A’bunadh (http://www.aberlour.com/en/therange/abunadh)
A’bunadh, Gaelic for ‘of the origin’, is matured exclusively in Oloroso ex-sherry butts. It is a natural cask-strength malt whisky produced without the use of modern-day chill filtering methods or the addition of water.
Colour
Deep, rich amber
Nose
Aromas of mixed spices, praline and spiced orange harmonising with rich, deep notes of Oloroso sherry
Palate
Orange, black cherries, dried fruit and ginger spiked with dark bitter chocolate and enriched with sherry and oak. Full bodied and creamy
Finish
Robust and intense with bitter-sweet notes of exotic spices, dark chocolate and oak
While I described some of the others as being akin to coals of a fire, this one is a raging inferno on the senses. If someone handed you a glass of this in a bar, you would immediately stop what you were doing at first sip, as this one isn't just a mild distraction, but demands full attention. Even after it is swallowed, the burn continues to build around a complex taste for a few seconds before finally starting to fade, and even that is very gradual. I'll let Ned add his drop of water, and actually, that probably would add a bit of mellowness this seems to need.
If you want raw, fiery heat from your whisky, this one definitely provides that and then some. I also got a bottle of corn whiskey for my birthday, and while it has the burn, it doesn't have near the flavor this has. If I had both bottles in my car and ran out of fuel, I'd pour in the corn first and take a shot of this for good luck...;>)
Colour
Deep, rich amber
Nose
Aromas of mixed spices, praline and spiced orange harmonising with rich, deep notes of Oloroso sherry
Palate
Orange, black cherries, dried fruit and ginger spiked with dark bitter chocolate and enriched with sherry and oak. Full bodied and creamy
Finish
Robust and intense with bitter-sweet notes of exotic spices, dark chocolate and oak
While I described some of the others as being akin to coals of a fire, this one is a raging inferno on the senses. If someone handed you a glass of this in a bar, you would immediately stop what you were doing at first sip, as this one isn't just a mild distraction, but demands full attention. Even after it is swallowed, the burn continues to build around a complex taste for a few seconds before finally starting to fade, and even that is very gradual. I'll let Ned add his drop of water, and actually, that probably would add a bit of mellowness this seems to need.
If you want raw, fiery heat from your whisky, this one definitely provides that and then some. I also got a bottle of corn whiskey for my birthday, and while it has the burn, it doesn't have near the flavor this has. If I had both bottles in my car and ran out of fuel, I'd pour in the corn first and take a shot of this for good luck...;>)
1 is the loneliest number...sorry, got confused because brother bob coded this delightful sampling as number 1 for some reason, still scratching my head on that...but anyway, I didn't need a label to tell me this was pure nitro... my eyes started watering after a few sips and my tongue went numb. The burn was there right from the first sip. Lips, who needs lips?
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong, for nitro this was smooth. The taste was mild, the aroma mild, everything said mild.. right up to the point your eyes teared up.
A scotch if you are sitting by the fire for sure. I don't know about all those exotic notes the description mentions, my taste buds went running after the first sip.
But I am feeling no pain.
Good first choice bob. Hopefully my taste buds will be back by #2.
I am trying this one after a month of inability to taste and am not sure I can even now. So here goes: 1st sip – ooooh that burns! Not sure what I tasted. 2nd sip – sweet somehow and still burns. The nose is heavily alcoholic. Mouth feels numb. Gonna give it one more try – starting to taste something but still burns. Ok a splash of water – one not enough. Chest burning deep. Another splash - starting to get some flavor. Still a bit sweet. Gonna add some ice –three cubes and the stuff starts to have a creamy feel. Not drinkable yet. Gonna add some soda – at last the stuff is tamed. I believe I have had Aberlour before and it was not this distinctive! And my cough has been tamed! I do not like this one so am saving some to see if it is the cold.
ReplyDeleteColor: rusty
ReplyDeleteLegs: Strong
Nose: Not much to be honest . A kind of medicinal smell
Taste: A very fiery burn hits you and then the creamy kind of sweetness. There is some smoke at the end
Finish: strong and warm
A drop of water brings out a creamy butter in the nose and taste. Maybe some fruity flavors too, but it is still very fiery. Me thinks this needs more than a drop. A larger splash does help smooth it out, but it is still fiery.
OK, so this is why whisky is called fire water. I am reminded of the You Tube videos showing the people in PA lighting their well water on fire because of the fracking method of releasing natural gas. The nose is too bland for my taste. Yet, if you can overcome the smack down at the back of your throat, there is real nice flavor here. Seeing as it is cask strength and more than the typical 80 proof, this one could stand to be mixed down somewhat. The splash of water certainly helped and turned into a rather enjoyable slow sipping dram. Emphasis on the slow!
Return try: I can smell it from 6 feet away. Have tried to let it sit in the glass for an hour to see if that helps. Strong aroma does fade after about five sniffs; could be a bit peaty/smoky but really strong alcohol to get through first. Oh, well, gotta try – hmmm… not bad in the mouth really but oh that burn in the chest. Had taste! Some hazelnut, a touch sweet like caramel and some solid body, not too thin. The mouth warms as I go but the chest can burn no more. This one does not give up after a number of sips, no wimp this stuff. The smoky flavor is coming out more as I sip it and do I detect a note of coffee? Still, I cannot breath in when tipping the glass back to drink or the cough returns tho not as deep. The mouth burn is apparently good to the last drop. So, yes, my previous review did not do this rocket fuel total justice. You must stay away from open flame when drinking the stuff but it is not bad. Could get away with a lot less in the glass and still enjoy. I will have to grab the bottle from Bob when I see him.
ReplyDelete