Aberlour 21-year-old whic

Overall rating
87.14/100
votes
47
Whiskybase ID
WB115142
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
whic - Whiskycircle (whic)
Bottling serie
Architecture of Taste
Bottled
2018
Stated Age
21 years old
Casktype
Ex-Bourbon Hogshead
Number of bottles
122
Strength
59.8 % Vol.
Size
700 ml
Market
Germany Germany
Added on
14 jul 2018 4:01 pm by kaeuflin
UncoloredNon-chillfilteredCask StrengthSingle Cask Whisky
Aberlour 21-year-old whic
Photo by Arne

Average value

€ 139.90

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Whisky reviews for Aberlour 21-year-old whic

12 users have left 12 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 87.14 points.

  1. Totoro scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      90 90
      "Light" domestic garden fruits (apple, pear) and stone fruit (apricot, mirabelle plum), behind which dry notes of straw and wholemeal flour as well as some beeswax. Quite subtle despite being 21 years old, perhaps also due to the high alcohol content.
      With more standing time more sweetness and creaminess, ripe pineapple (maybe white gummy bears too), honeydew melon and banana curd are added.
      With the addition of water, it becomes significantly rounder, more present, floral and fruity, absolutely recommended! Now there are also spruce needles and essential oils. Super.
      87 points without water, 90 with water.
    • Taste
      87 87
      Either surprisingly mild or the somewhat older sample (3-4 years) has lost alcohol through "breathing". In any case, drinkable without water. A bit closed though. Rescue (=a teaspoon of filtered water) is at hand...
      Water opens it up and gives it a wonderfully oily and barley-driven, slightly "dusty" texture.
      Very sweet and creamy, with associations of cake batter, banana bread, gingerbread cookies, and cinnamon sugar pancakes. In between, a dry cereal note flashes through the action. Diluted it still has a lot of bang, I would even say that the alcohol partly covers the aromas on the tongue.
      Strong and delicious, but also a bit one-dimensional, as if the very sweet bourbon cask had ironed on the otherwise so floral-fruity-complex distillery character too much. I liked the nose better.
    • Finish
      83 83
      Millet porridge, straw, banana puree, anise. Quite a mess, peppery-astringent and slightly "schnapps" at the end. Here he loses points.

  2. ThinLizzy scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      89 89

  3. Abadon05 scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    Needs some water.
    Quite unusual. A lot of honey and waxy.
    A bit dry on the finish.

  4. pianoman scored this whisky 82 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      Pungent, slightly mineral. Dry earth, menthol. Hot stone wall, sand. Behind it a little pear and vanilla.
    • Taste
      Grassy, dry. Toast with bright honey. Cornflakes. Pepper. Apple Cake. Bitter lemon, a hint of lavender.

  5. malthead-sven scored this whisky 82 points Expert Senior

    I already had several independent Aberlours from bourbon barrels and I have to realize again that sherry casks usually fit better with this spirit.
    • Nose
      The 59.8% pull also by far from the glass directly into the nose, very fresh, after a short time he opens up: green gummy bears, center shock gum, a sour sweet note that makes fun, later dominated sweet candy
    • Taste
      really brutal, needs water, a lot even, then it is balanced in the mouth with a penchant for bitterness
    • Finish
      medium long, dry, slightly pungent, I miss the sweetness here now.

  6. Dottore scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    BLIND TASTING

    N: Very sweet, especially honey, slightly burnt sugar, quince jelly, some pineapple and apple. In the background slightly flowery, the sweet dominates. Great nose!
    M: In the mouth something bothers me the very bitter and bitter notes. In addition, I find quite a bit of alcohol, which I had hardly noticed in the nose. With the second sip it becomes a bit rounder, sweeter and spicier. I liked the nose a lot better
    A: Pretty long, also here for me almost unpleasantly peppery and slightly bitter. Sounds then from the direction of tobacco, anise and cocoa.

    Conclusion: Unround malt with a great nose, the pepperiness and sharpness disturb me today a bit. Do I have to give a second chance soon? 85 points

  7. Hvdree scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  8. hs305 scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    [August, 2018] A quick review of a sample because it is always a pleasure to have a "naked" (unsherried) Aberlour...

    ...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)...
    • Nose
      88 88
      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.
    • Taste
      89 89
      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).
    • Finish
      87 87
      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.

