Aberlour A’bunadh Batch 55, 57 Comparison Review
Batch 55
Region: Speyside
ABV: 60.9%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Colour: Old Gold
Nose: Vanilla, chocolate, perfume, dried fruits, cinnamon, Christmas cake, raisins, orange peel, nuts.
Palate: Malt, honey, chocolate powder, oak, orange peel, candied apple, cinnamon, ginger.
Finish: Long finish, oak, cinnamon, clove, salt, pepper.
Score: 88/100
Dropped by a point from last time I reviewed side by side with the batch 53, as my experience of whisky have gone up.
Batch 57
Region: Speyside
ABV: 60.7%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Colour: Old gold, but a shade lighter than 55.
Nose: Raisins, cinnamon, ginger, menthol, touch of mineral water, oily chocolate, orange zests, damp oak.
Palate: Clove, cinnamon, ginger, nuts, oak, damp tobacco, chocolate, orange peel.
Finish: Long finish, malt, oily oak, more baking spice.
Score: 86/100
The 55 and 57 are quite different, and 55 still remains my favourite in the 52-57 range. While the 55 and 57 are both very rounded, the 55 appears to have more sherry influence, and more of that dried fruit and chocolate character that I prefer, the 57 seems to be on the earthy, mineral side, while having a dialed down sherry bombness. Interestingly the 57 also a shade lighter than the 55, could this be a batch of younger malts?