Aberlour 11 Years Old 2001 White Oak

43% ABV, €30 for 70cl

Score 69/100

What they say:

This vintage expression Aberlour has been carefully matured in American White Oak casks. The White oak (quercus alba) wood influence provides characteristic soft notes of vanilla and coconut. This is a single malt of exceptional charm and skillfullness that showcases the distillery character of Aberlour. Casks filled in 2001, bottled in 2012.

Nose:

Very fruity with sweet orange flavours and hints of butterscotch

Taste:

Incredibly sweet, creamy and smooth. Syrupy fruit flavours

Finish:

Long and sweet with hints of spicy liquorice

What I say:

Purchased this from Leclerc in Vire, Calvados, France as I am a big fan of Aberlour and this is bottled in France and not generally available in the UK. Cost around €25-30 so a good deal compared to whisky prices in the UK. This is a year older then the basic Aberlour expression and also focusses more on fruit from the spirit rather than the usual sherry cask.

Colour:

Copper

Nose:

Light, high sweetness to it with almost aniseed aromas

Taste:

Apple, banana, coconut, fruit salad sweets, before toffee and lemon cream. There is a hint of slight cinnamon spice in here and a little drying on the back of the throat upon swallowing from the green [white] oak.

Finish:

Warm, medium length finish with a little spice and lots of fruity sweetness

Would I buy it again:

This is more interesting and refined compared to the Aberlour 10 year old. I think I will cherish this one for now and look out for a similar cask maturation with a little more age. It is surprising how fruity the Aberlour distillate is as I had assumed much came from the sherry cask. This is a beautiful contrast to the 10 year old and a worthy part of my collection. Plus it is always nice to surprise friends with something they are likely not to have seen or tasted before. There is a good chance I will buy more of this.