Aberlour whiskies

History

The current distillery was founded by James Fleming in 1879, although whisky had been distilled in the area before. A fire at the end of the 19th century forced it to be rebuilt, and much of what can be seen today comes from that rebuilding and later extensions. During the 20th century it changed owners several times until it ended up in the Pernod Ricard group, which runs it within Chivas Brothers. Next to the distillery is St Drostan’s well, linked to a monk who, according to tradition, preached in the area. Aberlour made a name for itself among those seeking sherried malts with its full-strength bottlings and its double cask versions.

House style

The house works above all with the combination of traditional oak casks and sherry casks. That gives fruity malts, with apple and pear, to which the sherry adds raisins, plum, sweet spices and a chocolate background. The spirit is medium-bodied and unpeated, and the finishes tend to be warm and spicy. With age the house gains notes of toffee, soft leather and nuts, without losing the spirit’s fruity freshness.

Where to start

Aberlour 12 Year Old Double Cask is the benchmark to start with: it combines traditional casks and sherry casks and shows well the balance between fresh fruit and dried fruit that defines the house. If you like it, look for other Speyside malts with sherry influence. You’ll like it if you enjoy sweet, rounded whiskies, and it makes a good comparison with lighter Speyside malts, such as those matured only in bourbon casks. Drink it neat or with a few drops of water to open up the fruit.

• Aberlour 12 Year Old Double CaskSingle malt · 40% ABV