Aberlour Distillery - Single Malt Whisky

Aberlour

Region Highlands

District Speyside

Water source Saint Drostan's Well (brewery)
Burn of Aberlour (spring on Ben Rinnes) for cooling

Neighbours Craigellachie, Imperial, The Macallan, Benrinnes

Owner Pernod Ricard

Manager Douglas Cruickshank

Visitor centre Tour details:
A small, intimate tour (maximum 16 people), allowing visitors to see and hear everything clearly.
Nosing and tasting in Warehouse No.1 of five mature Aberlour malts and a new-make spirit.
The chance to hand-fill and purchase your own personalised bottle of the single cask selection. This is exclusive to visitors on the distillery tour.
An audio-visual presentation on the history and production of Aberlour whisky precedes the guided tour.
Average time of visit is 1 hour 45 minutes.

Summer Hours:
Open – 2nd April to 2nd November 2007
Monday to Sunday, 09.00 to 17.00
Tours at 10.30 and 14.00
Winter Hours:
Open - January to April and 5th November to 21st December 2007
Monday to Friday, 09.00 to 17.00
Tours at 10.30 and 14.00

Admission price:
7.50 GBP
Please reserve tickets in advance by telephone or email.

Address High Street, Aberlour
Banffshire, AB3 9PJ

Phone +44 (0)1340 881 249

Fax +44 (0)1340 871 729

Email aberlour.admin@chivas.com

Website http://www.aberlour.co.uk/welcome.asp

History 1826 : established
1879 : Current distillery built by James Fleming after old distillery was damaged by fire
1898 : large part destroyed by another fire
1945 : Purchased by S. Campbell & Sons Ltd and extended
1973 : 2 more stills added (total of 4)
1974 : taken over by Pernod Ricard
2001 : new visitor centre opened

House Style Full bodied, well balanced with complex fruity and spicy flavours and sweet aromas. Creamy and smooth in the mouth finishing on toffee and honey-like notes.

Pronunciation eber-louwer

Meaning

Capacity per year 3.500.000 litres

Independent Bottler Cadenhead
Duncan Taylor
Signatory
Wilson & Morgan

Information
The Aberlour Distillery is at the heart of Speyside, the country's premier whisky-making region. No fewer than half of Scotland's malt distilleries are located in Speyside, which is renowned for producing whiskies of subtle depth and elegance.
Situated at the junction of the rivers Lour and Spey, the distillery is surrounded by glorious scenery, dominated by the rugged peaks of Ben Rinnes a short distance away. Pure spring water for making the whisky is drawn from the Lour, and the maturing spirit in the warehouse beneficially inhales the moist Speyside air.

DISTILLERY BOTTLINGS

Aberlour - 10 year old - 43%
Cask:
Sherry and bourbon.
Colour:
Gold.
Nose:
The dry, fresh, fruity aromas of early autumn apples and pears are subtly enhanced with sweet notes of vanilla and mint toffee.
Palate:
Exceptionally smooth and creamy, with spicy-sweet nutmeg and honey combining with the dewy freshness of autumn fruits.
Finish:
Long, soft and warming.

Aberlour - Sherry Finish - 15 year old - 40%
Cask:
Sherry and bourbon, finish in new Olorosso sherry.
Colour:
Golden amber.
Nose:
A confection of marzipan and the alluring fragrance of geraniums, with hints of sherry and orange blossom, and a light smokiness.
Palate:
Soft and spicy with a lightly toasted oaky flavour, overlaid with a sherry-sweet nuttiness mixed with ripe apricots and toffee that shamelessly seduces the palate.
Finish:
Gentle and mellow, with a distinct spiciness and subtle hints of mint.

Aberlour a'bunadh - Cask Strength - no age statement - 59,6%
Cask:
A 19th-century-style whisky matured exclusively in Spanish oak Oloroso sherry butts, then bottled at cask strength.
Colour:
Deep, rich amber.
Nose:
An intoxicating aroma of mixed spices, praline and spiced orange, harmonising with rich, deep notes of Oloroso sherry.
Palate:
Orange, black cherries, dried fruit and ginger, spiked with dark bitter chocolate and enriched with sherry and oak. Full-bodied and creamy.
Finish:
Robust and intense, with bitter-sweet notes of exotic spices, dark chocolate and oak.Aberlour a'bunadh is currently available in France, UK, Duty Free and is soon to be exported to other countries around the world.

