Aberlour 18. Double cask or sherry cask ?

@fredthefrench - your question piqued my interest as I have 2 bottles on "back order" (Hi- Time Wine Cellars has it for $80)...Spent 15 minutes searching the net, and honestly I've found nothing that specifically states if it's sherry only, or a double maturation of bourbon/sherry (even the official Aberlour site doesn't mention anything specific).

I'm thinking an email directly to Aberlour would be the best way to answer your question.

Good idea ! @FMichael

whiskyadvocateblog.com/2011/01/… The answer you're looking for... Sherry Casks...

@fredthefrench I just sent an email to Chivas (the parent company of Aberlour is Pernod Ricard)...Hopefully I'll hear from them soon.

@lmann86 I noticed that as well in my initial search - however the "new expression" comment leaves me wondering if they're still using sherry butts alone, or if they're using both sherry, and bourbon?

If I were a betting man - I'd say it's probably 100% maturation in sherry butts.

i just remember this video on you tube www.youtube.com/watch Brand ambassador Alex Robertson mention '18 long years in american barrels and sherrry butts" as far as my poor english allows me to be sure of what i'm hearing...

@fredthefrench - well the question appears to have been answered at the start; 18 years maturation in American White Oak barrels that once held oloroso sherry.

Side note - anyone else love Alex Robertson's Scottish accent?..Dr Bill Lumsden of Glenmorangie also has a really pronounced accent - just gotta love it!

To be called Scotch it has to be made of malted barley, water and yeast then aged in American oak bourbon barrels at least 3 years. After that you can put it in whatever barrel you'd like.

I do love it too ! @FMichael

@FMichael ...i mean, Alex Robertson accent, but well... "American barrels that once held Oloroso sherry". So Ab 18 seems to be a sherry cask, not a double cask. I asked this question because i was confused by the reviews that often mention more orange, zesty taste than dark fruits... But maybe should i stop speculate, buy a bottle and enjoy ;-) Maybe not from now on cause i plan to buy a Benriach Sauternes cask (i'm always so curious about Benriach products, this distillery work is amazing)...

@fredthefrench - just got a reply concerning the maturation.....

"Dear Fred

Thanks for your message.

Aberlour 18 year old Single Malt Whisky is Double Cask Matured, i.e. the whisky has matured in Both Ex-Spanish Olorroso Sherry casks and Ex-Bourbon Whisky Casks.

I hope this helps you.

Kind regards

Jonathan Osbaldiston"

.....so - double cask maturation it is.

@Benancio your interpretation is not exactly true: does not have to be American oak; barrels do not have to have held bourbon.

Here's a link to the latest Scotch Whisky Regulations:

legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/…

@FMichael Thank you for sharing this information Fred. So 12, 16 and 18 are double cask. And, if i believe excellent reviews i have read, 18 is the highlight of the range. I have been impressed by "confident whisky" caracter of 16, much more than by Balvenie double wood, and i hope i'll have the opportunity to taste 18 (pease MOM, add a sample to your offer :-))) And finally, A'bunadh stays the only, very special, sherry cask of aberlour's offer.

@fredthefrench - I too was a bit surprised to see that the 18 yr is double cask matured - although Aberlour seems pretty keen on this way of maturation for their primary expressions.

What gets me is the lack of consistency with the info some distilleries present to us consumers; the Aberlour video on YouTube with Alex Robertson gives us the impression that the 18 yr is sherry cask only while the email I received says otherwise...

Another example of varying information is seen here with the HP 15 yr connosr.com/reviews/highland-park/…

@two-bit-cowboy , I stand corrected thank you.

@Benancio we all learn something with every thread. That's the goal, ya?

@FMichael I do agree with you and i'm surprised about such lack of informations even on the bottle...

It now states so on their website. But I wonder whether it changed from Sherry cask to Double cask at some point? Perhaps around 2011? (And why is the 10yo not listed as part of their range?) I suppose the distilleries don't need to state whether they change the proportions of time spent in the different casks, or how many times the casks have been filled.

I wonder about this particularly regarding the younger versions of Double Cask (12yo, 15yo, even 16)

Sherry cask. Originally released for a specific European market (I think France) but now widely available.

@sengjc Interesting... but just to confirm: Are you implying that it was originally Sherry cask whereas now it is Double cask? (Because the above thread concludes with references that it is Double Cask, at least by 2012.)