Today you will read a comprehensive history and review of the Aberlour distillery then I will be sharing the tasting notes and my opinions on six whiskies I've had from them. I hope this will be useful to those who have never had a bottle of this magnificent liquid and maybe to those aswell who started their "Aberlour journey" but they didn't take a step towards buying the more expensive whisky this distillery has to offer.

The distillery and it's founder James Fleming

Aberlour distillery is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distillery, in Aberlour, Strathspey, Scotland, at the confluence of the Lour Burn and River Spey near Ben Rinnes. James Fleming the founder of Aberlour distillery (1830-1895) was born and baptised on the first day of June at Inveravon, the only son of a tenant farmer at Tomfarclas (There are independent bottlers that use Tomfarclas, when they can't disclose that the whisky they sourced is from Glenfarclas.) on the Ballindalloch estate. James helped his father on the farm until manhood and then sought a wider and more financially rewarding direction for his future, firstly as a commission agent and dealer in the grain trade. So we can say that his love towards whisky started while he was working as a grain dealer. In the mid-1860s he acquired a lease of the Dailuaine distillery (Dailuaine is owned by DIAGEO today and the distillery contributes to their blended scotch whiskies.) at nearby Carron and held it for ten years, making connections in the spirit markets. 

In 1879 Fleming secured a feu (Traditionally, in Scotland, a feu charter was a document that would create a new feu – a feu being the most common form of land tenure in Scotland. It held that the tenure of land was held in perpetuity in return for a continuing annual fee (feu) paid to the landowner.) from the Earl of Fife on the land where he would build his new Aberlour distillery and on its completion produced whisky there from December 1880. He sold the business to his acting agents, Robert Thorne & Sons in 1892. James Fleming died aged 65, leaving a significant and tangible legacy.

In 1898 there was a very unfortunate and big fire that destroyed most of the buildings and also most of the Whisky on stock in the warehouses. But Aberlour managed to get through this crisis and rebuilt the distillery shortly afterwards. This was a great chance for Aberlour, because they rebuilt the distillery with the most modern equipment. 

Robert Thorne & Sons Ltd. sold the Aberlour distillery in 1920 to a brewing family, W.H. Holt & Sons, based near Manchester, England. In 1945 ownership passed to S. Campbell & Sons Ltd and the distillery was later re-equppied with four stills in 1973. In 1975 Pernod Ricard acquired Campbell Distilleries, and they joined with Chivas Brothers in 2001 forming a portfolio of 14 single malt distilleries and 1 grain distillery in Scotland, and 2 gin distilleries in England. In 2002 a new modernised visitor centre was opened for public visits and tours. In 2014, over 3.5 million bottles of Aberlour were sold.

The Aberlour distillery has two wash stills (21,000 litres) and two spirit stills (15,500 litres). Nowadays they have a yearly output of about 3.5 million litres. This puts them in the middle to upper section of the biggest Whisky distilleries in Scotland. In 2019 plans are known that Chivas Brothers wants to expand and rebuild the distillery larger. In mid-2020, they received the permits for a new Still House, a Tun Room and a Mash Room.

The water used for the Whisky production comes from the "Burn of Aberlour". This is a river flowing right past the distillery. The water is also used as process water for cooling the alcoholic fumes.

The Pot Stills of the Aberlour Distillery uses a sum of four pot stills in a double distillation process to produce its new make spirit. With the pear shape, the pot and the conical neck have the classic design. With no constriction or reflux bowls in the neck and the lyne arm facing downwards you would expect a very strong and intense distillery character. So this leads to how fast Aberlour distills its spirits. The sweet and calm character of the usual Aberlour suggests that the Aberlour distillery uses a slow distillation process.  

Their core range consists of a variety of ages, including a 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 Double Sherry, as well as a cask strength release, A'bunadh, with no age statement. Most of the variants are aged in American ex-bourbon casks, a standard for many single malts. Aberlour also releases a range of malts that, after aging in bourbon casks, are finished in casks previously used to mature varieties of fortified wines or sherries.

Aberlour 12 year old Double Cask - Colored, Chill-filtered, 40%

"The 12 year-old expression is a fine example of how the distinctively crisp, citrus character of Aberlour's new distillate is deftly softened by double cask maturation. Traditional Oak and seasoned Sherry butts are both used to great effect, as the mellowed spirits within are combined to deliver a subtly balanced flavour."

Nose: Sherry, cherry, nut, tobacco, chocolate, light perfume and leather notes. A little too weak, too thin. Perhaps due to the 40%.

Taste: Dried fruits such as figs and prunes. Dark chocolate balances the sweetness. Leather and some oak. Again a bit too thin, not too oily and definitely could be better.

Finish: Short to medium. Warm nut and sherry aromas with some bitter dark chocolate at the end.

Overall this is a quite ok entry malt for beginners. I would not recommend it to any non-beginners. The 40% is a bit low and it lacks complexity, however this could be a great whisky for guests due to it's nice sweet taste. I can't find any citrus here tho as Aberlour states that it's their character of the new distillate, the sherry butts took control of this whisky. 80 / 100

Aberlour Casg Annamh - Natural Color (?), Non-Chill filtered,  48%

"Translating as 'Rare Cask' in Gaelic, Casg Annamh is created from a limited number of carefully selected casks. These Spanish oak Oloroso Sherry casks/butts have a significant influence on the non-chill filtered liquid and perfectly complement Aberlour's distillate flavour, bringing sweet and rich notes. Casg Annamh is a distinctively rich Single Malt providing adventurous malt lovers with the ideal introduction to Sherry cask matured whiskies."

