Scotch

Scotch Whisky Review: The Firkin Rare Aultmore 2010 Tawny Port

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Scotch Whisky Review: The Firkin Rare Aultmore 2010 Tawny Port

Firkin’s casks use a mix of American first-fill bourbon and new French Limousin oak staves, and are then freshly charred. This Firkin Rare Aultmore is bottled at 48.9 % ABV, with only 273 bottles from the cask.

by Mark Bostock
April 27, 2025

Mark Bostock, a whisky enthusiast specializing in independent bottlings.

Tasting Notes:

About:

The Aultmore Distillery was founded in 1895, situated in Speyside. The majority of Aultmore’s output is destined for owner John Dewar & Sons blended whisky range. This Aultmore expression is a single cask bottling from independent bottler, The Firkin Whisky Company, matured in one of Firkin’s double oak casks seasoned with Tawny Port. Firkin’s casks use a mix of American first-fill bourbon and new French Limousin oak staves, and are then freshly charred. This Firkin Rare Aultmore is bottled at 48.9 % ABV, with only 273 bottles from the cask.

Appearance:

Rose Gold

Nose:

Sweet and fruity, lots of expressive red fruits, strawberries, red currants and cherries. The sweetness is reminiscent of creamy strawberry ice cream and heather honey. Balanced by notes of soft oak, sandalwood, and malty biscuits.

Palate:

Lots of red fruits, strawberry, cherry, and plum lead into sweet flavours of chocolate and toffee sponge with a hint of ginger and cinnamon. These give way to some of my characteristic Aultmore flavours, sandalwood, apricot, and slightly drying black tea – but these are muted compared to some Aultmore bottlings.

Finish:

Long, red berry fruitiness persists alongside some drying oaky wood.

Comments:

I’m an Aultmore fan, and this Firkin Rare expression offers a slightly different style with some enjoyable red fruit flavours from the Tawny port seasoned cask – a good example of well-balanced cask influence. Signature Aultmore notes are present, sandalwood and black tea, but are muted compared to some sherry cask matured bottlings. The Aultmore Firkin Rare is slightly drying, but still a very drinkable malt, particularly at the 48.9% ABV.

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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