It's Aberlour's ever-popular A'Bunadh single malt Scotch whisky! Each batch of this single malt is matured entirely in Spanish oloroso sherry butts, bestowing huge helpings of dried fruit and festive spice notes to the whisky, after which it's bottled up at full-on cask strength with no chill-filtration.
Zesty notes of chocolate-coated orange wheels join sticky ginger loaf and sherried fruits.
Plump sultanas, prunes, cakey spice, and marmalade, with biscuity malt and toffee apple in tow.
Sweet spices and rich oak linger.
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Batch 50 is good, but not as good as the last batch I had over the holidays last year (my favorite, but I do not know its batch number).
My first introduction to this was the 53 batch which I loved, and didn't expect to enjoy the 55 as much, but I love it even more. Love the 60% cask strength, as you get much more value when some clean water separates out the notes for more appreciation. My current favorites are Glendronach Parliment 21, Pulteney 21, and this one...perhaps best at half the price, and 60%...it's a great deal, and much higher quality than you would expect. Here's my strongest endorsement--I have stocked up with 12 bottles, more than any other of the 30 brands I have.
I've been into the A'bunadh since the teen batches. Though I'll drink other scotches if offered, The A'bunadh is the only Speyside that I buy for myself. For my tastes, the 52 is the best A'bunadh in my failing memory. It is an intensely dark amber -- nearly ruby in sunlight; easily one of the most beautiful drams I've seen. One of the exceptional characteristics of the 52 is that its intensity and concentration of flavor completely overcomes its cask strength in both its nose a palate -- so much so in fact that it is evident undiluted. But add a drop -- a ml of spring water -- and it unfolds into a panorama of sweet, aromatic complexity. Beyond the single drop, I do not dilute further -- though I so for for nearly every other cask strength. The concentration, mouthfeel, and chewiness at full strength is simply to entrancing to give up. This is the first and last review of the 52 I'll post. Don't bother looking for it in the central U.S. -- I'm buying every bottle the distributor can find.
Smooth as smooth can be. Not a bite in sight. As it slipped down my gullet, I honestly couldn't discern that it weighed in at just over 60% ABV.
This is the best of the last 4 A'Bunadh batches--without question!
