But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. And indeed, the honeyed, biscuity and orchard fruity tones of malt whisky aged within used bourbon barrels does tend to marry exceptionally well with the darker, richer fruit notes and oxidized nuttiness of sherry. . This one is noticeably darker and nuttier on the nose, with more obvious sherry character. Aberlour A'bunadh batch #73 . Another sherried Aberlour expression made an appearance in 2018, in the form of Casg Annamh, a no age statement single malt. Huge sherry note. Clear filters. Get our best cocktail recipes, tips, and more when you sign up for our newsletter. Color: 1.4, Tawny. Id love to hear what you think of it in the comments! Aberlour is a classic Speyside scotch distillery, founded in 1879 by James Fleming, that falls most neatly into the double barrel aging camp. Take the tour and youll see the gleaming copper pot stills, with sharply angled, nearly flat swan-necked columns pumping out scotch whisky. Aside from that, be prepared to become aquatinted with the individual nuances of your specific batch. you have read, understood, and agree to our Privacy Policy. And the whisky's cult-like followers love to obsess over which batch is better. The name is a reference to Quercus Alba, which is the name of the American white oak which is used to age this very whisky. The ethanol, while obviously more present, is still quite gentle, and for the proof it drinks dangerously easily. And, honestly, it stands out on its own as an outstanding single malt with all the quality youd expect from Aberlour. Robert Haynes-Peterson is a Seattle-based freelance writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience focusing on wine, spirits, travel and lifestyle. Distinctive sweet honey notes above a backdrop of waxiness and hints of furniture polish are clear throughout, typical of heavily sherried whiskies. During the Ice Age the landscape underwent further dramatic changes, the glaciers cropping and smoothing the mountaintops and gouging out the glens. Aberlour A'Bunadh Alba Whisky | Master of Malt The flagship of the Aberlour lineup is, as the age statement would obviously inform you, 12 years old. Single Malt Scotch - No Age Statement - 2022. In addition to a batch number, each release is marked by an individual bottling strength as the whisky is presented in original cask strength. We have the right to ask you to provide proof of your age and/or to provide further identification to prevent underage usage and/or for any other legal or legitimate purpose. This is a newer brand, and one I was curious to try for the first time. The Abunadh Alba makes a terrific complement to the regular Abunadh. Only 2 left in stock! The whisky is not chill filtered, nor is any coloring added to it. . Most estimates are that A'bunadh is aged approximately 7 years Nose: exquisite bouquet of dark fruits, plum, black raspberry, and currant. Its delicious. This review is of Batch 50, released in 2014. Batch 46 is bottled at a hefty 60.4% alcohol by volume (120.8 proof). Following in the footsteps of the 76 batches before it, this single malt spent its entire maturation in oloroso sherry casks imparting heaps of dark chocolate and sticky spice to this beloved Speysider. The first sip packs quite a bite on the tongue and set the lips tingling, but subsequent visits to my glass find the dram much more inviting. But occasionally it can be quality inconsistency or batch variation. All Rights Reserved. Non-chill filtered with no age statement, the Abunadh ABV varies from around 59-61%. A beautiful deep red amber liquid in a wide stubby bottle with a badass old school wax seal. Fast Facts Classification single malt scotch whisky Company Pernod Ricard Distillery Aberlour Cask 100% ex-oloroso sherry casks Still Type copper pot stills Released 1997 (Ongoing) The lead-up into the new millennium saw Aberlour introduce Abunadh to their range of single malts. Each batch of this whisky is blended from barrels ranging from 5 to 25 years old. I preferred the A'bunadh neat, and preferred the 105 after a dash of water. Please check your entries and try again. Though there is some concern that so-called NAS (non-age-statement) whiskies allow distilleries to obscure whats going on in the bottle, its pretty clear Aberlour wants to show off what it can do without the