Pitilie 10yo 2015/2025

Pitilie 10yo 2015/2025

Private Cask Collection, Finn Thomson
Single malt - Central Highlands
Yellow gold
55.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, aluminium foil, green apples, honey, lemon zest, hints of yoghurt. With water, magic marker, green apples, fresh baked bread. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Green apples, honey, white grapes, elderflower, vanilla, malted grains, hints of caramel. With water, malted grains, green apples, lemon zest. 
Finish: Short. White pepper, white grapes, malted grains, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Cask 105. Pitilie is another name for Aberfeldy. Fragrant, floral and tart, with plenty of underlying sweetness. The tartness is melic rather than citrus, with a sprinkling of peppery notes especially on the finish. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Aberfeldy 20yo 1999 Handfill Cask

Aberfeldy 20yo 1999 Handfill Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Dark amber red 
60.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, camphor, roast beef, raisins, black tea, damson jam, cloves. With water, roast beef, cloves, molasses. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, hot, volatile. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Coffee, camphor, roast beef, damson jam, clay dust, cloves, red grapes. With water, damson jam, dried apricots, raisins, clay dust, oak chips. 
Finish: Long. Coffee, clay dust, roast beef, red grapes. 

Comments: 

Meaty, winey, lots of jammy notes and warming spices. Water brings out a little dustiness and more dried fruit notes, but also makes the wood more prominent.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Aberfeldy 18yo 1999 Handfilled Cask #3

Aberfeldy 18yo 1999 Handfilled Cask #3

Official bottling 
Single malt - Central Highlands
Mahogany
57% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, camphor, roast beef, malted grains, chocolate, white pepper, hints of cream. With water, camphor, honey, orange peel, hints of roast beef. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, mouth coating, astringent, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, white pepper, sandalwood, orange peel, chocolate, honey, hints of cloves. With water, chocolate, white pepper, honey, orange peel. 
Finish: Long. Camphor, white pepper, orange peel, cloves. 

Comments: 

Herbal and rich, but with a creaminess that’s quite lactic. Paired with the other dominant note of chocolate, it’s really quite delicious. Water brings out more chocolate, honey and orange peel. A very good whisky indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Aberfeldy 18yo 1998 Handfill

Aberfeldy 18yo 1998 Handfill

Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Golden brown
55.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Camphor, white pepper, malted grains, mangoes, orange peel, cream, vanilla. With water, raisins, malted grains, white pepper, hints of camphor. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. White pepper, raisins, orange peel, mangoes, chocolate, cream, hints of coffee. With water, malted grains, raisins, hints of coffee. 
Finish: Long. Camphor, cream, orange peel, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Herbal and spicy, reminds me of nothing so much as an alcoholic Irn-Bru. Water brings it more maltiness and more peppery spice. Long and herbal finish, extremely enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Aberfeldy 17yo 2001/2018 Single Cask Handfill

Aberfeldy 17yo 2001/2018

Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Golden
54.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cola nuts, orange peel, cherries, roast chicken, malts grains, menthol, hints of eucalyptus. With water, damson jam, cherries, raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Leather, menthol, eucalyptus, roast chicken, raisins, orange peel, fresh baked bread, damson jam. With water, fresh baked bread, menthol, damson jam. 
Finish: Medium. Leather, autumn leaves, roast chicken, raisins. 

Comments: 

A rich, herbal Aberfeldy, lots of leather and orange peel. It’s sherried, of course, so lots of raisins and jam too, but there’s a nice meaty savouriness especially on the finish. Lovely.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Aberfeldy 25yo Sherry Cask Finish

Aberfeldy 25yo Sherry Cask Finish

Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Amber orange
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sandalwood, raisins, pruneaux, rose water, fresh baked bread, cloves, hints of violets. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, oily, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Orange peel, raisins, pruneaux, rose water, cherries, damson jam, hints of violets, hints of fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, pruneaux, raisins, orange peel, cloves. 