Aberlour a'bunadh Sterling Silver - 12 year old - 58,7%
Cask:
Olorosso sherry
Colour:

Nose:

Palate:

Finish:

Aberlour - 1990 Vintage
Cask:
Colour:
Light gold.
Nose:
Soft, pear-like fruitiness, 'barley sugars', 'pear drops' Subtle whiff of sherry tones. Buttery texture.
Palate:
Lightly smoky, typically Speyside. Delicately perfumed, medium bodied. Notes of vanilla, lemon, dark chocolate and a peppery spiciness.
Finish:
Smooth, clean and crisp, but not short on length. A fresh malt which maintains the base 'distillery' flavours. Maturation has contributed to the mellowness of the product and has not been allowed to overpower the true character.

Aberlour - Sherry matured - 12 year old - 43%
Cask:
Only spirit which has been matured for 12 years in fresh new Oloroso Sherry Butts has been selected for this product. This results in a unique style of Aberlour where the Distillery character is complemented by the effect of highly active 'new' wood.
Colour:
Deep red amber colour where the influence of new sherry cask is at work.
Nose:
Sherried and Buttery. Slightly Smoky. Ripe Apples.
Palate:
Honey, Sweet Sherry, Christmas Cake Richness, Nutty and Oaky. Rich texture with a more heavy character.
Finish:
Warming, Gingery, Becoming Dry.

Aberlour - Double Cask matured - 15 year old - 43%
Cask:
Aged in a mix of Bourbon hogsheads and Sherry butts for 14 years, the casks are then mixed or vatted together and refilled into a new sherry cask to achieve a unique finish. This is the perfect harmony of the Distillers Art and Blenders Skill. This process gives more depth of character and added complexity to the whisky.
Colour:
Gold amber.
Nose:
Flowery (Roses), Buttery, Pink Grapefruit, Citrus.
Palate:
Balance of Sweet Sherry Nuttiness, Orange and Toffee. Smoky Undertones. A wonderful velvety texture all rounded and thick.
Finish:
Sweet, Crisp, Minty and Spicy. Very smooth with plenty of length and perfectly balanced.

Aberlour - Double Cask matured - 12 year old - 40%
Cask:
New Olorosso sherry butts.
Colour:
Amber gold with ruby highlights.
Nose:
Very soft and rounded with fruity notes (red apple).
Palate:
Good sherried body with fruity aromas.
Finish:
Warming, powerful with some smoky notes and a gentle pepperiness.

Aberlour - Cuvée Marie d'Ecosse - 15 year old - 43%
Cask:
Sherry and bourbon.
Colour:
Sumptuous amber gold.
Nose:
Strong malt notes with toffee and honey-like aromas.
Palate:
Rich and round with some vanilla notes.
Finish:
Dry and peppery, intense with a touch of spice and leather.

Aberlour - 1970 - 30 year old
Aberlour 30 Year Old Single Speyside Malt Whisky has been launched as an exclusive product for the duty free market It was distilled in 1966 from two sherry butts and one bourbon hogshead. Only 1,000 bottles of this unique malt whisky have been produced.
Aberlour 30 Year Old is packaged in an elegant wooden box and each bottle is individually numbered.
Cask:
sherry en bourbon
Colour:
Deep gold colour.
Nose:
Nose of rich Seville oranges.
Palate:
Well balanced developing fruity flavours with oaky and toasted marshmallow-like notes.
Finish:
Long and intense with hints of fragrant heather.

Aberlour - 1988 - Distillers Selection -
Aberlour Distillers Selection 1988 has been launched as an exclusive product for the Spanish market.
Made from a selection of casks from the 1988 distillation, Aberlour Distillers Selection has a very distinctive taste that delivers the true character of Aberlour.
Cask:
Colour:
Red amber.
Nose:
Soft, pear-like fruityness with complex aromas of violet, pear and hint of barley releasing notes of chocolate.
Palate:
Delicately perfumed, medium bodied with notes of vanilla, lemon and cinnamon.
Finish:
Long, smooth and crisp, quite mellow with sweetness coming from the bourbon maturation.

