Aberfeldy 12Aberfeldy was founded in 1896 by the famed John Dewar & Sons on the eastern edge of the town bearing the name, almost directly in the center of Scotland. The distillery currently has two wash stills and two spirit stills. Apart from the distillery shutting down during both world wars due to grain shortages, it has otherwise operated nearly continously. Though ownership eventually passed to the spirits conglomerate now known as Diageo in 1997, Aberfeldy remains the largest malt whisky component of Dewar’s Blended whiskies. The Aberfeldy 12 Year debuted in 1999, not long after the Diageo acquisition, and remains the foundational age statement of the core portfolio, along with a 15 Year and 18 Year. Along with the blended and age statement offerings, Aberfeldy malts are also featured in independent bottler releases.

Distillery: Aberfeldy
Region: Highland
Age: 12 years
Strength: 40%
Price: $49.99
Maturation: ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, re-fill and re-char casks.
Location: Aberfeldy
Nose: Orange blossom, lemon grass, brine, grain, cherry wood
Palate: Grain, wood, caramel, orange
Finish: Vanilla

Comments: Don’t rush this one. Let it open in the glass and deliver. Consider pairing with savory desserts.

Adam – The nose of the Aberfeldy 12 opens with a baked fruit warmth, tinged with citrus and a little brine along the edge. The light orange is the constant no matter what angle the glass is tilted. Inviting. The orange remains throughout on the palate but is accompanied by grain and coats the inside of your mouth like a good custard. There’s a little bit more heat than I expected but it’s not raw or problematic. There are hints of the cask influences here and there but with so many of them it’s hard to put my finger on which is doing what. The finish isn’t long but the vanilla from the barrels lingers on the tongue long after. As the introduction to the core offerings of the distillery, this does a nice job of introducing a profile while still being approachable and affordable. Perfect for friends who are relatively new to scotch yet still providing something to savor for more experienced hands.

Henry – A glass of springtime. A gentle nose of spring fruit, warm grains, and orange blossoms. No surprises on the palate, with mild sweetness over moderate tannin, green turf, and the smallest hint of brine. Finish is drying, with grains and cherry wood.

A glass of springtime. A gentle nose of spring fruit, warm grains, and orange blossoms.

Ben – All the woodiness is on the palate. The Aberfeldy 12 is nice and I appreciate what a “regular” scotch would taste like. While we are people looking for more adventure in our scotches, I like that this gateways into the next thing. A necessary rung on the ladder toward very good scotch.

Bill – Kind of like I was expecting, the finish was dry but then my tongue salivated afterwards. I find that very interesting. I found the Aberfeldy 12 really surprising in a very nice way. I had written this one off but it’s now come back and made me take a second look, and I’m thankful for that.