Aberlour Triple Cask

Aroma: Cooked fruit compote featuring apricot, apple, peach, raisin, and currant. Crème brûlée, vanilla, and a whisper of oak cask. A floral fragrance emerges with time, evoking strawberry, jonquil, lily-of-the-valley, and honeysuckle – all very sweet, honeyed scents. While not the most intricate aroma, it is unified and distinctly sweet. It also hints at cherry and almond nougat. Taste: A gentle, sweet entry, again focusing on cooked fruits. Some tannin, licorice, and pepper appear midway, but it largely mirrors the aroma. The texture is slightly oily. Aftertaste: Medium to short, with sweet preserved fruit. A pleasing whisky, though not exceptionally remarkable. I would certainly accept a complimentary pour, and it would serve well as a calming nightcap. The floral notes are particularly suited for quiet, late-night enjoyment. The aroma is notably sweet, suggesting nearly syrupy toffee notes akin to caramelized popcorn and a nut mix. The taste follows suit to some degree but isn't cloyingly sweet as one might fear. Its only drawback, if it can be called that, is its simplicity. This whisky strongly brought to mind the Strathisla 12 Year Old – another very mellow and gentle dram with a similar floral character – and I'm assigning it the same rating. This tasting was from a sample I've had for a long time but only recently sampled. It doesn't seem to be available anymore, but I've noted the price it would have sold for. If you find a dusty bottle at that price, it's worth buying if you appreciate mellow whiskies like Strathisla or Tomintoul. However, if you're seeking a robust sherry bomb, you'd be better off with Aberlour a'bunadh, which is a much more substantial expression for a slightly higher cost. "Above Average": 82/100 (3.25 stars)

Here is a recent bottling from the Speyside producer, Aberlour. This is an age-statement-free release, a blend of spirits from three cask types: American oak, European oak, and sherry casks. The name Aberlour chose for this bottling? Triple Cask. Quite clever, quite clever indeed. Initially planned as a European-only offering, it seems to be available globally now. It's bottled at 40% ABV, with added color and chill-filtration. I acquired this bottle about a month ago for $32 (70cl) as part of an international order. In the glass, it shows a new penny copper color with watery, viscous legs and heavy drops. The aroma resembles a typical Speysider: sherry fruits, vanilla, green apple slices, caramel swirls, and a faint hint of fresh oak. There's no sign of heat, and neither additional time nor drops of water enhance it. Just open and enjoy. The palate mirrors the nose almost exactly, with a slightly more pronounced oak barrel character. It's a bit sharp midway and becomes more bitter toward the finish. The sherry casks dominate the mouthfeel at the end, similar to the standard 12, 16, and 18-year-old expressions. The finish is medium in length and bitter, with warm oak leading to a faint, lingering sweetness. Ultimately, this is just another standard Aberlour. Nothing objectionable, but the complexity is either absent or obscured by bitter oak and low alcohol content. For fans of this distillery or those seeking more flavor and impact from Aberlour, consider the Casg Annamh or A’Bunadh. At $32, it's a good value if you find it, but I'd prefer to spend an additional $20-30 on a spirit with more depth and/or strength. A score of 3 stars, plus a.25 star bonus for the price. Enjoy.

The 2019 Advent offering has a faint coffee aroma and tastes of coffee with honey.

Smooth, sugary, and viscous spirit. A good purchase for the price.