Speyside single malt brand Aberlour has added a 21 Year Old and a 25 Year Old to its permanent range, its oldest permanent expressions to date. The two single-batch whiskies will debut at Whisky Live Paris this month and then go to select retailers worldwide from September 2026.
Whisky Live Paris runs at the Grande Halle de la Villette from 26 to 28 September 2026.
Master Distiller Graeme Cruickshank led the project. His team drew both whiskies from decades-old casks and hand-selected each cask for bottling. Aberlour will release the whiskies once a year in small batches. The brand calls them “an anticipated must-have for collectors, connoisseurs and seekers of rare craft.”
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READ THE STORYBoth expressions use Aberlour’s signature double cask maturation. The 21 Year Old spent more than two decades in American oak and Sherry oak casks. It is bottled at 48% ABV and is the brand’s first annual permanent release.
According to the official notes from the brand, the nose offers “vibrant cherries, spiced baked apples, and rich toffee.” Chocolate and warm ginger follow on the palate, and the finish is lightly spiced.
Production of the 25 Year Old is smaller. Aberlour blended a few hand-selected casks, including a single first-fill Sherry hogshead.
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This whisky is bottled at cask strength without chill filtration. No ABV appears in the artwork or the text for the 25 Year Old . The official notes from the brand describe a “sweet and fruit-forward nose,” with creamy vanilla, spiced ginger and cardamom on the palate.
“The introduction of these 21 and 25 Year Old expressions is a proud milestone for everyone at the distillery,” said Graeme Cruickshank, Aberlour Master Distiller. “Having personally guided the 21 Year Old on its journey from grain to glass, I know first-hand the patience, precision and care required to bring a whisky of this age to life.”
Cruickshank also compared the process to chocolate making. “In many ways, our journey mirrors that of a master chocolatier,” he said.
“By meticulously curating these casks over two decades, we’ve ensured we’ve captured the wood’s influence at its absolute peak, creating the pinnacle of our heritage and the very definition of Speyside luxury,” he added.
James Fleming founded Aberlour Distillery in 1879. Today it belongs to Chivas Brothers. Pernod Ricard acquired Chivas Brothers in 2001.
