Fellow dramophiles,
I picked up a few interesting bottles on my recent, albeit brief, trip to Ireland. One that I selected at the WoW - Terminal 3 LHR is the OB of Aberfeldy (12 yo, 40%). It was an impulse buy due to my curiosity from never having tried the F&F when it was available and it being not all that common in indie bottlings in the US. I only have Cadenhead's and SMWS examples at home in the vaults. I once had a chance to buy the Cooper's Choice bottling, but given my lack of enthusiasm for the other two, I gave it a pass.
Despite the fact that I don't like Dewar's and they are highly promoting the malt on the basis of the blend, I bought it sight untasted during the scant few minutes I had to spend at the shop. Well, I had a dram of it last night and I was pleasantly surprised, in no small part due to my lack of expectations.
It's certainly no heavyweight, but has a very appealing mix of honeyed sweetness and peaty smoke, especially on the nose. I also detected some malty, and fatty character on the nose like the skimmings that come off of McCann's oats during the boil and very faint and vapory lemon creme cookies at the very end. I was surprised at quality of the nose for a 12yo whisky.
On the palate, the 40% strength hits you right away as thin, but it does have a decent mouthfeel with hints of lanolin and oiliness, but also crisp and clean. The main flavors to carry over from the nose are the honey/lemon with some lesser cereal/malt mixed in. It is not overtly peaty in any way that the nose might otherwise lead you to believe.
The finish is pretty brief and doesn't develop much, more like a fading away rather than revealing much about the whisky that the tongue doesn't grab in the first wave. The peat does eventually make its way through the fog but it is very subtle and earthy, not pungent, although enjoyable.
My overall impression is that is a pleasant whisky, not a stunner, that would be well suited for casual social drinking situations. It is certainly peatier on the nose than many of the other Perthsire whiskies, and more interesting than some better-known Speysiders. I'd say at this point that the nose is its greatest attribute, followed by an easy-drinking nature. Not the greatest q-p-r, the 1-liter bottle was £30, but I have no buyer's remorse either. As has been my experience, I expect that my impressions will change as I gain familiarity with the bottling and it has been opened for a few weeks.
Any other opinions?
Sláinte, Bushido ©2003