In the autumn of 2024, my wife and I embarked on a journey to Scotland where we met up with some friends for an adventure in Campbeltown. Prior to Campbeltown, we spent a day road tripping in the highlands (or at least the beginnings of it), stopping at the Glenturret Distillery and the spending the night in Aberfeldy before heading back to Glasgow. Aberfeldy was beautiful— the countryside was gorgeous at every turn (and there were many on the road there), and the people very hospitable.

As the driver, I took my drams to go, and I appreciate that Aberfeldy made those freely available and even provided lovely sticker labels with all of the information about the whisky. This was not the case everywhere we went!

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Whisky: Aberfeldy 12 Year

Country/Region: Scotland/Highland

ABV: 40%

Cask: Oak

Age: 12 Years

Notes: Sweet apples and oak drifted languidly out of the glass as white flowers and digestif biscuits followed close behind. A touch of beeswax and old paper lingered with the scent of a musty wood shop in the background. Light-bodied, the flavor profile was richer than I expected, with plenty of honey and apples on waxed paper— homemade breakfast grain bars sweetened with dried fruits and honey. A touch of vanilla and coconut jam lingered further in with plenty of oak and a kiss of peppery herbs.  The finish was medium to short with malty pastries, honey, and oak.

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Score: 5 (74)

Mental Image: Standard Issue Single Malt

Conclusion: This was far more enjoyable than I expected, echoing my reaction to the Dewar’s 12 Year I also brought home from Aberfeldy.  I would pour this over that, and while I do not often stock mass market products at home (I have long since fallen to the esoteric siren’s song of independent bottlers), I would absolutely take a pour of this if I were at an event or bar and I wanted a solid single malt.  This will not hold your attention, but that is not the point, it should fade nicely into the background of an evening.