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“Because you can't buy happiness... but you can buy whisky and that's pretty much the same thing”

Read stories about Aberlour of A Wardrobe of Whisky blog.

You can read here older articles posted in A Wardrobe of Whisky since 2009.
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What the ... does Jameson do there?

By Miguel in Glenlivet , Chivas , Aberlour , Midleton , Random drams

Welcome to my new range of posts, the Fucking Thief!. What are they about? Well, I stealthy run across the social networks and grab photos from whisky lovers to taste their whiskies.

27-11-13 - 1

Is this your photo? Write me to fthief@awardrobeofwhisky.com and I will pay you… homage… and share with A Wardrobe of Whisky’s readers your experience on the tasting. Slainte!

Well, today we have a bit of mixed feelings, Aberlour and Four Roses with Chivas 18yo and Glenlivet 15yo… and what the fuck… Jameson. Someone drank a bit of here and there before putting these bottles together.

This is how I would taste them…

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#AberlourTT

By Miguel in Tasting , Aberlour

Well… with all the excitement about Malt Maniacs Awards 2013 I forgot I had to write my review of the Aberlour Tweet Tasting #AberlourTT. I am a real fan of the kind of sherried whiskies Aberlour creates so when Steve from The Whisky Wire proposed me to join this tasting I was really happy. #thanksyou

Aberlour single malt whisky

Five whiskies to enjoy: 12 and 16 Double Matured Casks, Abunadh 45, 18yo and a 12yo no chill-filtered. It is not exactly the order I would have chosen because the Abunadh is bottled at very high strength ( and it is a fantastic whisky ) and will put the others in a hard time.

Ann Miller, International Brand Ambassador of Chivas Brothers shared the tasting with us and a very funny gossip about a peated Aberlour; it seems that during a dinner with the distillery manager someone asked him for a peated Aberlour and then he took the whisky glass and put a piece of peat inside and said “there you have”. #lol

Well, enough smalltalk… let’s hear the whiskies.

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Whisky Tasting Session 2013-01

By Miguel in Tasting , Featured , Allt-a-Bhainne , Aberlour , Glen Garioch , Glenrothes , Glen Scotia

Hurray! New year, new blind tasting session.

As usual Jean-Marie Putz of Whisky-distilleries.info proposed six unnamed samples on a stunning box like previous tastings.

A blind tasting is a quite interesting experience because tasting whiskies in this way you really pay more attention to the whisky and less to the bottle. I have tasted whiskies that I have considered good but nothing special ( Is there such a thing as bad whisky?! ) and then I discovered that I were tasting a 39 years old single malt. Have I known before hand what I was tasting I am 100% sure it would have affected my rating.

So here are the drams…

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That Boutique-y Whiskies: Not only the labels are great

By Miguel in Tasting , Featured , Ardbeg , The Macallan , Aberlour , Master of Malt , Benriach , Caperdonich , Aultmore , Benrinnes

Master of Malt sent me some samples of their new range That Boutique-y and as I happen to have some samples too myself I decided to do a super tasting of this new ramge of whiskies!.
that-boutique-y-batch-1-whiskies

First thing that grab your eye on these whiskies is the precious labels they have created for each of them. And also the fact that the whiskies are bottled at cask strength. Looks like most of them are a vatting of several casks and there is no age statement in any of them but if they are as good as this first batch… :)

That Boutique-y Whisky Company

That Boutique-y Whisky Company bottles Scotch Single Malt Whiskies from a variety of renowned distilleries like Ardbeg, Macallan or Aberlour in limited batches. These whiskies are adorned with cultish comic-book style labels which feature prominent figures from the whisky industry upon them, as well as other little details for you to find!

The whiskies Batch 1

I have tasted several whiskies from the first batch and most of them are already sold out by the time you read this. On their webpage it is available right now a second batch of whiskies.

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Review of Aberlour 12 years old Double Cask Matured

By Miguel in Tasting , Aberlour

“Lovely nose on this Aberlour but I really miss a bit of muscle on the palate... maybe 43% or 46% would have made it awesome”

88
Aberlour 12 Year Old / Double Cask Matured Speyside Whisky
Aberlour is always a good choice - one of the best value Speyside malts around.

This double matured version is a mix of traditional oak and sherry casks and is rich and fruity with delicious Christmas cake notes.

If you like this whisky you should try one of the awesome cask strength Aberlour A'bunadh

This dram has a cooper-like color.

Nose (89): more than average. honey, malt, citrus, fruity, vanilla, cinnamon, pepper.

Palate (88): light, smooth. honey, fruits, figs, banana, vanilla, peaches, citrus, wood, liquorice, spices.

Finish (88): longer than average. honey, spices, liquorice.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Aberlour 12 Year Old / Double Cask Matured Speyside Whisky with 88 points over 100.

Buy this bottle at

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Whisky Tasting Session 2012-05: Blind fun!

