Scotch

Aberfeldy 40 Year Old Cask #5030 Scotch Whisky Review

Experience Aberfeldy's rare 40-year-old single malt, distilled in 1978. This whisky offers a rich palate of tropical fruits and chocolate, finishing with deep espresso and oak notes.

OVERALL RATING

8
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Tasting Notes

About:

From a trio of ‘hand-fill’ 40YO casks, distilled in 1978, Aberfeldy have offered drinkers the opportunity to bottle their own 40YO single malt at the distillery. This liquid features from cask #5030
Appearance:
Light Gold
Nose:
Kendal Mint Cake, mint julep cocktails, chewy toffee sweets, lime juice, Mosambi, Mango lassi, Manuka honey, malted biscuits with dried raisins and currants, desiccated coconut.
Palate:
Pineapple chunks, red apples, mango cream, vanilla, lime juice, kiwi, pomegranate and brown sugar. Both milk and white chocolate make an appearance which welcomes in some nice textural elements, too.
Finish:
The flavours move into much darker territory. It’s pushing with heavily roasted espresso, dark chocolate, Italian Amaro, charred coconut and lots of very pleasant oak influences that push this darker flavour, richly contrasting to the brightness of the lighter and brighter side of Aberfeldy. An absurdly long finish with a slight bitterness working its way through – reminiscent of dark chocolate, grapefruit and lime.
Comments:
This is the first Aberfeldy I’ve ever tried of this age range, and I’m happy to see the core style of the distillery still making itself known. Bright, light, fruity and loads of honeyed character.

The finish and the end of the palate is where this whisky starts to turn and move. It becomes so much heavier and darker with its flavours, showcasing the real depth Aberfeldy can have outside of its famous sweet style.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Phil Dwyer

Phil Dwyer is a freelance whisky writer and consultant. With a decade of experience in whisky retail and nearly as long running Whisky Wednesday on YouTube, Phil is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with fellow whisky lovers. His goal is to make whisky accessible and enjoyable, dispelling the jargon and complexity that can sometimes surround the spirit. In addition to his online presence, Phil managed The Whisky Shop Manchester, where he curated an impressive selection of some of the finest drams available.

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