Aberlour Tasting - 19th July - 7pm

[Ian Logan]

Mikey,

I was aking because I am in the US in a few weeks and might ask Pernod Ricard USA to get me a sample.
Thanks for that

[Ian Logan]

TreacleSponge,

For everyday the 10yo take a lot of beating for me. The Silver Label A'bunadh done for the Millenium was very special.

[Dram fine idea]

Aberlour 15

Nose - Stewed apples, honey, pepper
Taste - As above
Finish - As above, tingling and finishes with cooling mint
Comment - Brilliant. A straight talking, no nonsense dram. I should have bought a bottle.

[Sherried Malt]

A'bunadh 8

Nose: A bit more reserved vs. 6 and 7. The alcohol also comes through more.

Palate: Not quite as big as 6 or 7 but would say it's better balanced. The former shouts while the 8 speaks more softly. My favorite so far. With water, it got a lot blander and loses that little something which makes it special...

Finish: Also less hot than the others without water, so I don't feel compelled to reach for the water pitcher. Water tames the hotness (duh) but not thrilled with the tradeoff on the palate...

[mikeymad]

It was a while ago Ian,

But it looked like this:



There are two others (mine are still sealed)

The 1990-2003 (Duncan Taylor)
The 10yo (no year) Brands development

Cheers,

[Willie JJ]

12 yo now

Nose: not dissimilar to the ten, but a tad less orangey, and with little signs of the wood coming through on the form of Sandalwood

Palate: much spicier, definite sandalwood spread with marmalade. Yummy

Finish: Lingering oakey spice with developing creaminess.

I really must lay hands on a bottle of this.

[Sherried Malt]

Wow, it's going to be a job just to keep up with the posts!

Hi Willie. Hi C57. Belatedly...

[Ganga]

Moving along to a'bunadh batch 12, 60.0

N: cooked oranges, toffee with nuts
P: caramel, bit o' honey, spicey
F: long, caramel and spice

[Ganga]

Sorry Willie. Good afternoon.

[Ganga]

Water to Batch 12 seems to bring out a different citrus in the nose, limes and tangerines. Palate just completely falls off though. Muted caramels with nuts. Finish short.

[Ganga]

Batch 13, 59.8

N: loads of caramel and nuts, some wineyness, hint of maltiness
P: Winey, caramel, dark chocolate
F: mild spices and short

[Dram fine idea]

Aberlour 18

Nose - Usual suspects (apples, lovely sweet honey aroma, touch of wood spice at the edges)
Taste and Finish - The same flavours, plus mint, but a real depth is present (a hand on the shoulders to tell you to stop and take your time over this)
Comment - Wow. This really is amazing. A dram that stops me in my tracks and demands my undivided attention.
Question - Ian, where can I buy a bottle?

[Ganga]

Ratings

Batch 11:
Batch 12:
Batch 13:
Trader Joe's:

[Sherried Malt]

A'bunadh 14

Let's see how this stacks up to its brethren...

Nose: Maybe it's its reputation, but that is a gorgeous nose. Again, like the 8, the toffee and caramel don't dominate.

Palate: Get lots of caramel candy here. Also some fruits. Also delicious but may prefer the 8. With water, palate becomes flatter and high notes get muted.

Finish. Also hot but like the 8, doesn't scream for water. With water, the finish is long and smooth. Unlike the 8, I might prefer to drink the 14 with water even tho it flattens out the palate. A worthwhile tradeoff here whereas I might not want to do that with the 8.

[TreacleSponge]

Aberlour A'bunadh: batch 20
Brand : Aberlour Expression : a'bunadh #20
Nose : Chocolate and raisins, a whole bunch of dried fruit and even.. um, cherry brandy. Palate : Raisins, clementines, sherry, mint, that cherry brandy too, then dark chocolate. Finish : A good long finish, sweet then peppery.Very, very nice. Comment : - Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 0 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 60.5% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Speyside Water : with Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Willie JJ]

Evening Nick, Steve, Treacle, Mikey, Ganga, SM, Ras, Ian and everyone else. Sorry, I got a bit distracted by the first dram or two there.

Hey this is fun isn't it? I know I spend a fair amount of time drinking A'bunadh, but I'm clearly not drinking these normal strebgth bottlings enough. They're really great drams.

A little bit of investment required I think.

[Ganga]

Water with the batch 13.

Nose: apple blossoms, tangerines, light toffee, sweetness
Palate: stewed apples, light caramel, sweet malt
Finish: moderate, with a caramel coated apple

[Willie JJ]

Hmm, I'm not sure my sample of the 16 is going to be big enough to do a proper note, because a wee fly got into my glass and started drinking it.

[Ras Mazunga]

The 12 from Matt is that the sherry matured or the double cask matured?
On the Ab site they are mentioned seperately.

[mikeymad]

x2 willie - on their OB's at 43%

[Ganga]

Go figure, Willie distracted by beverage.

[Willie JJ]

Its amazing! I'm sure the wee bugger's swallowed half of it.

[mikeymad]

Aberlour NAS (43%, Original Bottling, Antique)

Glass: Glencairn
Nose: rich maltiness, light cooked oranges
Palate: Nutty, fruits, malty (Christmas cake)
Finish: nice smooth long, oranges return, light pepper.

[TreacleSponge]

Its amazing! I'm sure the wee bugger's swallowed half of it.

Oh yeah, it was the fly that emptied the glass

[Ras Mazunga]

[Sherried Malt]

Its amazing! I'm sure the wee bugger's swallowed half of it.

Somebody who recognizes quality!

[Ganga]

Its amazing! I'm sure the wee bugger's swallowed half of it.

Oh yeah, it was the fly that emptied the glass

Better ring him out, Willie.

[Dram fine idea]

Come on Willie, how big a fly was it? Yes, it really is good trying Aberlour again. I am enjoying all of them. They really are remarkably consistent in flavour from age to age, although the 15 and 18 really are something else.

[Ian Logan]

Dram Fine Idea,

Not 100% certain of where you can get 18yo in the UK, try TWE or Loch Fyne. If no success there call Dennis or Julian at the distillery.

[TreacleSponge]

Ian, if you could use two words (three if you're willing to lose marks ) to characterise Aberlour, what would you say?

[Ian Logan]

Folks,

the 12yo sample is the double cask matured version.

[Ras Mazunga]

notes on the Aberlour site:
Double matured:Very soft and rounded with fruity notes (red apple).
Sherry matured: Sherried and Buttery. Slightly Smoky. Ripe Apples.

I vote for the double matured.
You were just ahead of me.
Thanks Ian

[Ganga]

Batch 14, 59.5

N: dk chocolate over toffee, mulled cider
P: chocolate and orange candies, cinnamon and spices
F: moderate, caramel and cinnamon

[Ian Logan]

TS,

Aberlour - spice, fruit

[Ian Logan]

..... just gone bronze, lol