Aberlour Tasting - 19th July - 7pm

Sherried Malt · Postby **Sherried Malt** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:26 pm

Ganga wrote:Morning SM.

Just a hair after 3 pm here.

Have Batches 6, 7 and 8 lined up. All thanks to you! :thumbsup:

Ian Logan · Postby **Ian Logan** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:27 pm

Ganga,

Not at the moment, it was mainly done for sale by Pernod in France only but a little has "creeped" out elsehwere. With the reaction we have had to date for the 18yo we would love to roll it out around the world.

Sherried Malt · Postby **Sherried Malt** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:30 pm

This is going to be tougher than I thought. Just nosed 6-8 and there isn't a huge difference among them. This might be beyond me... Yikes.

Dram fine idea · Postby **Dram fine idea** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:32 pm

Aberlour 12

Nose - Sweet (like the Glenfiddich (GF) 21 or GF Toasted Oak 12), honey, touch of rubber, with a background spice and apples, mint, very nice
Taste - Apples, spice, honey, mint, wood tannins, dry bourbon character, yum yum
Finish - Spice, tingling, then when it cools some mint. Dry.
Comment - This is excellent, more weight than the 10. Both the 10 and 12 are showing much more age than I would expect.

TreacleSponge · Postby **TreacleSponge** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:36 pm

Woop, I've found a dribble of a'bunadh lurking at the back of the shelf, but first to the 10yo...

Aberlour 10yo
Brand : Aberlour Expression : 10 yo
Nose : Stewed apples, quite concentrated. A little minty at the end. Water sweetens the apples and is there a hint of play-doh? Ah no, it's gone but the mint has opened up. Palate : It's a nice mouthfeel, quite smooth and creamy. No great suprises after the nose, and that's just fine. Golden syrup and sherried sweetness. Finish : Spice peps it up nicely at the end. Comment : Very clean and smooth and warming for such a readily available Speysider. I don't know why I've neglected this so much whenever I've been after a sherried dram. Colour : gold Score : 0
Age : 10 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Speyside Water : - Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Sherried Malt · Postby **Sherried Malt** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:41 pm

A'bunadh 6

Nose: Huge toffee and caramel. Reminds me of a holiday cake. Also got a hint of vegetal elements once, but never came back...

Palate: Warm and full. A splash of water brings out some oranges but just a hint.

Finish: Long and too hot without water. Hint of caramel candy here too.

Ian Logan · Postby **Ian Logan** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:41 pm

Hi Mikey,

Sipping away at a little measure of the 10yo. A great mix of classic fruity notes, spive, cream and vanilla.

Ian Logan · Postby **Ian Logan** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:42 pm

Ganga,

Is the Trader Joe label just a west coast one or is it nationwide?

Dram fine idea · Postby **Dram fine idea** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:44 pm

Aberlour 16

Nose - Apples, honey, mint, wood.
Taste - Wood spice, apple tart, mint
Finish - Hot, black pepper, dry
Comment - Unexpected hot finish. An interesting whisky.

Dram fine idea · Postby **Dram fine idea** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:46 pm

Evening Willie

TreacleSponge · Postby **TreacleSponge** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:50 pm

Evening Willie. Not late, just fashionable late

Ian, do you have a favourite Aberlour?

Ras Mazunga · Postby **Ras Mazunga** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:52 pm

aberlour 10
Brand : Aberlour Expression : 10
Nose : Mild sherried malts, vey nice how the sherry doesn't overwhelme, apple compote, some coffee, vanilla and hazelnuts. Palate : a bit dry, minty Finish : dry but it stays longer than expected. Comment : - Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 0 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 0% Bottler : -	Type : - Region : Speyside Water : - Ice : None Glass : Tulip Nosing Glass Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Sherried Malt · Postby **Sherried Malt** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:53 pm

A'bunadh 7

Nose: More oranges than 6 and toffee again. Toffee becomes even more noticeable with water while the citrus doesn't pop out as much.

Palate: Wow, that's delicious! A tad less so with water, but we're splitting hairs.

Finish: Stlll too hot without water. Very long but can't get beyond the heat...

Ian Logan · Postby **Ian Logan** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:55 pm

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 · Postby **Ian Logan** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:57 pm

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 · Postby **Dram fine idea** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:01 pm

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 · Postby **Sherried Malt** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:03 pm

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...

Sherried Malt · Postby **Sherried Malt** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:08 pm

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

Hi Willie. Hi C57. Belatedly...

Dram fine idea · Postby **Dram fine idea** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:22 pm

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?

Sherried Malt · Postby **Sherried Malt** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:23 pm

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 · Postby **TreacleSponge** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:24 pm

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.

Ras Mazunga · Postby **Ras Mazunga** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:28 pm

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

TreacleSponge · Postby **TreacleSponge** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:32 pm

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

Oh yeah, it was the fly that emptied the glass :lol:

Ras Mazunga · Postby **Ras Mazunga** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:32 pm

Sherried Malt · Postby **Sherried Malt** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:34 pm

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

Somebody who recognizes quality!

Dram fine idea · Postby **Dram fine idea** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:35 pm

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 · Postby **Ian Logan** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:35 pm

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 · Postby **TreacleSponge** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:36 pm

Ian, if you could use two words (three if you're willing to lose marks

) to characterise Aberlour, what would you say?

Ian Logan · Postby **Ian Logan** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:37 pm

Folks,

the 12yo sample is the double cask matured version.

Ras Mazunga · Postby **Ras Mazunga** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:37 pm

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

Ian Logan · Postby **Ian Logan** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:38 pm

TS,

Aberlour - spice, fruit

Ian Logan · Postby **Ian Logan** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:38 pm

..... just gone bronze, lol

Ian Logan · Postby **Ian Logan** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:41 pm

Ganga,

No, all samples are identical. There are no differences in any release between the US and Europe.

Sherried Malt · Postby **Sherried Malt** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:44 pm

Ok, my last dram before I go out and meet some friends..

A'bunadh 17 (Thanks again, SoMK!!)

Nose: A much more reticent nose. Less toffee and a bit more vanilla? Some citrus too.

Palate: Very smooth and rounded, but perhaps my palate's been pre-conditioned by the others, but it seems to be lacking a certain something...

Finish: Less hot than what I've had today, but still needs some water I think. After a gulp of water, maybe not...

Bottom line for me: I'll take the 8 any day, but will go with the 14 if I have to...

Sherried Malt · Postby **Sherried Malt** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:46 pm

Ok, that's it for me for a while. Hope to see some of you nightbirds later tonight.

Have a great time everyone and thanks again Ian for joining us!

Aberlour 10yo

aberlour 10

Aberlour A'bunadh: batch 20

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