ABERLOUR - A Bunadh - 61.2%
Aberlour A'bunadh (61.2% vol.) is the most iconic single malt from the Aberlour distillery in the heart of Speyside. Founded in 1879 by James Fleming, rebuilt after the 1898 fire by architect Charles Doig, and now operated by Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard group), the house has forged a reputation for rich, generous malts, driven by pure water from the slopes of Ben Rinnes and precise distillation.
Its name means "the original" in Gaelic: A'bunadh pays homage to the distillery's roots. Each edition is crafted in small batches and aged exclusively in Spanish Oloroso sherry casks, then bottled at cask strength, without dilution, to preserve the full intensity of the distillate. Batch No. 82 (released in 2025) fully embodies this signature: unpeated, powerful, and deeply marked by sherry.
On the nose, the bouquet opens with a profusion of dried and candied fruits: grape, fig and date, enhanced by blood orange, citrus peel and a touch of black cherry. Notes of toffee, bitter cocoa, roasted coffee and sweet spices (cinnamon, clove) complete the ensemble. On the palate, the texture is ample and oily; the controlled warmth of the degree highlights a malty framework enveloped in dark chocolate, hazelnut, almond and candied orange, with a noble oak reminiscent of Oloroso sherry. The finish is very long, warm and salivating, on dried fruits, cocoa and a hint of spice.
Best served neat, with the option of a drop or two of water to open up the aromas. This Speyside cask strength is ideal with high-cocoa dark chocolate, orange fondant, or Christmas pudding. A'bunadh is for lovers of characterful sherried single malts, looking for an authentic, intense, and impeccably crafted whisky.