restrictions age statements can bring to the bottle. The alcohol is prominent, creating that progressive warming effect in the mouth and the back of the throat and, when savored slowly, a tingling sensation on the tongue. As you well know, Aberlour A'Bunadh whiskey is a limited edition, particularly fine and refined, created in honor of James Fleming, the founder of . Atom Supplies Limited, Unit 1 Ton Business Park, 2-8 Morley Road, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1RA, UK. A bottle from Aberlour. The early 2011 release of Aberlour's small batch, cask strength, active sherry cask matured cult whisky, A'Bunadh. The palate is citrusy with notes of baked apple and hints of almonds. Each release of Abunadh is limited and granted a batch number. Abunadh is a whisky hand-made from start to finish with each batch being created to ensure a rich and complex flavour of moist raisin, and homemade fruit cake. Abunadh Alba is bottled at cask strength resulting in a sweet whisky with a creamy texture. The Oloroso sherry casks, which are some of the rarest and most precious casks used for maturation . A'bunadh - Wikipedia 2023 Master of Malt. Aberlour is currently owned by Chivas Brothers Holdings via parent company Pernot Ricard. While there is certainly something to be said for the consistency provided in a finely-crafted blend, the sometimes unpredictable nature of a small batch single malt appeals to my sense of adventure. Though the ABV is pretty high, there is nothing tight or brash about the spirit: It enters warm and full-bodied, and the long finish is pleasant and relaxing. Please check your entries and try again. During the 19th century, Scotch whisky was bottled straight from the cask (what today we call cask strength) and was not subject to any further dilution. Please do not share or forward our website to anyone underage. Abunadh is exclusively matured in first-fill Oloroso sherry butts, a rarity it shares with only a handful of Scotch whiskies, including The Macallan. Aberlour A'bunadh Alba - Ratings and reviews - Whiskybase Because its been produced with methods commonly used around 1870s. .wp-review-10011.review-wrapper { font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; }. The term Abunadh is Scotch Gaelic, and means of the origins. In 1975, during the installation of two new stills, workmen discovered a time capsule that contained a bottle of Aberlour with a newspaper from 1898 wrapped around it. Aberlour is a well-liked distillery, not specifically known as producing sherry bombs, but not skimping on sherry character either. Those who prefer a lighter, American oak-driven Speyside whisky may find this overwhelming. But its in combination with seasoned sherry casks. Appearance: Deep ruby red in the center of the glass, pushing towards stained cherry wood around the periphery. Heres the backstory taken from Wikipedia: The distillery cite the story during distillery tours that when the second pair of stills were put in during 1975, a time capsule was discovered behind the name plate, containing an 1898 newspaper about the distillery fire wrapped around an 1898 bottle of Aberlour. Get the latest whiskey news and reviews to your inbox, Douglas Laing Releases New Rock Island Rum Cask Edition, Whiskey Review: Teeling Wonders Of Wood Virgin Portuguese Oak, Hemingway Whiskey Companys New Signature Rye Whiskey Debuts, Whiskey Review: Oak & Eden 4 Grain & Maple Bourbon, Ross and Squibb Distillery Upgrades Barrel Program For 2023, Whiskey Review: Espy House Washingtons Reserve Barrel Strength Bourbon, Whisky Review: Rare Hare Lucky Bastard 30 Year, KO Distilling, Musician Pete Evick Team On Bare Knuckle Evick Edition Bourbon, Whiskey Review: Ezra Brooks Bourbon Cream Liqueur, The Dead Rabbit Opening New Concept This Fall In NYCs Moynihan Train Hall. Aberlour 12 Year Price: $50-60. Aberlour's immensely popular A'Bunadh has grown with the introduction of A'Bunadh Alba! Enjoy reading and please, feel free to comment. Before 67, Ive managed to try Batch 47 and it was is great. Most dont consider Batch 47 old, thoughanyway, yet again good craftsmanship by Aberlour. