Review #508 - Single Cask Nation Aberfeldy 10 Year Single Cask
While most independent bottlers of Scotch whisky are based in Scotland, there are newer bottlers popping up in other countries around the world. Here's one from the United States - Single Cask Nation. On their website, they describe their spirits as 'bottled by whisky geeks for whisky geeks.'
In May 2024, they bottled this 10 year old single malt from Aberfeldy distillery. The single cask of whisky initially matured in an ex-bourbon hogshead for 7 years; after that, they moved it to a first fill Spanish oak Oloroso hogshead for the remaining 3 years. Cask strength at the end of that maturation period was still a hefty 57.8% ABV, and based on the ridiculously dark color of the liquid, we may be in for a real sherry bomb experience.
Single Cask Nation Aberfeldy 10 Year Single Cask
Scotland/Highland - Single Malt
Available Price: USD 115 (2025)
Age Statement: 10 Years
Strength: 57.8% ABV
Cask Makeup: Ex-bourbon hogshead, finished for 3 years in a first fill Spanish oak Oloroso sherry hogshead
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; distilled September 2013, bottled May 2024; cask no. 191422; 263 bottles
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time from a sample. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Rich and dark, even juicy. Caramel brings some sweetness to start, then we get a hint of sulphur; after that, it's all fruit. Dark prunes, sharp stone fruits, a lot of purple fruit. With time, there's a bit of an earthy character to that sherry cask, and we get a black pepper spice.
Palate: The mouthfeel is medium-thick, and it's quite warming with that strength. Very, very rich flavors - orange fruit, acidic prunes, tart fig. There's a nice balance of sweetness and tart elements overall; the texture coats the whole palate.
Finish: Rich and still cask-forward, with fruitcake, figs, and prunes. A walnut note arrives, and in the aftertaste, we get more oak influence - some tannins, a bit of wood char. It's a medium-long finish.
Final Note: That Oloroso sherry cask did indeed have a huge influence on the whisky, adding tons of purple fruit. The Spanish oak did also add some spice - the pepper in the nose and the tannins in the finish betrayed that, despite the relatively modest age of 10 years. Totally cask-dominated, but this was a fun whisky to taste.
Value is fine - $115 is a bit expensive for a 10 year old single malt, even a single cask at cask strength, but this is a quality bottling that delivers a ton of flavor.
Our Average Rating: 7.5 / 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: 6.17
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 Aberfeldy reviews:
