Today’s Scotch review is the 1999 Connoisseur’s Choice Aberfeldy. Aged for about 16 years in Refill Sherry Hogsheads, it comes through nice and soft without a heavy sherry profile. The only major hint that it was ever sherried is the nuttiness that threads its way through this whisky. But I’m getting ahead of myself here.
Aberfeldy is one of those distilleries that gets very little recognition and that’s why we made it the focus of one of our Malt Nuts mega tastings. That Malt Nuts Aberfeldy tasting was how I got to know and appreciate the distillery. That’s what I love about events like that. A chance to highlight a lesser-known distillery and dive deep.
Up until that point my only exposure to the brand was through the “Last Great Malts” Aberfeldy 12 Years. Which was nice, but lacked some of the smokier and more brooding depth that came out in some of the whiskies that night and that showed up in this one as it opened. But, again, I’m getting ahead of myself, all of that is in the review…
1999 Connoisseur’s Choice Aberfeldy Review: Details and Tasting Notes
“This particular expression from Aberfeldy Distiller was matured in 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead and a refill Bourbon Barrel. The whisky has subtle sherry influences with toasted malt and citrus fruit aromas. The palate has hints of orange, red apple and a creamy milk chocolate edge.”
Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)
Region: Speyside
Distiller: Aberfeldy
Bottler: Gordon and Macphail
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: Refill Sherry Hogsheads
Age: ~16 Years (1999 – 2015)
ABV: 46%
Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Price: NA – Auction, Specialty Store or Private Seller (~$65 when purchased)
Tasting Notes
EYE
Golden honey
NOSE
Earthy malt, complex fruit, butterscotch, vanilla, nougat and a touch of dark fruit, smoke and spice.
PALATE
Malt, complex fruit, vanilla, touch hay, honey with a light spice, smoke, mushrooms and citrus peels.
FINISH
Long -> Malt, spice and vanilla taffy that fades to an earthy note.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Great balance, medium body and a soft light feel.
1999 Connoisseur’s Choice Aberfeldy Review: Overall and Score
Aroma is earthy and sweet with an overall profile that’s like fruity tobacco; Palate is essentially the same with even more earthiness with a light, sweetly honied, glaze to it; Finish starts nice and fades to a weird funky earthy note that isn’t bad… but it isn’t great either. A light smoke threads through the whole thing – not peat smoke but like charred wood.
This is not a whisky that will blow your mind, but it is a whisky that will make you happy. The 1999 Connoisseur’s Choice Aberfeldy is a great “any moment” whisky that I’d love to keep on my shelf for when friends come over… whenever that might happen again.
SCORE: 3/5
1999 Connoisseur's Choice Aberfeldy Review
Overall
3- Nose (3)
- Palate (3)
- Finish (3)
- BBF (3)
User Review
0 (0 votes) Comments Rating 0 (0 reviews)1999 Connoisseur's Choice Aberfeldy Review Summary
This is a nice fruity whisky that’s balanced out by some deeper earthy notes that have a tobacco-like kick to them. Super interesting and a bit weird.
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