A classic Highland dram, Aberfeldy 12 Year Old single malt whisky is a creamy, sweet and gently smoky example of what the region produces. Bolstered by plenty of Aberfeldy's signature honeyed fruit character, this makes for a superbly laid-back sipper. The label comes with a rather handsome black and rose-gold colour palate to match the rich, malty, honeyed flavour profile.
Aberfeldy Golden Hot Toddy recipe:
- 50ml of Aberfeldy 12 Year Old
- 1/2 shot of local honey
- 1/2 shot of lemon juice
Combine the above ingredients in a mug and top up with hot water. Garnish with lemon, a cinnamon stick, and some star anise to spread the cheer of this cosy classic.
Creamy. Some sherried fruit with a trailing hint of smoke. Honeyed prunes, custard, and espresso beans.
Sweet, malty, with gentle peat and a mellow, silky texture. Vanilla fudge, peaches and cream, and subtle toasted oak follow.
Ginger, malt, nutty nougat, and maybe a little grapefruit zest.
One of the best I have tasted
Nose. At first it's alive and intense. As you take a second and third it's crisp green apple and an amazingly inviting and comforting toffee. Taste. Syrup, smoke, toffee and caramel, Tingley on the tip of the tongue and lips. Finish. Medium to short, just enough to make you want more right away.
I just bought a bottle at Heathrow Airport Duty Free. I paid 35 pounds which equals $55.00. Almost $15.00 better deal through Masters of Malt.
If you like to sip easy drinking whisky without over-intellectualizing each sips, this one is great. Those nose is fruity and sweet, apples, oranges, unripe pears. Palate is pretty much the same, fading to some slight oaky bitterness (good sign, means there was just enough tanins remaining in the casks used) and faint spice.
Perhaps it's because I jumped into the higher-end Scotches like Bunnahabhain and the smokey Ardbeg 10 yr first, but I just found Aberfeldy 12yr lacking in any kind of complexity. I admit it's quite smooth and easy to drink in that regard but it lacks in anything interesting in the nose and palate department. The finish is oak driven but nothing remarkable. It may also be because Im new to the Scotch game (I really wanted to like this one), but I found Aberfeldy 12yr to be a bit one dimensional and flat.