Comments: 

Fragrant and floral, lots of sweet winey notes, it’s almost like an armagnac. No need for water, it’s utterly delicious as it is. It builds to a long bready finish, and only then does it remind me of whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Aberfeldy 10yo 2014/2024

Aberfeldy 10yo 2014/2024

Fragrant Drops, Keeble Cask Company
Single malt - Central Highlands
Bright gold
60.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Acetone, toffee, pear drops, cola nuts, malted grains, fresh baked bread. With water, honey, malted grains, sultanas. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Malted grains, hoppy beer, acetone, fresh baked bread, honey, burnt sugar, hints of cola nuts. With water, malted grains, honey, hoppy beer. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, pear drops, fresh baked bread, honey. 

Comments: 

Cask 252. Very high ABV, so the spirity nature of the whisky stands out initially. It’s volatile and quite sweet. In the tongue some tart notes come to the fore, mainly beery notes. It’s got a very short finish for the ABV.

Verdict:

I like this.

Aberfeldy 18yo Tuscan Red Wine Cask Finish

Aberfeldy 18yo Tuscan Red Wine Finish

Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Amber pink
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, raspberries, cream, white grapes, Demerara sugar, milk, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Cinnamon, molasses, raspberries, cream, golden syrup, gooseberries, photocopy paper. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, coffee, molasses, raspberries, golden syrup. 

Comments: 

Batch 2922/A. The red wine finish is relatively well integrated here, giving a creamy raspberry jam sort of vibe. There’s other fruits as well, and some gently feinty notes too. Decent dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Aberfeldy 17yo 2005/2022

Aberfeldy 17yo 2005/2022

Rare Find Whisky, Gleann Mor Spirits
Single malt - Central Highlands
Yellow gold
53.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon sweets, white pepper, orange peel, pears, vanilla custard, toast, butter. With water, pears, butter, vanilla custard. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Pineapples, pears, toast, nutmeg, milk chocolate, vanilla custard, kiwifruit, butter. With water, vanilla custard, milk chocolate, pears. 
Finish: Long. White pepper, milk chocolate, vanilla custard, nutmeg, pears. 

Comments: 

Cask 213. This Aberfeldy tastes of poached pears, redolent of spices, and perhaps a little white wine. It’s also buttery and a little chocolatey, almost a dessert wine in itself. Lovely stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Aberfeldy 12yo Spiritual Home Exclusive #9

Aberfeldy 12yo Spiritual Home Exclusive #9

Connoisseur’s Choice, Gordon & Macphail 
Single malt - Central Highlands
Amber
56.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, caramel, coffee, vanilla, red grapes, cherries, cinder toffee, hints of aluminium foil. With water, fresh baked bread, cookie dough, honey, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, mouth coating, slippery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Chocolate, cherries, cinnamon, orange peel, coffee, cinder toffee, black tea. With water, cookie dough, fresh baked bread, black tea, honey. 
Finish: Long. Cherries, chocolate, orange peel, red grapes. 

Comments: 

Lovely sherried Aberfeldy - lots of chewy toffee notes, yet the texture of the whisky is still quite light. There’s a fair bit of fruit as well, which when mellowed with water, breaks up into sweet vanilla goodness. Highly enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Aberfeldy 28yo 1991/2021 Milroy’s & Jazzed Edition

Aberfeldy 28yo 1991/2021 Milroy’s & Jazzed Edition

Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - Central Highlands 
Golden
47.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, orange peel, starfruit, candle wax, vanilla, malted grains, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White grapes, pear drops, malted grains, vanilla, leather, hints of brass polish. 
Finish: Long. Candle wax, white grapes, pear drops, leather, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Cask 7434. This is quite a gentle and comforting whisky, which wears its age lightly. There is complexity but it’s not very forward, so you do need to work a little bit to discern the flavour notes. They’re mainly fruit and wax, but there’s a delicious leatheriness to it that’s quite alluring. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Aberfeldy 22yo 1996/2018