Aberlour - Special Reserve - 45%
Aberlour Special Reserve is a unique and intense malt whisky, matured only in Oloroso Sherry casks. Bottled at the unusual strength of 45% ABV it gives the whisky a greater aromatic concentration and intensity versus standard 40% ABV bottling.
Only 40 casks were bottled for the French market.
Cask:
Olorosso sherry
Colour:
Rich gold amber.
Nose:
Complex notes of gingerbread and fruits with intense sherry and spicy character. It develops into oaky (burnt wood) and candy fruits notes.
Palate:
Full bodied, with a strong sherry signature. Powerful with round texture revealing spicy orange and marmalade like flavors.
Finish:
Long and warming with hints of hazelnuts.

Aberlour - Special Edition (cask nr 32) - 21 year old - 43%
Cask:
sherry en bourbon
Colour:

Nose:

Palate:

Finish:

Aberlour - 23 year old - 40%
Cask:
sherry en bourbon
Colour:
Copper.
Nose:
Mint toffee.
Palate:
Fruity, siropy
Finish:

INDEPENDENT BOTTLINGS FROM CADENHEAD

Aberlour 1989 - Cadenhead - 15 year old - 58,6%
Distilled in 1989 and only 288 bottles bottled in May 2005.
Cask:
Bourbon Hogshead.
Colour:

Nose:
Floral and clean.
Palate:
Typical Speyside. A well balanced slightly sweet dram with little bursts of oak.
Finish:

INDEPENDENT BOTTLINGS FROM DUNCAN TAYLOR

Whisky Galore Aberlour 1989 - 14 year old - 46%
Cask:

Colour:
Pale straw.
Nose:
Malty and spicy.
Palate:
Slightly oaky, raisins & nuts.
Finish:
Lingering & full sweetness.

Whisky Galore Aberlour 1995 - Cask 7411 - 10 year old
Cask:

Colour:
Pale amber.
Nose:
Initially very powerful then a Creaminess and lots of warm toffee notes.
Palate:
Doesn’t taste as strong, huge toffee flavour.
Finish:
Long lingering creaminess.

INDEPENDENT BOTTLINGS FROM SIGNATORY

Aberlour 1990 - Signatory - 16 year old - 54,4%
Limited to 225 bottles. Unchillfiltered.
Cask:
Bourbon.
Colour:

Nose:

Palate:

Finish:

INDEPENDENT BOTTLINGS FROM WILSON & MORGAN

Aberlour 1995 - Wilson & Morgan Port Finish - 11 year old - 46%
Unchillfiltered. Bottled in 2006.
Cask:
Rum.
Colour:

Nose:

Palate:
Winey, fresh, fruity… almost “sparkling”.
Finish:

Aberlour 1989 - Wilson & Morgan Rum Finish - 16 year old - 46%
Unchillfiltered. An extremely delicate and subtle malt, showing the gentler character of Speyside with a finish that enhances buttery, malty and green apple notes. An elegant and refined alternative view on a distillery that is usually known for heavily sherried expressions.
Cask:
Rum.
Colour:

Nose:

Palate:

Finish:

