Review #429 - Single Malts of Scotland Aultmore 15 Year Single Cask
Another independently-bottled Aultmore single malt, after we recently looked at a version by Cadenhead's; this time, instead of ex-bourbon cask aging, we get a rich sherry maturation, evidenced by the very dark color of the liquid. We know that it's real color, too - Elixir Distillers and their Single Malts of Scotland brand don't add any artificial caramel coloring.
This single cask also has a decent age statement on it: 15 years for that sherry butt to do its work. Even after those 15 years, the strength still sits at a hefty 60.7% ABV... this is looking like an intense experience all around.
Single Malts of Scotland Aultmore 15 Year Single Cask
Scotland/Speyside - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 179 (2024)
Age Statement: 15 Years
Strength: 60.7% ABV
Cask Makeup: Ex-sherry butt
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; cask 900273, distilled June 26, 2008; bottled December 14, 2023; 422 bottles
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle 70% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Old-school dirty sherry cask - earthy, a little funky, sauteed mushrooms and red sauce. Quite savory, but also some fruit: dark inky prunes, figs. With time, a sweet orange note arrives, like candied orange rind.
Palate: A thick mouthfeel - wow, lovely texture. Sulfur from spent matchsticks, oranges and blood orange; acidic purple fruits of fig and sour grape, too. That earthy, almost dirty note from the nose returns.
Finish: Medium-long, with strong sherry notes lingering. We still get those soft acidic dark fruits, but also some fruitcake. It's a nice mix of sweet and sour; the oak level is subtle, but it does creep into the aftertaste, adding a polished wood flavor.
Final Note: Total sherry bomb - very cask forward. That said, it's a very good example of that style, giving us an interesting mixture of sweet, sour, and savory. Great texture and finish at this strength, too - this is a great example Aultmore, even if it's a bit different to their usual grassy, malty style.
Value is just okay, though. These IBs, especially those examples with some age, get quite expensive in our area. Maybe worth it as an occasional treat, but this is pricey for a 15 year old single malt.
Our Average Rating: 8.0 / 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: 5.68
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other Aultmore reviews:
