Aberlour is often associated with a sherry-led style, but this 18-year-old single malt offers a different view of the distillery. Matured in a refill ex-bourbon barrel, the whisky places orchard fruit, honeyed malt and gentle spice ahead of heavier cask sweetness. American oak gives the spirit room to remain elegant and clearly defined, revealing a side of Aberlour that is less commonly encountered.
Tasting notes
Stone fruit
Orchard
Nose
Dried apricot, mango, lemon peel and vanilla.
Palate
Tinned fruits, jelly sweets, and crème pâtissière, balanced by a thread of gentle white pepper.
Finish
Vibrant sweetness persists till the end.
The distillery
Aberlour
Aberlour Distillery was founded in 1879 by James Fleming and is located in the Speyside village of the same name. Aberlour is best known for double cask maturation in American oak and either oloroso or Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, a combination that helps shape the distillery's signature style.
In 1973, Aberlour underwent significant modernisation, including the expansion of its stillhouse from two stills to four. A year later, the distillery joined Pernod Ricard, under whose ownership it remains today.
A medium-bodied spirit with a fruity, malty character, Aberlour is well suited to sherry cask maturation. Over time, its fruit-forward profile develops greater richness, with notes of blackcurrant, toffee and sweet spice emerging. Exactly the kind of whisky we seek out.
The Speyside whisky producing region, centred on the River Spey, is home to the greatest concentration of whisky distilleries in the world. The region benefits from abundant water sources, a long-standing whisky making tradition and favourable conditions for maturation.
More than fifty distilleries operate throughout the region, producing a wide variety of single malt whiskies. While styles vary between distilleries, Speyside whiskies are often associated with approachable, fruit driven flavour profiles. The region also has a longstanding association with sherry cask maturation, which contributes to the diversity of styles found.
We seek Speyside whisky for its exceptional diversity. From delicate and floral spirits to richer, more robust styles, the region offers a broad spectrum of character that responds well to a variety of maturation approaches. Many of the region's richer spirits are particularly well suited to long term maturation, developing depth and complexity with age.
Customer reviews
Full specification
Category
Single malt Scotch whisky
Distillery
Aberlour
Region
Speyside
Country
Scotland
Age
18 years
Distilled
25 September 2006
Bottled
2025
Strength
53.5% ABV
Original outturn
228 bottles
Cask number
636
Cask
Refill Ex-Bourbon Barrel
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