	Aberlour - 10 year old - 43% Cask: Sherry and bourbon. Colour: Gold. Nose: The dry, fresh, fruity aromas of early autumn apples and pears are subtly enhanced with sweet notes of vanilla and mint toffee. Palate: Exceptionally smooth and creamy, with spicy-sweet nutmeg and honey combining with the dewy freshness of autumn fruits. Finish: Long, soft and warming.
	Aberlour - Sherry Finish - 15 year old - 40% Cask: Sherry and bourbon, finish in new Olorosso sherry. Colour: Golden amber. Nose: A confection of marzipan and the alluring fragrance of geraniums, with hints of sherry and orange blossom, and a light smokiness. Palate: Soft and spicy with a lightly toasted oaky flavour, overlaid with a sherry-sweet nuttiness mixed with ripe apricots and toffee that shamelessly seduces the palate. Finish: Gentle and mellow, with a distinct spiciness and subtle hints of mint.
	Aberlour a'bunadh - Cask Strength - no age statement - 59,6% Cask: A 19th-century-style whisky matured exclusively in Spanish oak Oloroso sherry butts, then bottled at cask strength. Colour: Deep, rich amber. Nose: An intoxicating aroma of mixed spices, praline and spiced orange, harmonising with rich, deep notes of Oloroso sherry. Palate: Orange, black cherries, dried fruit and ginger, spiked with dark bitter chocolate and enriched with sherry and oak. Full-bodied and creamy. Finish: Robust and intense, with bitter-sweet notes of exotic spices, dark chocolate and oak.Aberlour a'bunadh is currently available in France, UK, Duty Free and is soon to be exported to other countries around the world.
	Aberlour a'bunadh Sterling Silver - 12 year old - 58,7% Cask: Olorosso sherry Colour: Nose: Palate: Finish:
	Aberlour - 1990 Vintage Cask: Colour: Light gold. Nose: Soft, pear-like fruitiness, 'barley sugars', 'pear drops' Subtle whiff of sherry tones. Buttery texture. Palate: Lightly smoky, typically Speyside. Delicately perfumed, medium bodied. Notes of vanilla, lemon, dark chocolate and a peppery spiciness. Finish: Smooth, clean and crisp, but not short on length. A fresh malt which maintains the base 'distillery' flavours. Maturation has contributed to the mellowness of the product and has not been allowed to overpower the true character.
	Aberlour - Sherry matured - 12 year old - 43% Cask: Only spirit which has been matured for 12 years in fresh new Oloroso Sherry Butts has been selected for this product. This results in a unique style of Aberlour where the Distillery character is complemented by the effect of highly active 'new' wood. Colour: Deep red amber colour where the influence of new sherry cask is at work. Nose: Sherried and Buttery. Slightly Smoky. Ripe Apples. Palate: Honey, Sweet Sherry, Christmas Cake Richness, Nutty and Oaky. Rich texture with a more heavy character. Finish: Warming, Gingery, Becoming Dry.
	Aberlour - Double Cask matured - 15 year old - 43% Cask: Aged in a mix of Bourbon hogsheads and Sherry butts for 14 years, the casks are then mixed or vatted together and refilled into a new sherry cask to achieve a unique finish. This is the perfect harmony of the Distillers Art and Blenders Skill. This process gives more depth of character and added complexity to the whisky. Colour: Gold amber. Nose: Flowery (Roses), Buttery, Pink Grapefruit, Citrus. Palate: Balance of Sweet Sherry Nuttiness, Orange and Toffee. Smoky Undertones. A wonderful velvety texture all rounded and thick. Finish: Sweet, Crisp, Minty and Spicy. Very smooth with plenty of length and perfectly balanced.
	Aberlour - Double Cask matured - 12 year old - 40% Cask: New Olorosso sherry butts. Colour: Amber gold with ruby highlights. Nose: Very soft and rounded with fruity notes (red apple). Palate: Good sherried body with fruity aromas. Finish: Warming, powerful with some smoky notes and a gentle pepperiness.
	Aberlour - Cuvée Marie d'Ecosse - 15 year old - 43% Cask: Sherry and bourbon. Colour: Sumptuous amber gold. Nose: Strong malt notes with toffee and honey-like aromas. Palate: Rich and round with some vanilla notes. Finish: Dry and peppery, intense with a touch of spice and leather.
	Aberlour - 1970 - 30 year old Aberlour 30 Year Old Single Speyside Malt Whisky has been launched as an exclusive product for the duty free market It was distilled in 1966 from two sherry butts and one bourbon hogshead. Only 1,000 bottles of this unique malt whisky have been produced. Aberlour 30 Year Old is packaged in an elegant wooden box and each bottle is individually numbered. Cask: sherry en bourbon Colour: Deep gold colour. Nose: Nose of rich Seville oranges. Palate: Well balanced developing fruity flavours with oaky and toasted marshmallow-like notes. Finish: Long and intense with hints of fragrant heather.
	Aberlour - 1988 - Distillers Selection - Aberlour Distillers Selection 1988 has been launched as an exclusive product for the Spanish market. Made from a selection of casks from the 1988 distillation, Aberlour Distillers Selection has a very distinctive taste that delivers the true character of Aberlour. Cask: Colour: Red amber. Nose: Soft, pear-like fruityness with complex aromas of violet, pear and hint of barley releasing notes of chocolate. Palate: Delicately perfumed, medium bodied with notes of vanilla, lemon and cinnamon. Finish: Long, smooth and crisp, quite mellow with sweetness coming from the bourbon maturation.
	Aberlour - Special Reserve - 45% Aberlour Special Reserve is a unique and intense malt whisky, matured only in Oloroso Sherry casks. Bottled at the unusual strength of 45% ABV it gives the whisky a greater aromatic concentration and intensity versus standard 40% ABV bottling. Only 40 casks were bottled for the French market. Cask: Olorosso sherry Colour: Rich gold amber. Nose: Complex notes of gingerbread and fruits with intense sherry and spicy character. It develops into oaky (burnt wood) and candy fruits notes. Palate: Full bodied, with a strong sherry signature. Powerful with round texture revealing spicy orange and marmalade like flavors. Finish: Long and warming with hints of hazelnuts.
	Aberlour - Special Edition (cask nr 32) - 21 year old - 43% Cask: sherry en bourbon Colour: Nose: Palate: Finish:
	Aberlour - 23 year old - 40% Cask: sherry en bourbon Colour: Copper. Nose: Mint toffee. Palate: Fruity, siropy Finish:

