Aberlour A'bunadh Alba

This is Batch 002. It's 58.7% alcohol. The smell has orchard fruit and bubbly cola, with red apple and caramel. It's sweet, like cooked pears in bread pudding with a touch of cinnamon. Vanilla custard is around the edges of the glass. There's a faint alcohol scent, but the sensation quickly becomes intense. The taste starts sweet and fruity, like the smell, then shifts to a smooth milk chocolate that intensifies over time. You get occasional strong bursts of ripe cherry. The alcohol tastes medicinal. There's a bit of charred wood with mild to moderate tannins. The bread pudding flavor returns, but just the caramel swirl part now. Chocolate and wood remain in the finish, joined by a pleasant woodsy spice. The spice isn't quite hot cinnamon, but close to it and enjoyable, lasting without being too much. It complements the drink. This doesn't stir any strong feelings in me. It's acceptable. It's likely too expensive, but otherwise drinkable. As I went through the bottle, I felt like it should offer more, but it never truly developed. Trying it with water, ice, or straight didn't change anything. (Honestly, it's hard to drink straight. Too much alcohol.) I'll probably skip this batch and wait for the next one. Or get batch 001 if you can find it. As an aside: the bottle is beautiful. The simple raised lettering on the glass, the small label, the shape, the whisky's color, and the wax seal made me want to keep it on my shelf forever without opening it. But, you know, it's for drinking. This is likely my second favorite bottle design, only behind the Hibiki.

Batch 003 - Bottled at 60.4% ABV (120.8 Proof) As others have noted - this one is potent. Allow it some time to breathe before enjoying. This would be an excellent candidate for a decanter, but I'm tasting from a newly opened bottle in a Glencairn after the whiskey has sat for about 10 minutes. What an intriguing and delightful nose. The first scent I detect is sweet Maraschino cherries coated in thick honey. How rich and inviting. The taste is hot due to the proof, but it's incredibly creamy and coats the tongue. With the tingling sensation on the tongue from the proof, it's almost like a root beer float. As the initial mouthfeel blends into the full taste, you get the faintest hint of cherry, but then it erupts into sweet baking spices and dark chocolate. The finish begins almost salty but then melts into a slightly bitter chocolate and sweet caramel aftertaste. Similar to a dark chocolate sea salt caramel candy. This one is not for the faint of heart. For goodness sake, don't let your friends who don't typically drink whiskey try some. But for those who genuinely appreciate whiskey and aren't intimidated by a little proof, my word, this is something special.

I must state upfront that this is the finest Aberlour I've ever experienced. An exceptionally clean and flavorful spirit that powerfully and delightfully showcases fruitiness. The specific batch I sampled was No. 2, bottled at 58.7% ABV. On the nose, the aroma is superb. The most incredible red apple scent, cinnamon, pleasant spice, and honey. Very sweet, with sophisticated toffee and maple syrup notes. On the palate, it follows suit. Toffee, honey, salt, caramel. It truly tastes like apple pie after a few sips. The aftertaste is dominated by dulce de leche, apples, and salt. It's like a dessert. Overall, this is a straightforward whisky crafted in the most delicious manner. It appeals to everyone; ignore the 58.7% ABV, as there's no hint of alcohol. "Alba" signifies Quercus Alba, or American oak, and as they say, "nothing is more American than apple pie" - well, this is an apple pie. My rating is 94 out of 100. Get a bottle.

Batch 001 Nose - Subtle notes of pear, apple, and caramel, surprisingly little to no burn on the nose Taste - Apple, sweet caramel, vanilla, maple syrup, possesses a certain velvety mouthfeel, a hint of cocoa at the finish Finish - Smooth, the taste persists with caramel and cocoa, leaving a pleasant sensation on the tongue Score - 4.0, generally quite light and easy to consume Scoring Legend 5.0 - Outstanding, unmatched by others 4.5 - Excellent, I would always aim to keep a bottle in stock if possible 4.0 - Very good, quite enjoyable to drink, a reliable choice 3.5 - Good, would taste again 3.0 - Average 2.5 - Acceptable, still drinkable 2.0 - Inferior, drinkable but not enjoyable 1.5 and below—would not drink again unless absolutely necessary

The nose is very sweet, with hints of marzipan, raisin, cherries, and a pleasant amount of vanilla, though not overly intense. It's good but lacks significant complexity, with the bourbon slightly overshadowing the sherry. Sweet. Initially, there's a faint, almost metallic acidity, similar to Arran, which transitions into a sherried tobacco-leather note, followed by peachy and cherry bourbon notes with powdered sugar sweetness and a subtle marmalade hint. Water is needed to reveal its full potential; without it, it tastes like sweet gasoline. The finish is pleasantly sweet but not exceptionally complex. It's a good scotch with nice intensity and character, but it doesn't possess the sherry complexity I'd prefer. Overall, it doesn't entirely justify the price but is an acceptable scotch. I do enjoy the flavor, it's certainly not bad.

Nose - An aroma dominated by chocolate. Sweet confections like donuts and puddings. I detect kheer, an Indian dessert! Cardamom is also present. I notice the alcohol content, which isn't surprising given its 60.1% ABV. Taste - Oily and intensely sweet! It tastes like honey and apple pie. There's a peculiar warm sensation in the mouth. Mild spiciness due to the high alcohol content. The finish is medium-long. It evokes the sensation of a freshly baked apple pie with vanilla ice cream. I also get notes of grapes and candied apple! The influence of the bourbon barrel is very apparent. Bourbon enthusiasts would enjoy this whisky. Thoroughly enjoyed this dram. Personally, I prefer the standard Aberlour A'Bunadh, but this is also wonderful.