Aberfeldy 22yo 1996/2018

Malts Festival, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Central Highlands
Straw
52.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, barley sugar, lemon zest, watermelon rind, white grapes, hints of green apples. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, tingly, slightly slippery.  
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Green apples, white grapes, malted grains, leather, fresh baked bread, hops, hints of watermelon rind. 
Finish: Medium. Hops, walnuts, vanilla, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Surprisingly malty and floral. There’s a vegetal note that reminds me of watermelon rind, or perhaps sweet pickled cucumbers. It all tapers to a bitter finish. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Aberfeldy 21yo (launched 2015)

Aberfeldy 21yo (launched 2015)

Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, cola nuts, raisins, ice cream soda, peanuts, hints of jasmine tea. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, slippery, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Cookie dough, vanilla, salt caramel, raisins, jasmine, hints of milk chocolate. 
Finish: Medium. Jasmine tea, peanuts, dried apples, hints of cloves. 

Comments: 

Rather gentle for a 21yo, but there's plenty of sweet notes - dried fruits, spice, even some floral notes. I think it's a little too washed out for me, the notes aren't particularly intense. But it's a nice dram even so.

Verdict:

I like this.

Aberfeldy 16yo

Aberfeldy 16yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Dark gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Molasses, leather, raisins, black tea, cinnamon, hints of apples. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, loose, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Apple juice, shortcrust pastry, cinnamon, leather, raisins. 
Finish: Long. Butter, leather, cinnamon, black tea. 

Comments: 

This whisky tastes a lot like apple pie, but there's plenty of raisins, and peaty, slightly bitter notes to offset that group of flavours. It's also a tad weak, and I made a mistake drinking this as a last dram after so many strong and cask strength bottlings.

Verdict:

I like this.

Snuffed Candle (Aberfeldy 15yo 1999/2014)

Snuffed Candle (Aberfeldy 15yo 1999/2014)

Single Cask, Wemyss Malts
Single malt - Central Highlands
Bright gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Beer, beeswax, apples, leather, lemon zest, pears, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, sticky, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Pears, apples, honeydew melons, leather, lemon zest, hints of beeswax. 
Finish: Medium. Mint, honeydew melons, lemon zest, brass polish. 

Comments: 

Silky and smooth, this sweet sour bold tasting Highlander was delicious on a sticky warm summer night. There's precious little smoke though, perhaps it should be renamed 'Candle', as it's not really been snuffed.

Verdict:

I like this.

Aberfeldy 21 yo (launched 2005)

Aberfeldy 21 yo (launched 2005)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Central Highlands
Golden
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Oranges, honey, chocolate, white grapes, hints of peanuts.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, watery.
Tasting: Sweet sour . Oranges, chocolate, honey, peanuts, hints of lemon zest, hints of grapefruit.
Finish: Short. Bitter, grapefruit, orange rind, honey.

Comments:

Light and uncomplicated. Sweet, orangey notes with a interesting bitter finish. A little disappointing perhaps, I'd expected some more complexity from its time in the cask.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Aberfeldy 20 yo 1989/2009

Aberfeldy 20 yo 1989/2009

Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Central Highlands
Bright gold
43% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Lemon sweets, orange peel, dark chocolate, malty beer, mint, raisins, hints of vanilla, hints of peanuts.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, watery, airy.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Lemon sweets, orange peel, dark chocolate, malty beer, vanilla, orange juice, hints of cherries.
Finish: Medium. Peanuts, orange peel, lemon sweets, orange juice, vanilla.

Comments:

Terry's Chocolate Orange with lots of real orange? And a hint of fizzy lemon sherbet filled sweets? Yes, and with a sprinkle of peanuts on top. That's what this whisky tastes like. Absolutely delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Aberfeldy 12 yo

Aberfeldy 12 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Pale orange gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mushrooms, raisins, photocopy paper, pears, orange juice, hints of strawberries. With water, opens up with vanilla and lemon notes.
Mouthfeel: Light body, static, watery.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Peaches, raisins, pears, orange juice, hints of strawberries, hints of mushrooms. With water, vanilla, lemons, hints of grapefruit.
Finish: Medium. Orange juice, raisins, pears.

Comments:

Interesting hints of fungi on the nose. Reminded me of the finest oyster mushrooms, but in a fruit salad instead of a savoury dish. Quite unusual. Like.

Verdict:

I like this.