Review #121 - Aberlour 12 Year Double Cask Matured
12 Year Speysider Series: Part 7 of 7
Wrapping up this series is Aberlour's 12 Year, a double cask matured single malt. It combines ex-bourbon barrel matured whisky with ex-sherry cask whisky, which, according to the brand, brings a balanced character.
Aberlour 12 Year Double Cask Matured
Scotland/Speyside - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 57 (2023)
Age Statement: 12 Years
Strength: 40% ABV
Cask Makeup: American oak and sherry oak casks
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 2 times over 6 months; bottles at 60% and 40% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Lots of fresh fruit: crisp green apple, strawberries and red apple, even some blood orange or Asian pear. Complementing the fruits are baking spices of vanilla and cinnamon, almost like a baked donut. Occasionally, it was slightly tart with a tiny hint of wood smoke; with more time, the nose opened to rich plum.
Palate: A bit more dried fruit on the palate - raisin and plum, some cherries, but also sweet green apple and grape. The cinnamon returns from the nose, and there's just a bit of oak in here, but it's somewhat mild overall, rounded and soft. The mouthfeel is medium-thin, and after tasting some other higher proof spirits, this does come across as slightly watery in comparison.
Finish: The finish is short, providing soft apple and maple sugar, along with savory pears and plenty of vanilla.
Final Note: This is fine, if a little plain. There are pleasant flavors of orchard fruit and baking spices, but it's pretty simple and mild in the end. The 40% bottling strength really doesn't do it any favors, but because of its mild complexion and lower strength, it's a great entry point to sherried single malt whisky. Value is alright; you could probably find a bit more flavor for a few dollars cheaper, but it's far from the worst deal out there.
Our Average Rating: 5.8 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.02
Check out our other Aberlour reviews:
