Monday, October 06, 2008

Malt Mission 2008 #314


Aberfeldy 21 yo
Speyside Single Malt Whisky

40% abv
£89
$150 (USD)

Winner of the Best Mainland Whisky award at the 2007 World Whisky Awards, this 21 year old expression from Aberfeldy distillery was introduced in 2005, 7 years after Bacardi acquired the distillery (along with Dewar's blends and 4 other malt distilleries) from Diageo. The award winning vistors' centre Dewar's World of Whisky opened in 2000 and has been visited by almost a million people.

Although Dewar's dominance in the USA market has slipped a little in recent years, the brands diversification into 12, 18 and ultra premium while raising the blend's association with this fine distillery has helped it's appreciation among malt enthusiasts and widened its consumer base beyond the scotch and soda crowd, if those old fogies even still exist.

For all Dewar's whiskies had on the mission, click HERE. Thanks to SM for sending along the drop and sorry for taking about a year to feature it.

TASTING NOTES:

Sweet, rich and beautiful. Creamy with incredible aroma integration. Nothing out of place or prickly. Toasty, woody, and full of honey and heather, even a gorse-y coconut aroma among a luscious creaminess.

Gorgeous first impressions, flavours so well bound. Macadamia nutes, marzipan, chocolate and buttermilk pancakes then a toasted nut effect, almond butter, with honey, oranges, and malty malty goodness.

SUMMARY:

A great balance of European and American oak influences after 21 years in casks make this excellent drop worth every penny. One for everyday dramming if you could afford it.

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