  9. Dramned! scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    The complete tasting with photos and information can be found here: https://dramned.blog/2018/08/01/aberlour-21-whic-598/
    • Nose
      It starts with sweet blossom honey, followed by many ripe fruits, especially juicy lemons and honeydew melon, very ripe pears and mirabelles and sweet and tart quince. A full load of vanilla steers the whole direction compote. The beautiful Muscovado sugar, which is so typical of the dark A'bunadhs, I find here again, in conjunction with the ripe lemons, the salivary glands are driven to high performance.
      The bright straw-yellow color suggests lightness, but here everything is very voluminous, fat and oily. The wood is rather mild and restrained in the nose, appears in the form of beautiful roasted aromas, which are reminiscent of cocoa and espresso. The strong alcohol is very well integrated, it does not sting and appears slightly cooling in appearance.
    • Taste
      The tongue, flooded with anticipation, expects sweetness - and will not disappoint. Spicy wildflower honey with many herbs spreads oily and heavy in the whole mouth, everything again very full and aromatic, ripe mangos and papaya, coconut, ripe pineapple and walnuts make here a charming potpourri from the well-stocked fruit counter. The oak barrel is much more dominant here than in the nose. Strong spicy wood flavors prepare the sweet spectacle a quick and always drier end, tart dark chocolate takes over the helm. The alcohol is becoming increasingly warmer and brings the flavors even clearer to the fore - and especially the oak.
    • Finish
      Even in the medium-long finish, the oak wood plays between the honey-sweet fruits in the foreground and ensures a dry-bitter aftertaste with a little sweet anise.

  10. mr_barleycorn scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    The complete review is available on mrbarleycorn.com
    • Nose
      Lemon and fresh malt hits my nose, the alcohol content is present, but not unpleasant and contributes to the freshness. This is accompanied by a variety of bright fruits such as peach, light grapes, pears and apricots. In addition, there is a quite significant sweetness, honey, malt and some fresh cereals. With water, the Aberlour opens again and the fruity aromas are intensified, to vernetz nutmeg, vanilla and a slightly musty note.
    • Taste
      On the tongue, the whisky is extremely oily, almost waxy. I have to think a little bit about Craigellachie 17. The alcohol is undiluted but a little too intense. Therefore, I dilute with a few drops of water. Now there is a great honey-sweetness, again a fruit salad of mainly light fruits, citrus notes, vanilla, pear skin, burnt caramel, some mint, and candied ginger. This slight mustiness, which I have already heard in the nose is also back.
    • Finish
      Long, sweet and bitter. In addition beautiful oak spice, pepper and herbs.

  11. Whisky-Connaisseur did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

    This new expression from Whic is a completely different Aberlour. Not, as is usually the case, matured or finished in sherry casks, but this time from a pure ex-Bourbon hogshead. And this is reflected in a wonderfully exotic fruit composition that is in good balance with spices, oak flavours and even some tobacco notes. The high alcohol content is of course noticeable, but with a few drops of water, this 21 year old Aberlour becomes a creamy oily fruit treat. Truly a summer whisky.

    I thank Leonie and Arne from whic (Whiskycircle) for the complimentary sample!

    https://www.whisky-connaisseur.de/2018/07/20/aberlour-21yo-2018-whic-architecture-of-taste/
    • Nose
      Clean and fresh on the nose with delicate notes of yellow fruits - peaches, apricots, pineapple and subtle ripe apples. Flavours of vanilla and honey with tender lemon curd and a hint of mint arrive, followed by a slightly floral note. The high alcohol content is noticeable but not pungent at all.
    • Taste
      Bold, rich and sweet on the palate with lots of peaches, apricots, mango and pineapple. Very exotic. This is complemented by a warming spiciness of white pepper, oak and candied ginger, support by an alcoholic bite. Becomes drier with a touch of espresso notes, tobacco leaves and a not unpleasant hint of damped wood towards the finish. Significantly more spice with a second sip.
    • Finish
      The finish is long, lingering sweet and fruity. Notes of malted barley with acacia honey, spiced oak and a touch of bitter orange on the tail.

      With water: There's more yellow fruit coming through with a splash of water, supported by oak spice and white pepper. Creamy even oily on the palate with lots of fruit, nicely balanced with oak, ginger and pepper. The alcohol is significantly tamed. The finish is medium to long with creamy notes of vanilla and honey, followed by dry oak and hints of tobacco leaves.

  12. whiskynews did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

    Tasting Notes from whic:
    Aroma: Opulent with fresh sweetness. Sweet freshness scent rises from the glass. Peach sirloin, papaya, candied and fresh pineapple and applesauce provide plenty of sweet fruit notes and give the whisky an exotic finish. Cotton candy, vanilla and honey continue the topic sweetness. The honey notes are already going in the direction of mead. Some black tea gives more depth and freshly cut grass gives the Aberlour an amazingly fresh touch.
    Taste: sweet and full-bodied. Apricot jam and caramel make the fruity-sweet start. The age of the Aberlour shows up in aromatic tobacco notes, old wood and strong Kaffeeröstaromen. In general, this whisky has a nice strong body with earthy malt notes. Add freshly ground pepper and ginger.
    Finish : Long-lasting and well-balanced between strong oak flavor and pleasant sweetness.

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