A 97-Point, Top-100 Single Malt from a Treasured Highland Gem
Aberfeldy 18 Year Old Côte-Rôtie Red Wine Finished Batch No: 2921 Highland
Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($119.99)
“I’m rarely impressed by red wine cask finishes on Scotch, but the Aberfeldy 18, finished in Côte-Rôtie barrels, truly wowed me.” — Andrew Whiteley, K&L Spirits Buyer
A critical component of Dewar’s for the past century, Aberfeldy’s signature honeyed charm is now reaching a wider audience with the recent releases of some wonderful old, age-stated barrels. This 18-year-old stunner takes an unconventional approach to aging, as it was finished in red wine casks that once held powerhouse Syrah from Côte-Rôtie in the Northern Rhône. A yin/yang match that shouldn’t work on paper comes together to form a truly unique dram that garnered 97 points and a Top 100 Spirits of 2021 nod from Wine Enthusiast. As spirits buyer Andrew Whiteley describes, “The natural fruitiness and sweet honey notes of Aberfeldy actually mesh perfectly with the intense dark berry fruit of the world’s best Syrah. The power of the wine brings out some of the earthier tones of the malt for an exceptionally well-balanced and pleasant drinking experience.” There are few profiles like it in the whisky world and fewer still at 18 years of age. Finally, throw in the stellar price that’s a fraction of what many big-name single malts in this age range go for, and you have an unequivocal winner that all collectors and Scotch fans need to experience.
Aberfeldy 18 Year Old Côte-Rôtie Red Wine Finished Batch No: 2921 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($119.99)
97 points Wine Enthusiast: “This starts off with earthy, oaky aromas. The palate opens dry in tones of cedar and a hint of tingly spice. Adding water brings mouthwatering vanilla forward, along with coconut and a nutty tone reminiscent of pecan pie. The finish is long and drying, with plenty of baking spice and ginger tingles. Finished in Cote-Rotie red wine casks. *Top 100 Spirits of 2021* (KO)” (12/2021)
K&L Notes: The Golden Dram, as Aberfeldy is known, is an appropriate name derived in equal parts from the marked golden honey notes of the whisky itself and the fact that gold is still panned in the Pitilie Burn, the distillery’s water source. The distillery is a critical component of the Dewar’s blend and has been since the Dewar’s built it in the 1890s. Today under Bacardi ownership (Diageo was forced to sell Dewars and its attendant distilleries in 1998 by the UK Monopolies Board), the single malts from Aberfeldy are finally getting the attention and focus they deserve. The core whisky lineup has been revamped and the extremely sought-after 18 year release has expanded from being exclusively released for travel retail, to being more widely available. Still quite limited in availability, this release is finished in red wine casks—specifically for batch #2921—the powerful Syrah wines from Côte-Rôtie. The result is a perfect mesh of Aberfeldy’s natural honey sweetness and the intense red fruits and structure of Côte-Rôtie.
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: January 18, 2022
I’m rarely impressed by red wine cask finishes on Scotch, but the Aberfeldy 18, finished in Côte-Rôtie barrels, truly wowed me. The natural fruitiness and sweet honey notes of Aberfeldy actually mesh perfectly with the intense dark berry fruit of the world’s best Syrah. The power of the wine brings out some of the earthier tones of the malt for an exceptionally well-balanced and pleasant drinking experience. The color is a rich copper. The nose is redolent of vanilla, blackberries, plums, raspberries, and raw honey. The deep earthy tones of cedar, tobacco leaf, and a thin veil of smoky oak comes out with more time in the glass. A small addition of pure water brings forward more citrus, in particular, a sweet, zesty orange peel, which matches the luscious honey perfectly. The palate is robust. It feels thicker and more substantive than expected from the nose. Perhaps it’s a bit of the wine’s famous tannins imparting a firmer structure than you often find in Scotch. I’m not clear on where exactly it’s coming from, but I’m certain that it works. The finish has a beautiful reprise of the orange peel freshness, gobs of spice (the work of top notch French oak?), and of course, Aberfeldy’s signature nectar—golden honey.
