As stated last week, Aberlour isn’t exactly on my radar. Mostly because, apart from the rocket fuel that is A’Bunadh, I don’t really care for most of the official releases. A bit too smooth, a bit too sweet, a bit too generic. Of course, there are some amazing single cask releases from the distillery’s ‘Bottle your Own’ program, or whatever it’s called there.

Which reminds me, I should review my bottle at some point. Not very punctual, since I bought it in 2013, but not less good because of it.

Anyway, this one popped up in a ‘recent’ tasting by De Whiskykoning. Or, I went through the samples recently, because it was last summer’s seasonal tasting.

So, Bourbon Hogshead matured, but finished in a Marsala Hogshead. An interesting take, but Hart Brothers seems to be on a finishing streak, over the last couple of years. A lot of their releases have some kind of secondary maturation. Generally I’m not a huge fan of the practice, but I’ve had some awesome surprises over the years. Let’s see where this one ends up!

Sniff:
Young on the nose, even younger than the 10 years it states. I bet the bourbon cask wasn’t a first fill one. I get a note of paint stripper and petrol. Slightly nutty with a chemical sweetness. With a bit of time in the glass it does get better, a bit richer with oak, vanilla and candied orange. Brown sugar and old oak.

Sip:
The palate is smooth with a slightly dry nuttiness. There’s a note of orange peel, dry oak and brazil nut. Cashews and honey too.

Swallow:
The finish is surprisingly sweet after the nose and palate. Luckily there’s enough oak and nuts to keep it a little bit in check. Orange peel again.

Yeah. Well. This ain’t it. The Marsala brings a nice nuttiness, and keeps the sweetness in check, but there are so many weird notes on the palate that don’t suit the whisky, that it just doesn’t work for me.

80/100