Aberfeldy 25 Year Old (2023) 125th Anniversary
To celebrate the distillery's 125th anniversary in the heart of the Highlands, Aberfeldy has released a limited special edition. This 25-year-old single malt matured for over two decades in refill hogsheads and refill butts before receiving a finish of over a year in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks. Bottled without chill-filtration and without added colour at 46% – a worthy anniversary tribute.
The panel
Mean 86.5 · spread 1
Value for money 3/5
- Distillery
- Aberfeldy
- Type
- Single Malt
- Region
- Highlands
- Country
- Scotland
- Age
- 25 years
- Strength
- 46% ABV
- Character
- rich
Tasting
Nose
The first impression is invitingly warm and welcoming. Immediately, the heather honey so typical of Aberfeldy dominates, but here in a noticeably riper, darker expression than in the younger bottlings. Behind it, wild strawberries and sun-kissed peaches unfold, seamlessly transitioning into a creamy caramel layer. With some air, fine notes of cocoa powder and cinnamon emerge, accompanied by a subtle yet noticeable Oloroso sweetness: dried dates and figs. The oak, after 25 years, is present but remains remarkably restrained, underpinning everything with a warm, spicy foundation.
Palate
On the palate, the Aberfeldy 25 reveals itself as full-bodied and velvety smooth. Ripe nectarines and strawberries form a fruity foundation, carried by a malty, almost sugared-porridge-like creaminess. The sherry cask influences bring vanilla cream and toasted almonds without ever becoming overbearing. In the background, a delicate coffee note shimmers through – like a hint of espresso in a dessert. The 46% gives the mouthfeel a pleasant substance, very welcome in a whisky of this maturity. Overall, a remarkably harmonious composition in which no single element takes the upper hand.
Finish
The finish is long and warming. Forest berries and caramel linger, while the oak now steps slightly more into the foreground, leaving a pleasantly dry, lightly tannic spice. Cinnamon and a touch of nutmeg accompany the conclusion, which slowly dissolves into a gentle honey sweetness. An aftertaste that invites you to pause and underscores the complexity of this whisky once more.
Verdicts
Marcel
The Aberfeldy 25 Year Old 125th Anniversary is a wonderfully cohesive package: the Oloroso finish elevates the already honey-sweet Highland character without overshadowing it. You feel those 25 years in every sip – in the depth, the creaminess, the endlessly long finish. Not a whisky that loudly demands attention, but one that quietly convinces and reveals a new facet with every nosing. A worthy anniversary indeed.
Sascha
With its balanced interplay between the distillery's natural honey sweetness and complex sherry influences, this 25-year-old Aberfeldy demonstrates how successful cask maturation and finishing can harmonise. The structure is precise, the aromatic diversity impressive, without ever veering into excess. Only the price tempers the enthusiasm – ambitious for what's offered, though not unusual in the segment of 25-year-olds.
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