Aberfeldy 18 Years (2021) French Red Wine Casks
If there's one thing a whisky from the Highlands promises, it's character - and the Aberfeldy 2021, 18 years in French Red Wine Casks doesn't disappoint. This limited bottling shows how a mature spirit can shine with a touch of French elegance.
The panel
Mean 86.5 · spread 1
Value for money 4/5
- Distillery
- Aberfeldy
- Type
- Single Malt
- Region
- Highlands
- Country
- Scotland
- Age
- 18 years
- Strength
- 43% ABV
- Character
- rich
Tasting
Nose
Even the nosing of this whisky is an experience. Notes of dates and figs rise to the nose, carried by a gentle hint of light-coloured grapes and clove. An interesting ‘sandy’ undertone is reminiscent of a walk in an autumn landscape - earthy, slightly rough and inviting at the same time. After the first sip, increasingly fruity flavours unfold, intensifying the impression.
Palate
On the tongue, the Aberfeldy 18 years is initially creamy - almost like a velvety wine. But then the Highlands make their unmistakable mark: oak and a hint of coloured pepper provide a spicy base, accompanied by subtle notes of red fruit. The slightly vinous note from the maturation in French red wine casks adds an elegant dimension without being too dominant.
Finish
And then comes the finish - wow! The interplay of flavours reaches its climax here. A clear strawberry note leads into raspberry ice cream before everything dissolves into a creamy, spicy warmth. The strong spiciness leaves a lasting impression that lingers on the palate for minutes afterwards.
Verdicts
Marcel
Aberfeldy 18 years impressively demonstrates how a whisky can benefit from spicy sherry notes and fruity complexity. Particularly fascinating: with time in the glass, it gains in fruitiness, which makes every new tasting an experience. Lovers of intense and complex whiskies will be more than satisfied. This whisky is not a simple sipper - it invites you to engage with it and experience the development of its flavours. The Aberfeldy 2021, 18 years French Red Wine Casks harmonises perfectly with duck breast in a red wine reduction, as the fruity notes of the whisky elegantly pick up on the flavours of wine and meat. For dessert, raspberry ice cream with dark chocolate complements the berry and creamy finish.
Sascha
Aberfeldy 18 years impressively demonstrates how a whisky can benefit from spicy sherry notes and fruity complexity. Particularly fascinating: with time in the glass, it gains in fruitiness, which makes every new tasting an experience. Lovers of intense and complex whiskies will be more than satisfied. This whisky is not a simple sipper - it invites you to engage with it and experience the development of its flavours. The Aberfeldy 2021, 18 years French Red Wine Casks harmonises perfectly with duck breast in a red wine reduction, as the fruity notes of the whisky elegantly pick up on the flavours of wine and meat. For dessert, raspberry ice cream with dark chocolate complements the berry and creamy finish.
What it is worth
We do not yet hold bottle-level auction results — that sits behind Whisky Hunter’s authenticated feed. What follows is the market for Aberfeldy as a whole, which sets the weather for this bottling without pricing it.
Latest mean bid £115 across 82 lots · 2024-08