Aberlour A'Bunadh, Sherry Cask, Batch No. 85, 61.3%

afterglowrambler16 Oct

The rich sherry alongside orange and dark chocolate gives this a fairly bold character. It sounds more intense than easygoing, though the fruit and bittersweet notes make for an appealing contrast.

shortwave lantern22 Sept

The finish has a clear bitter-sweet edge, with dark chocolate and oak meeting exotic spice. That’s the part I find most compelling: it gives the rich sherry character a firmer close rather than leaving it all on the sweeter side. Orange and dried fruit add contrast on the palate, while the full-bodied, creamy texture suggests plenty of weight. The notes don’t establish how long the finish lasts, but its character sounds vivid and substantial.

fern.postcard11 Sept

The oak is present, but it seems to share the stage with sherry, fruit and dark chocolate rather than define the whole character. That balance makes sense in these notes, though I’d have liked the oak to come through a little more clearly.

busstop.postcard23 Aug

The orange and sherry notes give this plenty of warmth, while dark bitter chocolate and oak keep the palate from feeling simply sweet. That contrast appeals to me: I tend to like oak when it has richer fruit and spice alongside it, and the black cherries, dried fruit and ginger give it some company here. The full-bodied, creamy palate sounds inviting, though the robust, intense finish suggests this is one for anyone comfortable with a firmly flavoured whisky. Praline and spiced orange on the nose add a softer opening before the darker palate notes take over. Overall, it reads as rich and layered, with the bitter-sweet finish providing a useful counterpoint rather than just more sweetness.