Aberlour 18 Year Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Aberlour 18 Year Old Highland (Speyside) Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a rich, luxurious dram that beautifully showcases the distillery’s mastery of sherry-influenced maturation. Silky and layered, it combines ripe orchard fruit, honeyed sweetness, and warming spice with deep notes of raisins, chocolate, and oak. Matured for nearly two decades in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks, it delivers remarkable balance—smooth yet complex, bold yet elegant—making it one of the standout expressions in Aberlour’s core range.

Origins & Craftsmanship
The whisky is produced at Aberlour Distillery, located in the Speyside region of Scotland near the confluence of the Lour Burn and the River Spey. The distillery was founded in 1879 by James Fleming and is now owned by Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard).

Aberlour has long been celebrated for its sherry-cask-driven house style, and the 18 Year Old expression exemplifies this tradition. The whisky undergoes double cask maturation, first aging in American oak ex-bourbon barrels before finishing in Spanish oak Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry butts.

This dual maturation creates a layered flavor profile that balances the sweetness and vanilla of bourbon casks with the rich dried-fruit depth and spice of sherry casks. After 18 years of maturation, the whisky is bottled at 43% ABV, preserving both smoothness and complexity.

Over the years, the expression has earned numerous awards, including gold medals at the International Wine & Spirit Competition and the International Spirits Challenge, highlighting its reputation among premium Speyside malts.

Critics Reviews

• International Wine & Spirit Competition – Gold Medal for single malt Scotch aged 13–19 years.

• San Francisco World Spirits Competition – Gold Medal, recognizing its balance and depth within the premium single malt category.

• International Whisky Competition – 2nd Place, Best Single Malt 18 Years, highlighting its complexity and refinement among age-stated malts.

These accolades reflect the whisky’s strong reputation for quality and consistency within the Speyside category.

Tasting Profile

Nose:
Rich and complex with toffee, butterscotch, honey, and ripe peach, layered with citrus peel, vanilla, and dried fruit.

Palate:
Full and silky with apples, oranges, sultanas, and vanilla, followed by warming spice and subtle oak.

Finish:
Long and satisfying with chocolate-covered raisins, caramel, and gentle spice, leaving a lingering sweetness and depth.

Quick Overview

Cocktail Recipes

While typically enjoyed neat or with a few drops of water, this whisky can also elevate classic Scotch cocktails.

Sherried Old Fashioned

• 2 oz Aberlour 18

• ¼ oz demerara syrup

• 2 dashes aromatic bitters

Stir with ice and serve over a large cube with an orange peel.

Speyside Manhattan

• 2 oz Aberlour 18

• ¾ oz sweet vermouth

• 2 dashes Angostura bitters

Stir with ice and strain into a chilled coupe; garnish with a Luxardo cherry.