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The single malt a'bunadh (Gaelic: the original) does not have any age information. Tasting: 3 Classic Sherried Single Malts from Aberlour 71cl / 40% . This would surely function nicely as a basic introduction to sherried single malts, although its not nearly as rich or complex as some of them can ultimately be. The finish is mostly a lingering bourbon-oak sensation, but it's not too long, as you would expect of a NAS whisky. Independent Scotch whisky maker Douglas Something went wrong. A'bunadh more fruit and honey, 105 more vanilla cream. The high ABV makes this spirit feel light and bright and does well with a few drops of water added. The Aberlour Abunadh is an unusual Scotch whisky. Price: $95 after taxes. Review: Aberlour's A'bunadh Alba Is a Scotch for Bourbon Fans Your email address will not be published. .wp-review-5120.review-wrapper { font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; }. Alba, which is Gaelic for Scotland, is also named after the species of white oak the whisky matures in, Quercus Alba. Batch 67 was just like I imagined, full of flavor and quality, but not quite there with Batch 47. This Engraved Abunadh Alba is now sold and delivered to your doorstep by Mail Marketing UK Limited. (Rumor has it that . Aberlour A'bunadh is bottled at Cask Strengh, is 100% sherry cask matured, and has no age statement. The whisky is non-peated, so youre not going to get any smoky or seaside notes. By clicking Sign up, you confirm that you have read, understand and agree to our Privacy Policy. It is aged entirely in first-fill American oak ex-bourbon casks, which is said to impart a complex mix of sweet baked apples notes alongside crisp citrus flavors.. Whisky reviews for Aberlour A'bunadh Alba. The name Abunadh Alba was well thought out; Abunadh means of the origin in Scottish Gaelic, while Alba means Scotland. Alba, however, is also a reference toQuercus alba, the scientific name of American white oak, whose wood bourbon barrels are made of. Medium legs. All rights reserved. Thank youYou have been added to our mailing list. Based on those experiences, I was expecting this to come close to the quality of older ABunadh but not quite there. For now, the Alba is only available in the United States, priced around $90. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. As a result, theres no shortage of classic single malt whisky distilleries in Scotland that specialize their production in malts that are sherried to one degree or another, although the level of influence the sherry has on each flavor profile can vary wildly. Aberlour A'bunadh Whisky (No Age Statement) Review & Tasting Notes This is presented unadulterated and non-chill filtered, at 57.1% ABV (114.2 proof). You can feel the youth and at the same time you clearly feel the similarities with the distillery exclusive bourbon-matured 12yo. Thats no coincidence considering the Alba is aged exclusively in ex-Bourbon oak! Drawn exclusively from first-fill American oak ex-bourbon barrels, this expression shows off a different side of Aberlour you may be more familiar with its heavily sherried drams, but this one is more about fresh orchard fruits, shortbread, and almond notes. Sweet cinnamon and light red fruit are the stars of the show, along with citrus and gentle honeyalthough really when all is said and done, it finishes on the drier side compared to many heavily sherried malts. All Rights Reserved. Then there are those who use barrels that have only briefly held sherry, for marketing oomph more than anything else. So maturing the Abunadh Alba exclusively in American oak is quite a deviation from Aberlours usual process. The distillery has been better known for its sherry-aged whisky, including Aberlour A'bunadh, a yearly sherry cask-aged single malt that the distillery first rolled out in the 90s.The new bourbon barrel-aged expression is the first extension of the A'bunadh lineup. This is a must-have for any Scotch whisky collection. [2] Though it has no age statement, it is released in limited run batches, each batch carrying a unique number on its label. Nose: The sherry is upfront and obvious. This A'Bunadh doesn't have much of a nose to comment upon, but it does have some good flavors of pear, apple and pineapple along with some oaky malt on the palate. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website.
Pickleball Florida Tournaments,
Relative Child Care Provider Texas,
Max Prep Basketball Ranking Te Texas High School,
Best Pediatrician Louisville, Ky,
Articles A