Nose: Very much a Speyside nose with some additional layers on top. Taking the first sniff I am getting and extremely light and inviting nose. Orchard fruit with floral notes and a whiff of barley. Going over this initial burst of light fruits and light Speyside character I'm getting milk chocolate, raisins and some dark peaches. Heavy nuttiness with sherry. I do like this light but still a bit of a complex nose.

Taste: Orchard fruits with honey and cereal notes. In the back I'm getting tropical fruits such as mango. On the second sip I clearly get the sherry influence and nuttiness. Dark fruits, raisins and a hint of spicy oak. Maybe some heat due to it's not being such an old whisky.

Finish: The 48% Abv is trying to make this a long finish whisky but for me I'd say it's medium to long. It's mouth-warming and sweet with dry sherry notes and spicy oak.

It's not a bad whisky by any means but it's bigger brother the A'bunadh is better. The only problem here being the youthness of the whisky and the bit of a heat it carries with it. The spicy oak is not overwhelming but it's not for the faint of heart. I'm still gonna drink this bottle because I do think it's a great sipper, but not for beginners due to the spiciness of it at some points. 84 / 100 

Aberlour 11 year old Distillery Exclusive Oloroso Sherry Casks - Natural Color, Non-Chill filtered, 49.4%

This is a bottle that you could only pick up at the distillery. It was matured in Oloroso Sherry Casks and is bottled at 49.4%, natural color and non-chill filtered. "This Aberlour 11 Year Old Limited Edition is sold by Mail Marketing UK Limited. Bottle only, product does not have a box. This non-chill filtered limited edition which has been aged exclusively in 1st fill ex-Oloroso Sherry butts and bottled at 49.4% alc/vol."

Nose: Leather, brown sugar, raisins, tobacco, cherries, fig cake with yeast dough. Marzipan, chocolate and bitter coffee. Blackberries, raspberries and vanilla. Oak in the background.

Taste: Creamy, very sweet and spicy. Dark fruits and coffee with dark chocoalte. A hint of oakiness.

Finish: Long, lingering and sweet. A mixture of sweetness and spice. Nutty bitterness.

Overall I didn't like this very much, however the profile of the whisky is very unique. I think this is an OK malt, but I would not pick up a bottle. 84 / 100

Aberlour 18 year old Double Sherry Cask - Natural Color (?), Chill filtered, 43%

"Introducing a new double cask finished in double sherry (PX and Oloroso Sherry Casks) for a long and complex flavour with lasting sweetness. This exquisite 18 Year Old expression is fully finished in specially selected first fill Oloroso sherry casks, known for their juicy raisin and liquorice flavours and combined with PX sherry casks, bringing an intensely rich syrupy sweet flavour."

Nose: This dram's smells darker than the 12. The wood influence is more prominent here: sandalwood, forest fruits, dried plums and sultanas. There's also mull wine. Maltiness and dark honey. Very rich and complex.

Taste: Oily enough, quite round and very smooth. Very sweet but it's getting balanced my dark bitter roasted coffee. Again dried fruits such as plums and dark candied oranges. Very nice maltiness again with manuka honey and oak.

Finish: Oaky and spicy. Very round and sweet. Dried fruits and coffee.

This is a great 18 year old. I have to say that it almost made my top 18 year old whiskies but it missess something that I need. Not sure what it is but it's just not quite yet there. However I love it a lot and I might get a full bottle. I'd definitely tell you to try this. 88 / 100

Aberlour A'bunadh batch #66 - Natural Color, Non-Chill filtered, 59.2%

"Meaning 'the original' in Gaelic, A'bunadh is made in homage to Aberlour's founder, James Fleming. A'bunadh is a whisky hand-made from start to finish with each batch being created to ensure a rich and complex flavour of moist raisin, and homemade fruit cake. It is bottled at cask strength resulting in a robust and deeply intense, sherried whisky."

Nose: Warm baking spice, almond, orange candy, vanilla, and burnt sugar. Buttery malt and caramel wafers. Figs, raisins and raspberry jam. Oak and dark chocolate.

Taste: Baking spices and orange, along with a hint of warm raisin. Full-bodied, oily, and chewy. At the back of the palate, nutmeg, allspice, orange, and dark chocolate dominate.

Finish: Long finish with dark chocolate, orange and cinnamon and just a hint of tobacco.

This is a phenomenal cask strength expression. I wish that every distillery would release one like this. I recommend this a lot. 88 / 100

Aberlour A'bunadh Alba batch #5 - Natural Color, Non-Chill filtered, 62.7%

"Meaning 'the original' in Gaelic, A'bunadh Alba is made in homage to Aberlour's founder, James Fleming. Abunadh Alba is matured in ex American Oak resulting in an aroma of ripe red apples, along with honey, vanilla and a hit of cinnamon. Abunadh Alba is bottled at cask strength resulting in a sweet whisky with a creamy texture."

Nose: Vanilla and banana, alcohol is there, malted barley, rather subtle green apple in the back, buttered toast. Green wood and a hint of toasted oak.

Taste: Sour fruits, marmalade. Buttered cinnamon toast. Banana, vanilla and toasted oak. Apple pie. Strong notes of malted barley. No alcohol present at all. Quite smooth.

Finish: Short to medium finish, falls of quite quickly. A nice boquet of flowers and green apples along with barley is displayed here.

This is the most unconventional Aberlour I've tried so far but how great this is. I think this one showcases the distilery character very well and you should try this. Lovely dram. 87 / 100

"Rather than boasting about the distinctive qualities of his Aberlour single malt, our founder, James Fleming remained true to his family's motto since the days of Robert the Bruce, 'Let the deed show.' The proof is in the drinking.

This saying simply translates as, 'actions speak louder than our words'. James Fleming let his whisky do the talking. It was his actions then, and the actions now of all our craftsmen that define the character of Aberlour."

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. To many more. Sláinte.