Taster

Nose: A first class aroma of honey and sliced almonds. Very sweet for the age with the oak being surprisingly subdued, perhaps by the delicate sherry/apricot fruitiness.

Palate: Much drier from the start with the oak steaming in. Fills out in mouth well, with an almost metallic hardness to the malt-honey sweetness, softened only by an oily tang.

Finish: Very hard and quite grainy with the malt lengthening out. Perhaps just slightly off key.

Comment: 11 years ago I tasted some 10 Years Old Aberlour and wasn't too impressed. It has matured through well but not all the kinks have been ironed out, especially towards the finish.

Score: 7

Taster

Nose: Sherry, oak, polished leather.

Palate: Firm, smooth, lightly creamy. Packed with lively flavours: malt, cookies, fruit, mint.

Finish: Spicy, rooty, dry, very long.

Comment: Great to see this once-reticent distillery releasing some really expressive bottlings.

Score: 8