Aberlour A’bunadh

A’bunadh (a-boon-akh) means “origin” in gaelic. The whisky is created the same way as in the 18th century with selected Oloroso sherry casks. The are non-chill filtered and there is not adjustment with water so every batch have different volume strength.
One of these famous malts that make us lesser mortals tremble. Batches #11 and 15 have been my favourites so far, let’s see if #20 will join them in the pantheon. Colour: deep amber with brownish/orangey hues. Nose: oloroso galore! Very big notes of raisins, chocolate, prunes, cherry liqueur, cloves... All that is nicely dry and even a tad smoky but that may well come from the alcohol. With water: it gets a bit more herbal and slightly wild as well as meatier. Is that English brown sauce? Mouth (neat): very powerful of course but not undrinkable, quite astonishingly. Big sherry, big raisins, hints of mint and chlorophyll, litres of kirsch (just like when you put your nose over a demijohn)... But let’s not tempt fate – so, with water: gets more herbal again, with notes of thyme and rosemary, sage, bay leaves... Also quite maltier and even a little smoky. Finish: long, coating, elegant (yes) and spicier (pepper and ginger). Shoo, to the pantheon!
Tasting note by Serge Valentin, Whiskyfun
About the whisky
- Price: £34
(Which is about 48$, 35€ or 360SEK) - Distillery: Aberlour
- Region: Speyside
- Country: Scotland
- Official website
- Location (at Google)
- Buy more from same distillery (at TWE)
- Buy whisky bottle (at TWE)
- Read more (at Wikipedia)
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Had a sip of this marvellous piece this weekend and it’s really nice. Rough and sharp. Really needs some water to bring out those nice flavours. You been warned.
Have you tasted the whisky? What do do think about it?