
April 20, 2021

Aberlour OB and IB

Love Aberlour, big sellers in France. One of the first distilleries we visited with the Malt Maniacs, when we were young - I'm glad the Distillery is still standing.

Aberlour 10 yo 'Forest Reserve' (40%, OB, +/-2020)

Forest Reserve? Is this whisky for survivalists? Joking aside, this baby was finished in French Limousin oak, so basically, Cognac wood. Not saying they've used ex-Cognac casks, but Cognac does use Limousin a lot. Are you following me? In any case, the oak is one thing, the way it was treated is another thing. Colour: full gold. Nose: so easy, cake-y, so much on custard, on croissants, on light acacia honey, on biscuits, on vanilla pods, on buttercups and dandelions, on light ale… So a very delicate, rather fragrant and pretty easy nose. Mouth: you know what? I could quaff this, it's light but absolutely not thin, simple and yet not dull, with a little caramel and a feeling of rye. At times you would believe this is Canadian. Good Canadian. Finish: short, not the best part despite these notes of rye that are still there. A little sawdust. Comments: I'd say you have to think post-Covid pool parties with good friends here. Easy, very well made, if not totally 'Aberlour'. Above the blends on the shelves.
SGP:441 - 82 points.

Aberlour 12 yo 'Double Cask Matured' (40%, OB, +/-2020)

Tried this one 5 years ago and really liked it 5 years ago (WF 84). But time and distillery effluents flow… Now yes, It's a finishing (see update below)..… Colour: full gold (as always with these entry-level malts). Nose: nice, really, malty, on more cakes, more raisins than in the 'Forest', raisin rolls, brioche, panettone, perhaps a pecan pie, almond cake, a drop of mirabelle eau-de-vie, a little mead (the drink of the gods)… Mouth: yeah I like it a little better than the Forest, for it would be rounder and fruitier, with more raisins, sweet wines, zwetschke tarte, more mirabelle eau-de-vie, earl grey, indeed a drop of cognac, perhaps… So all gentle and good, 'commercial' in a good way. Not quite in the same category as the legendary old square bottles, but I am finding similarities. Finish: medium, this time with oranges beside the raisins. Comments: I say any newcomers trying this after, say Chivas (same stable) will experience an epiphany and become a malt enthusiast. Welcome to the madhouse!
SGP:451 - 84 points.

Update: this 12 yo is actually 'a percentage going through full term maturation in European Oak and the remainder in American Oak for the full term before batting together'. Thanks Ian, that may also explain why it's really good!

Didn't we say we'd try an independent as well?...

Aberlour 7 yo 2012/2020 (54%, Dram Mor, cask #800914, 328 bottles)

I love Dram Mor's labels, they are much less pushy and, well, deafening than many other new ooh-ha indie efforts. I mean, they're all expected to end their lives in a trash bin anyway, are they not? But I find it interesting that most indies would go dazzlingly modern while the officials become more and more 'retro'. Anyway... Colour: blush wine (Brad and Angelina's rosé de Provence). That's scary. Nose: do you know what a 'fraisier' is? It is a kind of cake with some sponge cake, custard, butter cream, fresh strawberries and marzipan/almond cream. That's what I'm getting here. Rather love 'fraisier' when it's well made, by the way. With water: beers and grist popping out. A feeling of Belgian Kriek beer. Mouth (neat): a little raw and kirschy. Not quite mature, and actually pretty tutti-frutti-y (oh rootie). Guignolet and maraschino. With water: more Kriek beer. Finish: kirsch aged in oak for a few months. Some crazy folks are doing that in the Schwarzwald – but we refrain from doing so in Alsace. Comments: nutshell, loads of cherries in this one. I remember a lovely wee town in California… Forgot the name…
SGP:541 - 82 points.

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