18 years

Aberlour was founded in 1879 by James Fleming, a grain dealer who built the distillery at the foot of Ben Rinnes using water from St. Drostan's Well, named after an early Columban monk. That heritage of craft and continuity is evident in this 18-year-old: a whisky that has had time to develop its full character.

Maturation took place in a combination of American and European oak casks, followed by a finish in Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks. This gives the whisky its full, lustrous body—not the heavy, ponderous style of some sherry-dominated malts, but rather a balanced blend in which both wood types play their part.

In the glass, dark fruit, raisins, and subtle spice emerge, supported by honey and butter. The palate is creamy and soft, with notes of cinnamon and fine oak unfolding slowly. The finish is long and warm, with a hint of citrus cutting through the richness—a reminder that beneath all the sherry influence lies a solid Speyside foundation.