American oak and sherry casks shape this 21-year-old Aberlour. Selected mature whiskies are brought together for this single-batch bottling. It belongs to an annual series of small-batch releases, with individual editions potentially showing their own nuances depending on the casks selected.

Fruit and warm spices are central to its character. Cherries and baked apple are joined by dark chocolate, dark sugar syrup, cinnamon and nutmeg. The bottling strength of 48% is deliberately chosen rather than natural cask strength. The whisky is non-chill-filtered and comes in a 0.7-litre bottle with a dark blue presentation box lined in red.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Juicy cherries mingle with spiced baked apple on the nose. Dates and toffee complement the fruity aromas.
• Palate: Cranberries and blood orange meet dark cocoa and chocolate on the palate. Warming ginger and spice notes round out the flavours.
• Finish: Warm, delicate spice lingers in the complex finish.

Distillery/Bottler:

Aberlour is in Scotland’s Speyside region, close to the confluence of the Lour Burn and the Spey. James Fleming secured the site for his distillery in 1879, and whisky production began there in December 1880. He had previously worked in the grain trade and leased the nearby Dailuaine Distillery for around ten years. His contribution also extended to the town: he financed Fleming Hall and left funds for a footbridge across the Spey.

Working with long-matured stocks at Aberlour involves continually assessing individual casks. Particularly promising whiskies may stand out during selection for younger bottlings and be held back for further maturation. The distillery, inventory and blending teams jointly assess which casks will complement one another in future releases. Master Distiller Graeme Cruickshank had followed the whisky in this 21-year-old edition since its distillation.

Facts: