Nose: Fairly light, malty. Lighter fruits, with a fresh heather scent. Caramel drizzled over warm apple pie. I have a pair of well worn boots that I neglect to oil, but here I recall the faint scent of that leather. Maple sweetness.
Palate: Warm, sweet. Chocolate and toffee. Sherry lingering in the background all the time, but the oak is in balance, and only slightly bitter near the back of the palate on the edges of my tongue. Just a little rancio, puzzling for a 12 year old. Very rounded, bigger than the nose suggests.
Finish: Light sherry. Definitely has some herbal zip from oak, and the flavors fade fairly quickly, perhaps due to the lightness of the spirit. But a long, warming finish, still with a touch of sweetness, and with darker fruits. Concord grape peels.
Additional Notes
- This is one of the most well matured scotches I have ever tasted. The sherry dominates, but intrinsically rather than as a mask the other flavors hide behind.
- This is one scotch that benefits from just a little drop of water, but any more will dilute it to the extent of diluting its character. Adding ice would simply ruin this one. Really well balanced in terms of wood choice, alcoholic content, and age.
- I would point to this scotch as an example of "maturity" as an age scotch reaches when it has acquired its distinguishing characteristics and reached a perfect balance of personality and taste.
- Where Macallan is boldly sherried, the influence in Aberlour is restrained. Much like Balvenie Double Wood, but with greater balance. Less aggressive than either, and can be enjoyed quietly, on its own.
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The nose knows