I really love this scotch. 12 years ago Macallan 12 was my go-to scotch. However, it is so overpriced it is really hard for me to pay for what I get. This is not just an alternative it is just as enjoyable at that scotch. Thank you for the nice review.
as a big fan of the smokier peated scotches i was worried when i first tried this how long it may take me to get through it. i came back to it about 2 months later and i blew through the last half of the bottle in a week. i’m a beginner in my scotch journey so this won’t mean as much but it’s maybe the best nose of any scotch i’ve tried to date and even better on the palate. outstanding bottle and at $50 at total wine it’s not breaking the bank. this one may have a place on my shelf forever. and thanks to your review guys.
Steve , I totally agree 👍 on price point, a good ( even great?) Btl. is unheard of in this inflationary economy, so yeah, I'm looking forward 2 trying it for sure 😀 🥃🥂
In my area $55 is standard 12 yr. price. Highland Park 12, Bunnahabain 12, Glenmorangie 12's, Aberlour 12, Balvenie 12 etc.. I also have to say this is worth trying side by side with Balvenie Doublewood to see the difference between a short sherry cask 'finish' and a blend of 12yr sherry and 12 yr ex-bourbon barrels.
That's a great suggestion especially considering the similarities and price points. Balvenie DW is also very popular so this might give some of those drinkers another option!
It's a decent dram at the price, but it should sit in the glass for at least 15 minutes before it opens up in my experience. there is a nice development in the nose, so you won't be bored in the meantime. Not the longest finish but nice and balanced if you give it time enough for the spices to shine through ... . Bear in mind it's a chill filtered product though, I missed that when first buying it ...
Opened last night. Immediately dove into it. Found it hot and harsh. Night 2. Poured a dram, and let it settle down for twenty minutes before nosing and sippung. TeResting smoothed the rough edges. Nice scotch for a daily dram. Enjoyed the fruits and sherry. Plan to stock up since it's on sale and the tariffs.
i got this bottle nearly 2 weeks ago. this is a definite buy again for me. i didn't like it with water, but I'll try it again. this is in my top 5 scotches.
Another great review lads, I went a bought aberlour abundha after your review and have to say it was very nice. The aberlour 18 is up there with my best including dalmore king Alexander and glenfarclas 21. Keep them coming 😀
hey from chile!!! best review you have ever done... strange thing is that abelour is one of the most affordable single malts i can find in my country!!! You shoud do like a re-review of the whiskys yo did first to see if your palads have change!!! Cheers
Hey Angel, thanks for the compliment! Glad you enjoyed this one and appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment! As for the re-reviews....we're talking about it and will get around to it sooner or later. Without a doubt our palates have changed, so it will be fun!Cheers,~S4D
In San Antonio, Total Wine has it for 45. I really like it neat or with a splash. I actually like the 12 yr better than the 16 yr. The sherry cask really stands out, and i am getting a little tired of being bullied by the smoky scotches (although I still like them)
Thanks for the comments William. 45 isn't a bad price and I'm a big fan of Sherry casks. I think it just depends on my mood for smokey or sherry etc. Thanks for commenting! -Drew
Guys...ever thought of trying the Aberlour 16? Like you, I've tried the 12 and A'Bunadh...love the 12...not so much the A'Bunadh(needs too much water for me). However, I recently tried the 16 and OMG...I really think they hit the sweet spot with it. It helped that Amazon uk had it at £35 a bottle instead of £55...I'll have 3 please!! Enjoying the vids...Keep up the good work!! Catch you next time you're back across here.
The 12 was great and the A’Bunadh was good but really strong. Something about it gives me a headache the next day too so I think that put me off Aberlour a bit but the 16 has me intrigued. I think it may have to be tried since I do enjoy the 12. Thanks for watching us! -Shawn
So, I bought a bottle of Aberlour 12 based largely on this review; I am trying to round out my whisky shelf. I'm normally a peat head, but lately I'm craving the sherry. Well, this landed exactly where I wanted... much more sherry than say The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 or the MaCallan 12 (of which I like both). It hits so much harder on the sherry sweetness and dried fruits. I have to say that four impressions of the same whiskies helps a lot when I'm looking for the next bottle to buy. Thanks guys for helping me brave new territory through increased knowledge!
