Scotch

Scotch Whisky Review: Aultmore 18 Year Old

$162

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RATING

8

Scotch Whisky Review: Aultmore 18 Year Old

This Aultmore 18 Year Old is a perfect example of how having a very good vatting of casks together can mitigate the need for any over-the-top finishing just to achieve darker colors.
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Tasting Notes:

About:
An 18 Year Old Aultmore launched in 2015, as part of distillery owner John Dewar & Sons’ Last Great Malts ranges – the Aultmore range was known as the ‘Foggie Moss’ collection. This Aultmore 18 Year Old expression was matured in a combination of ex-bourbon casks and refill sherry casks.
Appearance:
Light Amber / Straw
Nose:
Fresh hay, plenty of ripe fruit notes – red apples, peaches, and a combination of orange and lemon citrus. Gives way to some honey fudge sweetness, alongside shortbread, vanilla, and leather.
Palate:
The palate opens with some caramel and lemon citrus, and a hit of green herbs. Followed by a waxy polish note which gives way to spicy flavours of oak, white pepper, cinnamon, ginger, and a little clove. There’s a subtle nutty undernote throughout – possibly almond.
Finish:
Medium finish, oaky spice continues complemented by caramel, lemon, and mint with a little pear and peach.
Comments:
Lots of competing flavours, but this Aultmore is well balanced between fruit and spice, with a lasting waxy mouthfeel.

How Does Aultmore 18 Year Old Compare To Other 18 Year Old Whiskies?

As any whisky enthusiast knows, when you step into the world of older age-stated whiskies, sherry casks tend to play a prominent role. This Aultmore 18 Year Old is a perfect example of how having a very good vatting of casks together can mitigate the need for any over-the-top finishing just to achieve darker colors. Having these lighter, sweeter, yet still easy-drinking flavors is an important part of the whisky landscape – not everyone craves a nearly two-decade-old whisky that simply looks and tastes like sherry or port.

The flavor profile of mint, lemon, almond and delicate pastry notes demonstrates remarkable cask management in maintaining these lighter profiles, while showing why Aultmore is such an important part of the Dewar’s blending stable.

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Don’t be mistaken – there is sherry influence here. It just isn’t, and doesn’t need to be, the star of the show.

Is Aultmore 18 Year Old Good Value For Money?

At around $170 (£140), this is a great value buy no matter which other brands you bring into the comparison. It sits in a similar price point to Highland Park 18 and Tomatin 18. All of these bottles offer very different experiences – this Aultmore is rather gracious and light, Highland Park can do a little bit of everything, whereas Tomatin is your classic sherry-finished older age statement but still remarkably fruit-driven. You’ll want different flavours at different times of the year, but the Aultmore provides some uniquely different flavour options in an official bottling for less than most of its domestic rivals.

Final Thoughts?

A very tasty, different, refreshing style of 18 year old single malt that has always stood out for the right reasons.

Mark Bostock

Mark Bostock, an integral part of the Mark Littler LTD UK content writing team since 2019, brings a genuine passion for whisky, especially independent bottlings, to his work. His commitment to expanding his knowledge through attending tasting events and building his own collection enriches his contributions, blending expertise with enthusiasm.

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