Super Scotch for a Special Something! (Aberlour a'bunadh)

Member Name: gillyman

Product:	Aberlour a'bunadh
Date:	09/10/02 (1662 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Phenomenal colour, Whisky distilled in the old way

Disadvantages: Expensive, Difficult to find

Those of you who are still perservering with my opinions in the hope that I will do something about my poor spelling, original punctuation and forgettable sense of humour may remember that I wrote an op about a summer trip to Gibraltar. Whilst walking down Gibraltar's main street (basically a huge Duty Free shop), I was lucky enough to clap eyes on this beautiful dram which I swiftly purchased. It tuned out to have been a wise move.

A brief history of Aberlour (with thanks to www.Aberlour.co.uk)

Like many of Scotland's great whiskys, Aberlour can be found on the banks of the Spey. The distillery was founded in 1879 next to the village of Aberlour which is itself on the Lour burn. The distillery can be visited during the summer months by appointment only (see website for details).

But what you really want to know is..........

Although the most common bottling of Aberlour is the 10 year old, itself an excellent dram, it was clear to me that I was onto something special with the a'bunadh.

Initial Impressions

The packaging is fairly straightforward - a green box, white picture on the front. Hinting at what is waiting inside however is the label that appears at the top of the box proclaiming that it is bottled at a cask strength of 59.6% and telling you which cask it was drawn from. What you are getting has not been watered down or chill filtered and is a pure whisky taken from one original cask as was once the tradition.

Open the box! There is a flap holding the bottle in place with the top of the bottle poking through. The lid is sealed in a burgundy coloured wax - unusual and the first time I have ever seen such a thing - possibly this is just a gimmick - taking the wax off will reveal a solid wooden stopper.

Removing the bottle from the box it should be clear, if it were not already so that you're on to something special. The colour of the a'bunadh is nothing short of extraord
inary. To say that it is the deepest and most beautiful red amber that I have ever seen in a whisky does not do the hue full justice - you will find yourself salivating as you hold the bottle up to the light in admiration.

Tasting

The question of whether or not to add water is always one that causes disagreement. I believe that it is warranted in the case of a cask strength whisky as otherwise it is overpowering. I opened the bottle with a friend who thoroughly enjoyed it at its full strength whilst I diluted mine with some room temperature mineral water.

Start by holding the glass up to the light - I use solid crystal tumblers and the cut of the crystal combined with the colour of the whisky is part of the sensation.

Now stick your nose into the glass and give a good sniff - whisky is an honest drink - the smell or 'nose' accurately reflects the taste. You should be picking up spices and a good whiff of sherry from the Oloroso cask.

It is fruity and creamy. Strong orangey and sherry tastes are present but other fruits and spices are also present in the bouquet.

It has a strong finish, robust enough to remain with you for a while.

Gosh - that really was quite a poetic experience wasn't it?

Where to find it.

Whilst passing through Stansted airport, I asked the chap at the Whisky shop what he thought of it - he told me that he rarely saw a bottle of it and asked where I'd picked it up! It should be available at UK Duty Frees - probably the World of Whiskies shop at Heathrow is a good bet - even if they don't have it, their display is brilliant and staff both knowledgeable and friendly. It should also be available at specialist high street retailers. Its also available in Gibraltar!

Cost

I got lucky. I paid 21 pounds for a 700 ml bottle which is about average. It generally retails for around 35 quid a time however so this is going to be a bottle that y
ou would open on a special occasion. I would suggest that it is well worth treating yourself to!

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