Whisky Review: Aberlour A’bunadh

I hope you like sherry. Like the nose and appearance, nothing at all subtle. Huge sherry note. Very warm mouthfeel, again, due to the high strength of the bottling. Full and almost heavy on the palate. The first sip packs quite a bite on the tongue and set the lips tingling, but subsequent visits to my glass find the dram much more inviting. In fact, it opens up some interesting layers once the shockwave from the sherry bomb passes by. There is a bit of granny smith green apple, fresh fennel, not dried, a bit of fig and mint late. The burn is intense, but not unpleasant at all. It is a fresh transition that suits the nose and palate. Overall, really fun and well-balanced. Final Thoughts & Score/Buy A Bottle: Score: 90/100 Aberlour A’bunadh is the whisky you bust out for that friend who can never seem to taste the sherry expertly mingling with your Macallans and Glenmorangies. This is a niche bottling, to be sure. A large part of what personally attracts me to the world of single malt Scotch whisky is the depth and diversity of experiences to be found across the industry. I love a dram with character, and Aberlour A’bunadh has it in spades. While there is certainly something to be said for the consistency provided in a finely-crafted blend, the sometimes unpredictable nature of a small batch single malt appeals to my sense of adventure. You can definitely expect a wild ride when you open a fresh bottle of A’bunadh. Aside from that, be prepared to become aquatinted with the individual nuances of your specific batch.