Aberlour 12y with Dan & Goran

Aberlour 12y. We’re gaining familiarity with this distiller, having tried the 10y and the 6y from the Advent calendar. We even pitted one against a McClelland’s way back in the day.

So far, we’ve been a little cool on Aberlour. It wears its Speysideyness on its sleeve and that can be a dealbreaker for some palates.

But this time, I’d say our Speydey senses were tingling. That’s right. I wrote that. Out loud.

Looks like Aberlour has a floor at 12 years. It needs that much time to settle into a drink where you’re looking forward to the next sip. We’re not usually age queens here at iScotch but some whiskies, like artists and other shitty dudes, suffer in their youth. And they’re happy to make you suffer with them. But like, for art, baby.

Uh… anyway, here’s what we thought:

nose
Dan – licorice, cherry, soggy wood
Simon – hot chocolate powder, the sea, a boat
Goran – brandy, cherry, vanilla

neat
Dan – super smooth, kind of salty water and peach/stone fruit sweet
Simon – smooth, apple juice
Goran – buttery smooth, citrusy

finish
Dan – short & pleasant
Simon – chest warm & very nice
Goran – no burn all flavour

splash
Dan – worse
Simon – simpler, not as good
Goran – n/a

overall – for a speyside
Dan – 8.9/10
Simon – 8.2/10
Goran – 9/10

Aberlour 12y Single Malt Scotch Whisky – 40% 750ml – $65.16 – Speyside

Try it? Yes. Buy it? Yes.