
April 27, 2018

Just two Aberfeldies

Sometimes, when you have little time, it’s good to just try two easy whiskies. This will be the antithesis of, say ‘seven Bowmores’… Or yeah, ‘eight Broras’…

Aberfeldy 14 yo 2003/2017 (43%, Chieftain’s, Port finish, cask #93971, 702 bottles)

Ouch, a Port wine finish, we might be pushing things a bit today… Colour: blush wine! Nose: well, it’s very okay, it’s not disgustingly Portish (and I love my Port), rather toasted at first, then with notes of crushed strawberries and blood oranges, and only then do more winey, almost cassissy notes come out. But they would come with some praline and lavender sweets. Nice whiffs of old wine cellar, something delicately musty… Well, you see, I’ve got nothing bad to say about this wee ‘feldy. Mouth: no, really, it’s fair. Still whisky, with no real feeling of ‘premix’ despite these red berry syrups and liqueurs, a good maltiness, and some nice fudge to boot. Surprisingly to my liking. Finish: medium, well balanced, sweet of course but indeed balanced, and not too syrupy. A feeling of Ruby Port. Comments: I usually hate the Port finishes, but not this time. I’d even recommend it.
SGP:641 - 84 points.

Aberfeldy 15 yo (43%, OB, Japan, 75cl, +/-1985)

A very rare old official bottling for Japan. It could have prefigured the 15 yo Flora and Fauna that Diageo/UDV used to produce before they sold the distillery (and Dewar’s portfolio) to Bacardi. Colour: gold. Nose: soft, beautifully honeyed, cake-y, with touches of cured ham and humus. In the background, lovely bouillony notes, marrow, meat pies, stewed turnips, mashed peas… Indeed this is pretty ‘British cuisine’… Mouth: extremely good, rich, always on a combination of dried and almost molassy dried fruits (figs) with meatier, savoury notes. In a way, it’s curiously ‘Japanese’. Feels more like 46% vol. Finish: long, rather honeyed. Notes of very old Cognac. Comments: not that it’s a surprise, not at all, but I just love this complex, rich and meaty old Aberfeldy.
SGP:561 - 90 points.

(Thank you Hideo!)

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