Whisky Focus - Aberfeldy 15 & 18 Year Old Red Wine Cask Collection

John Dewar & Sons has unveiled the two latest expressions to come from Aberfeldy's Red Wine Cask Collection.

For this year’s annual release Aberfeldy is releasing two expressions; Aberfeldy 15 Year Old finished in Cabernet Sauvignon wine casks from Napa Valley, and Aberfeldy 18 Year Old finished in Tuscan red wine casks from Bolgheri, available in selected markets.

The Aberfeldy Limited Edition series is the creative work of Malt Master, Stephanie Macleod. Being highly accomplished in the sensory analyses of whisky, this collection was born through Stephanie’s inherent passion for maturation and flavour development. Inspired by her adoration of fine wine, Stephanie began the exploration of how flavours from red wine casks interact with and elevate Aberfeldy ’s aged malt. Painstakingly nosing each cask to monitor maturation and flavour development within the Aberfeldy inventory, the use of Stephanie’s sensory skills ensures that every whisky has been expertly finished, is flavoursome, balanced, and brimming with distillery character.

The first Single Malt in the collection was launched in 2019. Finished in Pomerol wine casks, the inaugural expression started Aberfeldy ’s journey into French red wine; and the four subsequent bottlings further explored the famous reds of the esteemed Bordeaux and Rhone wine appellations. Evolving to include red wines from further afield, the newest bottlings to be released widen the collection’s offering to encompass cask finishes from both an Old World wine and a New World wine.

For this years releases from the Aberfeldy Red Wine Cask Collection Stephanie has chosen to finish a 15 Year Old Aberfeldy with a Californian red from the famed Napa Valley, alongside an 18 Year Old finished with a Tuscan red from Bolgheri, the birthplace of the first Super Tuscan wine.

Aberfeldy 15 Year Old Limited Edition was initially matured in a combination of refill casks before being finished in ex-Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Barriques, sourced from the world-famous Napa Valley, California’s best known wine-producing region.

Aberfeldy 18 Year Old Limited Edition was also initially matured in a combination of refill casks, and then finished in ex-Tuscan Red Wine Barriques, sourced from Bolgheri in Italy. This Italian wine producing region of Tuscany is best known for Chianti, but Bolgheri, a relatively young yet prestigious Italian appellation, boasts being the birthplace of the first Super Tuscan wine, made with a Cabernet Sauvignon base.

Malt Master, Stephanie Macleod comments: "Aberfeldy with a Napa red wine finish delights with fragrant notes of raspberry jam, parma violets, then cinnamon and freshly ground coffee beans, all alongside the signature honeyed profile. It's a rare, complex dram to savour."

Adding: "The 18 Year Old edition is showing exactly the kind of depth and interest I'm aiming for when finishing in Tuscan red wine casks of this quality. On the palate there's more fruit and almond, and also delightful hints of sliced green pepper and lime which mingles with Aberfeldy ’s citrus and honey notes. Beautiful soft oak rounds out this complex and deeply satisfying dram. It'd be ideal with dessert."

Stephanie and Global Brand Ambassador, Matthew Cordiner will host a Facebook live event on 6th October at 7pm, in which they will introduce the two newest editions to the Red Wine Cask Collection in an online tasting, via the Dewars Aberfeldy Distillery Facebook page, www.facebook.com/DewarsAberfeldyDistillery

Aberfeldy 15 Year Old finished in Cabernet Sauvignon wine casks from Napa Valley has been bottled at 43% ABV and has a RRP of £55.

Aberfeldy 18 Year Old finished in Tuscan red wine casks from Bolgheri is bottled at 43% ABV and has a RRP of: £95.

Both whiskies will soon be available from specialist online whisky shops such as The Whisky Exchange, The Whisky Shop, Hard To Find Whisky and Master of Malt
 

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