Whisky Sponge Aberlour 33 Year Ed. No.92

Tasting Notes

My Tasting Note

Nose: floral, honeyed, and waxy with orchard fruits; Dare Ultimate Maple Cream cookies; pine sap, spruce pollen, and garden center greenhouses on a hot humid day; poached pear with blue cheese and baked apple pie.

Palate: toasty, piney, and floral with more white orchard fruits and waxy raw honeycomb; more baked apple, and poached pear with blue cheese; a touch musty with a hint of vellichor; old garments in a dress-up trunk; still a bit sappy, it is thick and viscous like avocado oil.

Finish: fruity, floral, and toasty with more antique-y notes; coating oils lingering long.

91pts Whisky Fun

"The two vintages aren’t explicitly mentioned on the label, but the design—this time around—seems to suggest that we should don platform boots, round Janis-style sunglasses, and sleeveless Afghan waistcoats while sipping this dram to the sound of Marc Bolan. Tempting as that may be, let’s skip the costume (been there, done that). Still, incredible that The Sponge managed to unearth old Aberlour like this. Colour: white wine. Nose: it feels almost youthful, yet with surprising complexity for what might be considered a “young” whisky—if you get my drift. It’s all about time, not wood or wine. Reminds me of something César Giron, one of Pernod Ricard’s big bosses, said in Le Figaro this morning: “What does it take to craft a great spirit? Time. Patience. Time is something money cannot buy. Our craft is, in a way, selling time—true luxury.” Spot on. Here we start with delicate resins, flowers, herbs, oil paint, and fine leather polish, giving the impression of stepping into an old Rolls-Royce (I imagine—I lack the experience). Then apples, mint, dill, and subtle honeyed touches. Deeply complex, yet unhurried—like an Ingmar Bergman film. A whisky for art-house enthusiasts, or a “slow whisky.” Mouth: about thirty types of apples and plums, paired with twenty varieties of honey and honeydew. I’m summarising. Then those fine herbs—dill, woodruff, savoury, watercress—everything is so refined. Finish: fairly long, leaning more into a ‘honeyed’ sweetness (though not sugary), with a spiced mead vibe and a touch of mint. Citrus comes in towards the end, lifting the aftertaste and adding a refreshing twist. Comments: very much in the style of the early 1970s—think vintage Glenlivet, Glen Grant, or Caperdonich. Torn between 90 and 91 points, but Christmas is near, so let’s play Bang a Gong (Get It On) and go for…"

Comment: a rather naked, but beautiful old Aberlour; we don't see older bottlings from this distillery often, but when we do, they don't disappoint... and this is no exception!

Producer Tasting Note

Nose: layers of soft, honeyed waxes, pollens, beeswax, furniture oils, background green fruits and baked apples. Add to that some lanolin, white pepper and fruit salad juices. A really expressive and hugely enjoyable style.

Palate: great, textural arrival, with a lot of flower nectar, beeswax and flower honey impressions. Also olive oil, juniper, cedar wood and dried exotic fruits. Superb maturity and still wonderfully lively and vibrant.

Finish: long, elegantly fruity, with heather honeys, sweet dark ales, dried herbs and aged fruit liqueurs.