Aberfeldy 16 Year

This is the second consecutive evening I'm evaluating a 16-year-old single malt from a range where I'd previously only sampled the 12-year. The Mortlach 12 certainly made a greater impact than the Aberfeldy 12, so I'm hopeful this one will level the playing field. Nose: Honey, butterscotch, vanilla, toffee, and caramel. Floral hints. Apple, apricot, and pear. Orange, tangerine, and golden raisin. Almond. Sugar cookie. Subtle clove, nutmeg, and oak spice. Cinnamon and white pepper, too. It's on the lighter side; which is unsurprising given the 40% ABV. Palate: Caramel, toffee, vanilla, butterscotch, and honey. Gala apple, golden raisin, and grape. Apricot. Sherry notes and almond. Almond butter. Oak and baking spice. Finish: Almond/almond butter and macadamia. Honey, butterscotch, vanilla, toffee, and caramel. Cinnamon, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. A short, perhaps short-to-moderate finish. I've stated this numerous times, and I truly dislike saying it as it makes me feel like I'm prejudiced against 40% ABV bottlings. But it invariably holds true. They are consistently straightforward. And while this is a perfectly acceptable whisky, it's abundantly clear that it would be far superior at a higher proof. Why invest the time and effort to age this in quality casks for over a decade and a half, only to dilute it to the absolute minimum? This is an adequate whisky. Entirely pleasant, well-balanced, a solid character. But at 40%, there isn't enough intricacy here to warrant the score I'd prefer to give when being truly critical. And that's unfortunate, as it's an objectively good whisky at a great price considering the age statement. At $90, I simply require more complexity. On its own merits, this is a 3.25 or a 3.5 whisky. But I need more impact, and value for money brings this down despite the incredible age statement for the cost. A 3/5 overall.

Nose: Very faint honey, pollen, beeswax, cereal. A whisper of weak orange herbal tea and a little background oak as it opens. Palate: The palate is very similar to the nose. Sweet and soft on arrival, primarily mildly spiced honey and light malt. Nothing new appears during development - the spicy, dry mead-like character briefly expands then fades into the finish. The texture is somewhat dilute and creamy, but the honey notes are crisp. Finish: Short. Mild citrus and honey. The palate disappears until you suddenly realize it's completely gone. A soft, slightly sweet malt that is very easy to drink. It's certainly well-crafted with no off-notes, but it lacks complexity and the finish is brief. You definitely don't need water; it tastes a little thin to me, and I can't help but wonder how delightful this profile could be at 46%. If you're looking for a very approachable whisky as a nightcap, or if you're just starting out and want something rewarding but not challenging, then Aberfeldy 16 would be a good choice. However, if you're an experienced whisky drinker who only seeks assertive whiskies that present a challenge, then pass this by. "Above Average": 81/100 (3 stars)

Wow. Please excuse my enthusiasm. This is THE introductory drink for anyone who, for whatever reason, believes they will never enjoy Scotch whisky. It does come at a high price, but for the potential to immediately turn someone who dislikes whisky into someone curious about it, it's well worth it. Nose: floral and honey with a subtle hint of earthiness (in a good way), no alcohol smell Palate: clean and short, if that's possible, a bit of vanilla / crème brûlée and the smell of rain (that 'good' earthiness or perhaps some kind of Scottish ozone magic); a lingering spice makes this drink taste like Christmas. Finish: moderate to long, mild spice, a firm sherry presence at the end. Overall stunning complexity. If I were 'stranded on an isle' or under house arrest (more likely), this would have to be one of the choices on the list. If you see it at a bar, store, or on a menu, it's a 'yes'. Treat yourself.

Having previously tried and appreciated the 12-year Aberfeldy as one of the best value single malts available, I received a gift set for a friend at Christmas containing the 12, 16, and 21-year expressions. We recently sampled the 16-year, and it's acceptable. While tastes vary, I found it a bit too fruit-forward for my preference. To its credit, it is consistently smooth and goes down without any burn. Near the end of the tasting, I detected some dark chocolate sweetness. It's almost chalky in texture. No, for me, I would stick with the 12-year or opt for the more premium 21-year. However, this entire range seems to be priced lower than its quality suggests and is readily available. A positive point in current times.

Nose – Raisin cream pies, straw, dates, figs, and oak notes... Palate – A honey overload, barbecue, toffee, caramel, black pepper, medium mouthfeel... Finish - Green apple, butter, white chocolate, dry and brief.... With water - Brings apples/pear to the front with barbecue on the nose…..palate unchanged... A decent everyday dram, if you want a honey-heavy profile, but a bit pricey for what you get...The theme for this dram is "Honey Pie" by The Beatles.

Finished off a 200ml bottle of this from a sampler 3-pack. It's very similar to the 12 with a bit of extra body and flavor. Sure, it's a pleasant scotch and I enjoyed drinking it, but by no means is this a $100 bottle in my opinion. Where the 12 yr scores bonus points for value, this takes a hit. No possible way I would buy a bottle of this........77/100