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    • aberlour a'bunadh

    Aberlour a'bunadh 90
    Distillery
    Aberlour
    Style
    Single Malt
    Release
    Batch 15
    Age
    Unspecified
    Alcohol
    59.6% abv.
    Region
    Scotland: Speyside
    Bottled For
    Distillery

    Aberlour a'bunadh is a natural single cask strength malt whisky. Taken directly from specially selected sherry casks it is bottled as simply as possible without the use of modern filtering methods or the addition of water.

    review by anonymous

    89
    Color
    Copper
    Nose
    Almost like pure maplewater with a kick
    Body
    Light to medium in body but smooth as silk for the digestion when taken without water - the only way
    Palate
    a marvellous blend of seetness with adequate spice & earthy tones
    Finish
    you know you've taken a good saple of this as it does hang around for a considerable time.....very smooth with it however

    I've been introducing my Friends in Canada to this exceptional cask strength for approxiamtely 10 years. without exception, evryone I have introduced tis to is now fully aware of how a cask single malt should taste. Can't much more about it really other than although difficult to find int he Montreal area (only due to the increased patronage to the stuff locally) it maintains a constant presence in my bar. Good stuff.....

    review by slinky

    91
    Color
    Nearly copper (batch 26)
    Nose
    Solid Sherry with caramel overtone. Even people that don't like whiskey find this it appealing.
    Body
    Very powerful, very smooth, does vary by batch.
    Palate
    Wraps your tongue with a swath of caramel with sherry and a bit of vanilla for me.
    Finish
    The finish is delightfully long, especially after a couple of sips and your tongue is coated. Lasts for minutes there after.

    Again, I hate diluting these marvelous super liquids. Very little peat in this dessert-like malt but it goes great with smoke, fruits and smoked meats and cheeses. It's a staple in my bar.

    review by mp

    95
    Color
    Dark Bronze
    Nose
    Apple, Honey, Cherry, Peat
    Body
    Full bodied
    Palate
    Pistachio, Apples, Cherries.
    Finish
    Surprisingly short finish... cool and tidy. smooth.

    This review refers to a 60.6% strength, batch 26. Strong on the sherry, and absolutely delicious, slightly sweet, just "melts" on your tongue. An excellent strong, flavourful and smooth whisky. I suggest drinking it neat at 60%, diluting this whisky does not do many favours, some of the aromas are just not as appealing after a dash of water. For the pipesmokers, I felt this whisky went very well with a pipeful of Samuel Gawith's Brown no.4 rope tobacco.

    review by coloradodram

    90
    Color
    Dark dark amber.
    Nose
    Sherry, sherry, lamp oil/citronella candle, spicy ginger.
    Body
    Super-oily, ethereal, immediate numbing if not reduced.
    Palate
    Burned/toasted raisins, hot Thai ginger dish, sherry throughout.
    Finish
    Burning hot, but amazingly smooth. Obviously long at 59.6 ABV. Even reduced down to 48% this dram lasts an hour.

    Batch 16 (sorry I hadn't seen the separate Batch 16 listing before reviewing here). I suggest a neat nosing. Then reduce this one to 48-50% ABV to enjoy a nutty grape time that doesn't sacrifice all malt. Not as complex as Glenfarclas 105, but a significant overall notch above IMHO.

    review by thedippmann

    92
    Color
    Like damp sand
    Nose
    Reminds me of a wet night.
    Body
    Heavy
    Palate
    Sweet like fruit, very similar to mandarin oranges.
    Finish
    Very warm and tingly. Satisfying!

    A surprisingly spectacular whiskey. Being 120 proof, it is incredibly smooth. The flavor is rich and doesn't leave me wanting one bit. I would recommend any day as one to at least try once! Everybody (even non whisky drinkers!) that I have introduced this to has taken to it quite well.

    review by mandrake

    92
    Color
    Deep copper
    Nose
    Orange peel and butter. Cherry and roses.
    Body
    Full and weighty. Creamy.
    Palate
    Absolute sherry monster, lots of fruit. Woody as well, oak just piles on. Sweet orange.
    Finish
    Long and warming

    Absolutely extraordinary cask strength, I love everything about it.

    review by fyoder

    84
    Color
    not quite new penny
    Nose
    fruity, sweet, cherry
    Body
    sparky
    Palate
    spiced wine,iodine,sweet and salty, damn fine
    Finish
    very long and warm

    Happy xmas, very warm, jolly good. Don't recommend watering it, even though cask strength.

    review by tum

    90

    One of the best. An extrordinary single malt.

    review by rich

    83
    Nose
    Too much alcohol to enjoy its nose without water. So I add a bit. Wow, this IS a sherry monster. Sherry and something almost of the sea. Or even meaty? Not at all in a bad way. After a few seconds it almost smells like a rye.
    Body
    Some guts.
    Palate
    Big sherry, reminds me of an old school Macallan. Some vanilla and pepper which carry through to the finish and intensify. Bring it down enough and you can almost taste Rye, which I know there is not. Something in the sherry wood perhaps?
    Finish
    Lingering sweetness.

    Batch 15. I think perhaps I am liking the proverbial "sherry monsters" less than I did when I started with malt, a few years ago. Wish there was more complexity, more balance here. I want some malt in my malt, if you know what I mean. That being said, it is still nice. Note: I am going to give it two extra points for how wonderful the glass smells after it was finished. A bit more complextiy would have helped, perhaps, but this is the price a malt pays for intense sherry, at times.