That's a Whollop of scotch! I love to hear what you're going through (peat to sherry) as it seems we all go through these evolution's or cycles with our palates. I've gone from Sherry Bomb, to Peat Head and back....and everywhere in between! Keep exploring, it's all part of the journey and fun! Cheers, ~Mark
Great review. different palates keep all those different distilleries open. I had to go get my old empty to make sure it was the same. I bought a bottle on the way to Colorado last June to meet up with family and friends. I brought home 1/2 the bottle, just was not that memorable.
That's ok....so, you put it on your bar and look for something that tickles your fancy a little more. You'll still finish the bottle and it's not like is offensive or horrible, so guests may still enjoy it. But indeed you are so right about the different palates!! ~Cheers.
I miss Thursday Scotch Night... 😔😔 It's so hard to make Sunday's & I don't drink scotch on Sunday's unless it's a Holiday weekend...& even then I'm on the grill 😄
Haven't had 12 ncf @48% yet, but supposedly many (hardcore maltsters?) like it better. But it's also said to be rough around the edges, not only b/c of the higher abv. So it could very well be that you find the common (more balanced?) 12 more to your liking. :-)
S4D, I just got back from Amsterdam, Scotland and Ireland Tuesday morning. Sorry guys, I have had this bottle for about 2 years and its still half empty. This is one I serve to my guests if you know what I mean. Its to soft, not enough depth or character for me. Its $40 in my neighborhood. The a'bunadh is great and if I were to purchase another Aberlour, it would be the 18 yr. Here's a little news about Macallan. They are building a new distillery next to their existing one and its Huge. In fact our speyside tour guide said that it will be the largest distillery in Scotland. No surprise their. My wife took some pics of it. Yesterday I received Kavalan Sherry Oak and Ancnoc 22 from TWE and today I received Amrut Intermediate Sherry and Bowmore 18 from MOM. While in Scotland I also had the chance to sample HP 25, Bunnahabhain 25 and Glengoyne 25. The HP 25 did not impress me, I like my HP 21 better. The Bunna & Goyne 25 blew me away, so I ordered one of each from MOM and expecting it next week. Great review.
OK Keith...Let me get to responding to this and start with the biggest topic.....HOW THE HECK WAS THE TRIP? We want more details damn it! Pictures Please? As for your tasting....Mmmmmm, mmm mmm! Kind of funny that the HP 25 didn't impress...we felt the same about the Talisker 25, but the 30 was great? I still haven't gotten into the HP 21...but I do have a bottle of that 18 and I do like it! Geesh, you've got a lot of good scotch of late, how would you feel about 4 visitors? LOL That info on Macallan is no surprise, they're just a behemoth! Now on to the Aberlour comments...the 12 doesn't surprise me with you, I'm getting pretty honed into your palette and likewise the a'bunadh comments doesn't surprise me either! I do think we both need to try the 18 and see what shakes out! Anywho, more on your trip please! ~Mark
Mark, sorry I was watching the Warriors game and fell asleep. The trip to Amsterdam, Scotland & Ireland were great. My wife set up a 3 day speyside tour in Scotland for Dalwhinnie, Cardu, Benromach & Glenlivet. Not my first choice of distilleries, but my wife did a good job for not being a drinker. All the tours were great, people fantastic. We used Rabbie's tour and David was our guide and he was a library full of knowledge. Dalwhinnie & Cardu were just to light and soft for me. Benromach ok, their 10 yr is their oldest expression. :>(.. I've had all of Glenlivet expressions up to 25 yr. Again, ok just on a bigger scale. We went to the "Speyside Cooperage Visitor Centre" where we actually watched the coppers make casks. It is such an art to watch, without these guys there is no whisky. We went to "The Whisky Experience" in Edinburgh and did a tour and saw the largest single whisky collection in the world. About 3000+ bottles of vintage liquid gold from all over. If you guys ever go to Scotland, pick a great tour company and guide like us and choose the Island of choice. Such beautiful country, clean, renewable energy Kings, just an awesome place to visit. I could keep going on and on, but when my wife puts together pictures of our Scotland experience, I will send you the link to enjoy. Cheers!
