Aberfeldy 16 Year Old

Nose: soft and subtle. A delicate, warm sherry note is noticeable first. Then there is a light salty, smoky aroma, like smoked bacon. This is not a peaty aroma by any means, but the smoke is there if you look for it. Dried fruit like figs and raisins appear with time. Altogether it is a nice aroma but just a bit too restrained. Oak is not readily apparent.

Taste: extremely soft and smooth on the tongue. Which is not to say it is thin or light-bodied or delicate, but it has a buttery smoothness which seems to melt on contact. The arrival is fruity with warm spice accents. Oak shows up at the back and sides of the tongue. You really want to let this one sit in your mouth for as long as possible so the soft, rich sherry and oak flavours have enough time to develop fully.

Finish: oaky and smooth with just a light bitterness. Also a touch of smoke which lingers.

Balance: on the whole, this is a little more subtle than I expected. The best part is the arrival of the flavour as it sits on the tongue. The hint of smoke is nice as well and shows up more clearly in the empty glass. This whisky has a very nice character but many enthusiasts will likely find it under-powered in this age of flavour bombs and cask strength offerings. If you want to taste a subtle, refined, and well-matured Highland malt without spending a small fortune this is a good choice.

Find where to buy Aberfeldy whisky