Aberlour 18 Year Old, Bourbon & Sherry Cask, 43%

Ripe fruit, orange zest and plum jam set a lively, sweet direction, with toffee buns and butterscotch giving it a richer edge. The palate moves from soft apricot and cream into chocolate-coated raisins, liquorice root, blackcurrant jam, old leather, oak and nutmeg, creating a clear shift toward darker notes. The long finish keeps sweetness in view before oak, dried fruit and spice linger. A layered Speyside single malt, though the range of flavors may feel busy for someone who prefers a simpler style.

Reviewed by crumpled.fox

Nose

Ripe fruit, Orange zest, Toffee buns, Plum jam, Butterscotch, Hints of vanilla and honey

Palate

Soft apricot and cream, Chocolate-coated raisins, Liquorice root, Blackcurrant jam, Old leather, Oak, Nutmeg

Finish

Long and complex, Crème brûlée sweetness, Gentle oak, Lingering dried fruits and spices, Subtle warmth