Aberlour 1985 (Thosop)

Two new Thosop bottlings have arrived, and they’re no everyday drams. Today we’ll try the Aberlour 1985, tomorrow the peated Cooley 1999.

Aberlour 1985 (45,1%, Thosop 2012, refill bourbon cask, 219 btl.)

Nose: a base of (good) wood and gentle muesli. On top of that, several kinds of European fruits: apples, pears, green plums. A little lemon. Also notes of hay and a sourish, milky touch. Soft wax in the background. Quite elegant and quite neutral. 

Mouth: sweet, malty and citrusy (lime, grapefruit). Big notes of apples. Nice gingerbread and Muscovado sugar. Hints of mocha glaze. Spicy notes of green oak.

Finish: medium long. Sweetened grapefruit juice and tinned pineapple with lingering spices.

Well-matured Aberlour, balanced, gentle and easily drinkable. Nice to try such a good unsherried example of this distillery. Regardless of the name though, I don’t feel it’s a particularly exceptional Speyside whisky. Around € 140.

Score: 88/100