By Miguel in Tasting , News , Featured , The Macallan , Bunnahabhain , Aberlour , Macduff

I have joined Jean-Marie Putz of whisky-distilleries.info and twenty other whisky zealots in the fifth blind tasting session of this year.

wts-tasting-sessions-2012-05

The principle is that whisky producers supply whisky they select themselves, according to their marketing goals. The sent whisky bottles are sampled and sent to about 20 tasters who write their impressions about every whisky. Their impressions and their quotation are published in Whisky distilleries blog.

The Whisky Tasting sessions are a flight of six whiskies tasted blind. Usually bottles are from independent bottlers that are really strong sellers in central Europe.

The samples arrived a few weeks ago in a supercool box. Each samples was 2.5cl and bottled in a small flask. Work has been been delaying me on tasting the six samples but finally this Thursday I had a few spare hours to taste them.

wts-tasting-sessions-2012-05-1

Usually I try to short the samples as explained in the how to taste whisky article, but this time I just decided to enjoy and go ahead. Mainly because if I sort the samples I will lack of time to taste them properly.

Sample N 1

“Unpromising nose but then a really delicious taste. Maybe Redbreast?”

89
Macduff 1980 Malts of Scotland
Impressive whisky from Macduff distillery bottled by Malts of Scotland from the 1980 vintage.

This single cask malt has been matured in a bourbon hogshead and bottled at cask strength at a whopping 54,1% abv.

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (87): more than average. floral, honey, spices, vanilla, citrus. Very irish style.

Palate (90): powerful. floral, honey, spices, citrus, vanilla, peaches, wood.

Finish (90): longer than average. floral, spices, citrus, honey.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Macduff 1980 Malts of Scotland with 89 points over 100.

Sample N 2

“Nicely floral... maybe a highlander? finished in sherry cask?”

88
Aberlour 17 years Anam Na H-Alba
A 17 years old cask strength single malt whisky from Aberlour distillery.
Bottled by Anam Na H-Alba at an incredible 60,6% abv.

This dram has a fino-like color.

Nose (88): more than average. honey, vanilla, citrus, toffee. Powerful toffee aroma. Like a Cadbury box

Palate (89): . honey, floral, spices, citrus, wood, chocolate.

Finish (88): average. toffee, spices, vanilla.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Aberlour 17 years Anam Na H-Alba with 88 points over 100.

Sample N 3

“Very nice sherried whisky. I think I have already tasted this one...”

89
Macallan 1989 Whiskies of Scotland
A single malt whisky distilled in the Macallan distillery.

This whisky has been bottled at 47.1% abv from the 1989 vintage by Whiskies of Scotland

This dram has a fino-like color.

Nose (89): more than average. toffee, floral, vanilla, peaches. Very closed nose but really nice.

Palate (90): smooth, powerful, oily. honey, wood, vanilla, citrus, spices, cinnamon, tobacco. I am sure I have tasted this one before... umm... no clue right now.

Finish (89): average. honey, tobacco, vanilla, wood.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Macallan 1989 Whiskies of Scotland with 89 points over 100.

Sample N 4

“Superb nose! I am almost sure this one is An Cnoc single malt”

90
Blended Malt batch 116 Dailuaine 1999 & Linkwood 1998
This vatted whisky, or blended malt whisky as the Scotch Whisky Association prefers, is the result of blending together a Dailuaine 1999 with a Linkwood 1998.

Bottled by Jean Boyer - Le Puits Whisky at 43%. This bottled belongs to batch 116.

This dram has a fino-like color.

Nose (91): more than average. toffee, vanilla, citrus. An Cnoc! It must be an Cnoc! Delicious!

Palate (90): smooth, oily. honey, vanilla, floral, citrus, wood, spices, anise, cinnamon.

Finish (89): longer than average. toffee, vanilla, citrus.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Blended Malt batch 116 Dailuaine 1999 & Linkwood 1998 with 90 points over 100.

Sample N 5

“Superb stuff! Peat and sherry marvel!”

91
Bunnahabhain 20 years old Wilson & Morgan
An awesome Bunnahabhain 20 years old bottled by Wilson & Morgan.

This incredible Islay single malt whisky has been bottled at cask strength at a very interesting 48.5 abv. A real crack whisky.

This dram has a tawny-like color.

Nose (90): more than average. honey, sulphur, peat, citrus, nuts. Old sherried japanese single malt style whisky.

Palate (92): powerful, oily. honey, peat, wood, citrus, spices, cinnmon. Very nice.

Finish (91): longer than average. peat, honey, spices, maritime.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Bunnahabhain 20 years old Wilson & Morgan with 91 points over 100.

Sample N 6

“Another sherry crack with a lovely nose”

90
Macallan 1990 Fino Sherry Hogshead Malts of Scotland
An interesting Macallan single malt whisky from 1990 vintage matured fully in a Fino sherry hogshead.

This whisky has been bottled by Malts of Scotland at 51.5% abv.

