I have only tried one or two cask strength whiskies from Aberfeldy, the last one being a 27yo from The Whisky Agency, which let me down a bit. This time I'm doing 12yo, 17yo, 20yo and 21yo, all diluted down to a rather unflattering 40%abv. But I know there are some whiskies that can do very well when bottled at a low strength as opposed to cask strength, for example my last tasting, the sort of dreaded Loch Lomond showed to be such. The two diluted versions faring way better than the two at cask strength. Let's not jump to conclusions, but rather enjoy these four examples of a single malts that's most of the time beyond may peoples radar. What I do know is that in amongst all the high proof cask strengths that's flying around nowadays, it's a good idea having a couple low strength drams once awhile.
Aberfeldy 12yo 40% OB
I think this is the standard expression from the distillery, but usually the miniatures does look like a smaller version of the 70cl. In this case it doesn't. This has a green cap and a spli green/white label. According to www.whiskybase.com, this one is from 2005, the recent version was released in 2007. A short-lived edition, could this be a disaster in the terms of the 12yo 1824 Fettercairn from about the same time? I hope not. The label reads "...this single malt whisky with its distinctively peaty nose." I can't smell too much peat here, more waxy, stearic, and phenols. Golden, slightly lighter side of orange hue. Not very interesting so far. The taste is not good at all, phenolic, spirity, like some bad bad grain whisky. Rubbery, soapy and acidic. Water please. Water makes it just bland. I reckon why they stopped this bottling this one after a very short period. As I did with the Fettercairn 1824 from the same time. I just hope the new Aberfeldy will lift this one as the Fior have done for Fettercairn. But that is to be judged in another tasting.
This one was quite unbearable: 1.5 (2 after much time and more water)
Aberfeldy 17yo 1974-1991 40% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail
The youngest one in this has been distilled at least 19 years prior to the youngest constituent in the 12yo tried prior to this. Considering the 5 years age difference and the possibility of bottle maturation for those that believe in such a thing (and I do!!!), this one could be very interesting. About the same color as the 12yo, maybe slightly lighter, both adjusted with some E's? What the hell, I think a really good whisky should be able to cope with some E's, som I'm not too bothered with them natural coloring devices. This one definitively has that peaty nose alongside some sweet licorice and toasted bread. The taste is also more on the peaty side, a bit more peppery, burnt toast again, lime peel and beef gravy. Initially some light fruity sweetness as well, banana bread and cardboard.
It's no winner for sure, but a couple climbs up from the 12yo: 4.5
Aberfeldy 20yo 1977-1997 40% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail
Three years older yet three years younger, will this be somewhere along the lines of the last two, or will I experience maybe my first fantastic Aberfeldy? I know this series from Gordon & Macpahil were the poor mans choice of Single Independent bottlings for a long time, but I have to say that if you aren't into all that single cask cask strength vintage stuff, there are quite a number of good ones in the CC range as well. Excactly same color as the last one. The nose is peaty, toasted bread, cereal, much maltier than the prior two. Give it time and it gets even peatier, if nosed only I'd put my money on this being an Islay malt. Or maybe an Arran. The taste is heavy on licorice and toffee, less psirity a´than the 12yo and 17yo, very pleasant and rich, cinnamon, duck egg yolk, some coriander and cactus mints. I'll try adding water just for fun. Now it seems this is a whisky that just can't handle water, this one becomes just spirity, like some bad Vodka.
No water please!!! It was much better bare: 5.5
Aberfeldy 21yo 40% OB
I don't think this one created much fuzz when released, and I'm not sure if it will, but the 20yo were a lot better than the 12yo, so maybe it will be an improvement. A pricey one to say the least, but an improvement nonetheless. Again, this cross between golden and orange what color is concerned, and the fact that both the G&M's were slightly lighter makes me suggest that there's quite some of E's involved here. I don't mind too much, but the fact that a 21yo and a 12yo from same distillery carries same color just makes me think that it's maybe adjusted a bit. It smells much more withdrawn than the others, I need to give it some time. It doesn't evolve much, but remember it did spend 9 more years in the cask so maybe it's been numbed a bit. The taste is well... light describes it very well, just a bit plain, but there is no spirity or sulphury notes. I can detect some sweet cinnamon, gingerbread and leather. It's a nice and convenient dram, enjoyable at any time, but never a thrill.
Fine old stuff, but a bit predictable and boring, needs an x-factor: 5.5
Next tasting: Caol Ila Distillery
Ingen kommentarer:
Legg inn en kommentar