Aberfeldy 12 Year Old Madeira Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

"Madeira is Aberfeldy's best friend." – Stephanie Macleod – Malt Master.

Aberfeldy is known for being eminently approachable, possessing some of the same notes that Madeira wine is famed for. It's logical then that Madeira casks make for a complementary finishing, adding an extra layer of complexity and spiciness to the malt. The result is a step up from the standard 12 year old, and at this direct import price, it's cheaper than Duty Free! Expect a lighter style dram where the Madeira casks impart hints of honey and nuts. 40% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... One might imagine that, at the very least, travel retail finishes would be tailored to airports. Here, for instance, Funchal, naturally, or perhaps Lisbon, Faro or… er, Porto. No, forget it… Colour: gold. Nose: a few slightly dirty touches of mustard and aged walnuts—not unpleasant, in fact—dried raisins and toasted almonds, a hint of paprika, then some earthy notes. Quite pleasant. Mouth: pepper, mustard, walnut wine, a touch of burnt caramel and bitter chocolate, with a relatively powerful attack despite the low ABV. However, it quickly becomes rather prickly on the nose and turns increasingly drying, with hints of mushroom. A pity, as the combination is interesting. Finish: rather short, heavily on the Madeira, with Worcestershire sauce at this stage. Comments: one could almost use it in cooking, perhaps in a Madeira sauce. But of course! The 40% ABV is pretty low, that’s for sure, but it’s a nice drop in the end. 80 points - whiskyfun.com