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (90): more than average. honey, citrus, spices, cinnamon, candies, smoke. Old whisky here...

Palate (90): powerful, oily. honey, spices, pepper, floral, citrus, nuts.

Finish (89): longer than average. honey, spices, nuts.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Macallan 1990 Fino Sherry Hogshead Malts of Scotland with 90 points over 100.

In conclusion

It has been a very nice tasting, really fun. And I have tasted two Macallans! Tasting the first one I was really really sure that I have already tasted it. Also really impressed by a very nice Bunnahabhain with its incredible peat and sherry style.

My favorite has been the Bunnahabhain whisky, very similar in style to the impressive bottling of The Whisky Barrel for Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.


Delighted with Aberlour A'bunadh Batch 38

By Miguel in Tasting , Aberlour

“Lovely as always. You can't go wrong with an Aberlour A'bunadh”

90
Aberlour a'Bunadh Batch 38
Aberlour A'bunadh is a cask strength Speyside single malt whisky that is released by the distillery in small batches each with a slightly different profile but all on the sherry monsters style.

This is batch 38.

Really a must have and a whisky that is almost near to the almighty Macallan 10 years old Cask Strength.

This dram has a mahogany-like color.

Nose (89): more than average. honey, floral, candies, meat stock, wood.

Palate (92): powerful, oily. honey, nuts, floral, citrus, spices, wood, liquorice.

Finish (90): longer than average. honey, spices, citrus, nuts.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Aberlour a'Bunadh Batch 38 with 90 points over 100.

Aberlour A'Bunadh Batch 35 Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Aberlour

“Wonderful whisky!. This Aberlour is really a no-brainer buying option if you like sherried whiskies. Batches vary between them but they are all rather good.”

91
Aberlour A'Bunadh Batch 35
If you want intense, spicy Oloroso sherry, masses of character, and at natural cask strength, all for under 40, it has to be a'Bunadh. Batch 35 is a stinker!

Aberlour A'bunadh is a cask strength Speyside single malt whisky that is released by the distillery in small batches each with a slightly different profile but all on the sherry monsters style.

Really a must have and a whisky that is almost near to the almighty Macallan 10 years old Cask Strength.

This dram has a cooper-like color.

Nose (90): more than average. honey, nuts, citrus, floral, cocoa. Nice nose but it is slightly closed. A bit hard to nose it at 60% abv.

Palate (93): smooth, powerful, oily. honey, nuts, leather, citrus, spices, wood, raisins.

Finish (90): long. honey, nuts, citrus, spices, cinnamon.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Aberlour A'Bunadh Batch 35 with 91 points over 100.

Gladiator by Ridley Scott

By Miguel in Aberlour , Drink & Arts

If you find yourself alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you’re already dead!

The movie

Russell Crowe Gladiator by Ridley Scott
Maximus is a powerful Roman general, loved by the people and the aging Emperor, Marcus Aurelius.
Before his death, the Emperor chooses Maximus to be his heir over his own son, Commodus, and a power struggle leaves Maximus and his family condemned to death.

The powerful general is unable to save his family, and his loss of will allows him to get captured and put into the Gladiator games until he dies.
The only desire that fuels him now is the chance to rise to the top so that he will be able to look into the eyes of the man who will feel his revenge.

The dram: Aberlour A’bunadh

a bottle of Aberlour A'bunadh 17
A really great dram at a very reasonable price for cask-strength whisky of this exceptional quality.

Aberlour a’bunadh is hugely sherried and intensely flavoured: a whisky to cherish.

Looking at the glass this whisky remind me of the barley fields, of the grapes and raisins drying under the sun, of the dark bodegas at Jerez. It’s a powerful dram that can light even darkest places.

Smelling it is like swimming in nuts, honey, sherry and flowers. Something that transcends the drink itself…

[buy-button permalink="aberlour-abunadh-batch-17"]


Aberlour A'bunadh Batch 29 Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Aberlour

“ The best sherry whisky I have tried so far. So intense flavor: the wood, the sherry, the honey. Impressive.”

95
Aberlour a'Bunadh Batch 29
This great single malt whisky is the Batch 29 from the astounding range of a'Bunadh whisky from Aberlour. All a'Bunadh are bottled at cask strength.

a'Bunadh is Gaelic for Original. These are small batches crafted in the old fashioned style of big bodied, sherry matured whisky.

Aberlour A'bunadh is a cask strength Speyside single malt whisky that is released by the distillery in small batches each with a slightly different profile but all on the sherry monsters style.

Really a must have and a whisky that is almost near to the almighty Macallan 10 years old Cask Strength.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (92): inexistent. sweet, fruity, mango, honey, vanilla, peaches, tobacco, spices. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (100): . sweet, hot, spices, vanilla, sherry, honey, tobacco. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (92): no finish. honey, vanilla, tobacco, spices, sherry. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Aberlour a'Bunadh Batch 29 with 95 points over 100.