So if I can get it for $47, that should make it reasonable for a 12yo? My state liquor store is putting it on sale in October. Glenlivet and Glenfiddich is selling for $45.
Great job guys, doing your whisky reviews. A little more info about Aberlour 12 Double Cask. This is made of 12 year matured whisky on bourbon barrels AND 12 year matured whisky on sherry casks. Then mixed together, NOT finished on sherry casks. Keep up the good work!!
Nice review, but you made a misstake about duoblecasking. Whiskey is matured in 2 tipes of casks and then mixed and kept mixed in casks for some time. 24 euros in Lithuania.
hallo from volos greece nice team!! i want to get this bottle i have taste macallan i don't like it . OK the price of aberlour is about 43 euros and i watch other videos, by the way i found here johnny walker 18 platinum only 55 euros i go to buy it i think from your video is in my taste and at last your opinion please for (bowmore 9,glendronach 12,glenfarclas 12 ) CHEERS.!!!!
My first scotch. Tasted like wine that someone put their cigarette out in. With all the talks of fruitcakes and toffies and butterscotch you would think scotch was something wonderful, but to me straight up tastes like wine. The only redeeming quality was it had a slight effervescence on the tip of the tongue and it mellowed me out. Tried it neat, let it rest and breathe from 12 to 20 mins, added a couple of drops of water and let it rest and also later tried a second dram with more water, still the same. If you are a former smoker there is a distinctive literal ash tray taste at on the palate at the end that lingers. If you don’t like wine, I don’t think you would care for it.
my recommendation is to give it some time and come back to it. i could take it or leave it when i first tried it and came back to it two months later and i love it. this wasn’t my first scotch like you but not too far from it. i’ve noticed my tastes have changed a ton since starting out. yours might have too
Hey guys, I have to share the experiment i did last 2 days: 1- Poor aberlour 12 a little more then usual in the glass, drink the exceed 2- Take a straw, dip it in A'bunadh about 1 and 1/2 inch deep, transfer it in the glass, shake and let rest for at the very least 7-10 minutes 3- nose and taste! 4- Let us all know what you get :) Amazing, it is !!!!
We had a couple of people suggest this to us. I think we may try it. I really like the A'bunadh but it hits pretty hard and I think the alcohol overpowers some of the flavors this scotch has. Would be nice to calm it down without diluting it too much. - Shawn
...goin' up the ladder! ;-) Had the 15 once, very pleasant everyday dram I must say. The 18 is pretty good, too, but had stiff competition a few years back with Dronach Revival/Allardice/Parliament. But is on my 2017 list, I suppose. (Still going for that a'bunadh/18 mix experiment)
Dummies, you're sampling a Whisky I've been VERY curious about, Woo-hoo! Thnx, a Hoosier who's in East Tennessee, cheers 🍻 👏 🥃btw, is it worth the going $$??
Jeff - I just published our rating spreadsheet. Feel free to copy and sort to you liking. I did a quick sort of average ratings 3 and higher and here's a few I'd recommend around $50-$60 range based on Google shopping. -Drew - Dalmore 15 - Laphroaig Quarter Cask - Ledaig 10 - Admore Traditional Cask Ratings: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Mjvm46YtJsJAZlVFt75tMfTdzGX88NoYiCxgK68P8Do/pubhtml?gid=1153125092&single=true
Thanks Drew! That's awesome work. As someone who wants to start venturing into scotch without spending too many clams, this is great start. Much appreciated!
