hs305 scored this whisky 88 points

...and the pleasure continues: This is a flawless and very interesting dram to explore (when neat) and dangerously quaffable (when reduced to drinking strength). I never got disappointed by a "naked" Aberlour (so far)...
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The colour is old gold and the nose needs quite some time to fully enfold but then it offers a subtle and delicate profile of rather unusual fruits (like quinces or melons), floral aromas, some honey and a chalky note. Nicely balanced but rather shy with the neat dram. After some reduction more malty flavours are released and the mineralic/chalky side gets stronger. I like the neat dram better for nosing.
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The taste is fruity (now rather citric) and honeyed with some spices (peppers, nutmeg) and a tobacco-like bitter flavour. Not too bad - would the Aussies state. But it certainly cries for water and the reduced dram gets smoother and more approachable with the tobacco turning into nice wooden flavours and both the fruits and spices growing stronger. There are even some hints of berries now. No flaw that I can find, this is very quaffable when reduced to about 46% abv (but I recommend to try it neat first).
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The whisky arrives a little hot in the mouth (no wonder at close to 60% abv) but it nicely coats it with a peppery feeling. No distracting moments here. The finish is rather short but it increases in length when the dram gets reduced. No bitter or drying moments but no new impressions either.