Whisky: Aberlour 25 Year (1994), Douglas Laing XOP

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 55.9%

Cask: Refill Hogshead

Age: 25 Years (Distilled June 1994, Bottled August 2019)

Nose: Citrus, buttery pastries, dried grass, herbal, hints of spearmint and melon, bit of spirited prickle at first, white pepper, ginseng, subtle earth and moss.

Palate: Medium-bodied, honey, herbal tea, dried citrus, mint, tarragon, hints of summer florals, ginger candies with hints of white pepper and tingly Szechuan peppercorn, lingering woody notes.  With water more chocolate and malty pastries.

Finish: Medium-length with subtle earthy notes of ginger and mint.

Score: 7

Mental Image: A Rabbit’s Mid-Summer Tea Party

Narrative & Notes: The aroma was herbal and pleasant, with lemony citrus, buttery ginger and shortbread cookies, and a tin of chamomile tea. Hints of spearmint and melon drifted in the background, coming out more with a few drops of water. Initially, there was some spirited prickle, but it faded with time to reveal white pepper, ginseng, and a subtle earthy moss— almost dried mushroom at times. Notions of tea and musty florals continued on the medium-bodied palate with honey, dried citrus rinds, mint, and tarragon. Hints of lavender, violets, and summer flower gardens lingered in the background while ginger candy came to the fore. With more time, white pepper and tingly Szechuan peppercorns joined weathered white oak at the end. The finish was medium-length with ginger, mint, and an underlying earthiness. A few drops of water unlocked more chocolate on the palate, with malty pastries coming to the front with ginger and honey.

A lovely Aberlour from Douglas Laing’s premium Extra Old Particular range. It was relaxing and easy to sip on, with a well-integrated and herbal-dominant profile. The herbal notes varied from dried grass on the nose to more well-developed tea and spice on the palate. I thought a few drops of water did wonders to bring out additional complexity, with chocolate and pastries arriving in full force.

Overall, I am far from an Aberlour fan, and I thought this was one of the better offerings from the distillery that I have had the good fortune to try.

Image Credit: The Whisky Exchange