Region	Highlands
District	Speyside
Water source	Saint Drostan's Well (brewery) Burn of Aberlour (spring on Ben Rinnes) for cooling
Neighbours	Craigellachie, Imperial, The Macallan, Benrinnes
Owner	Pernod Ricard
Manager	Douglas Cruickshank
Visitor centre	*Tour details:* A small, intimate tour (maximum 16 people), allowing visitors to see and hear everything clearly. Nosing and tasting in Warehouse No.1 of five mature Aberlour malts and a new-make spirit. The chance to hand-fill and purchase your own personalised bottle of the single cask selection. This is exclusive to visitors on the distillery tour. An audio-visual presentation on the history and production of Aberlour whisky precedes the guided tour. Average time of visit is 1 hour 45 minutes. Summer Hours: Open – 2nd April to 2nd November 2007 Monday to Sunday, 09.00 to 17.00 Tours at 10.30 and 14.00 Winter Hours: Open - January to April and 5th November to 21st December 2007 Monday to Friday, 09.00 to 17.00 Tours at 10.30 and 14.00 Admission price: 7.50 GBP Please reserve tickets in advance by telephone or email.
Address	High Street, Aberlour Banffshire, AB3 9PJ
Phone	+44 (0)1340 881 249
Fax	+44 (0)1340 871 729
Email	aberlour.admin@chivas.com
Website	http://www.aberlour.co.uk/welcome.asp
History	1826 : established 1879 : Current distillery built by James Fleming after old distillery was damaged by fire 1898 : large part destroyed by another fire 1945 : Purchased by S. Campbell & Sons Ltd and extended 1973 : 2 more stills added (total of 4) 1974 : taken over by Pernod Ricard 2001 : new visitor centre opened
House Style	Full bodied, well balanced with complex fruity and spicy flavours and sweet aromas. Creamy and smooth in the mouth finishing on toffee and honey-like notes.
Pronunciation	eber-louwer
Meaning
Capacity per year	3.500.000 litres
Independent Bottler	Cadenhead Duncan Taylor Signatory Wilson & Morgan
Information	The Aberlour Distillery is at the heart of Speyside, the country's premier whisky-making region. No fewer than half of Scotland's malt distilleries are located in Speyside, which is renowned for producing whiskies of subtle depth and elegance. Situated at the junction of the rivers Lour and Spey, the distillery is surrounded by glorious scenery, dominated by the rugged peaks of Ben Rinnes a short distance away. Pure spring water for making the whisky is drawn from the Lour, and the maturing spirit in the warehouse beneficially inhales the moist Speyside air.

	Whisky Galore Aberlour 1989 - 14 year old - 46% Cask: Colour: Pale straw. Nose: Malty and spicy. Palate: Slightly oaky, raisins & nuts. Finish: Lingering & full sweetness.
	Whisky Galore Aberlour 1995 - Cask 7411 - 10 year old Cask: Colour: Pale amber. Nose: Initially very powerful then a Creaminess and lots of warm toffee notes. Palate: Doesn’t taste as strong, huge toffee flavour. Finish: Long lingering creaminess.