Aultmore 12 yo

Speyside

70cl / 46%

£47.45

Distillery

Aultmore distillery was founded in 1897 by Alexander Edward, one of Scotland’s best-known distillers, during the peak of the late-Victorian whisky boom.

Keith, Banffshire, producing an eponymous single malt whisky. Its name is a derived from the phrase An t-Allt Mòr, Gaelic for ‘big burn’ = source the Auchinderran burn

Owned by John Dewar & Son (owned by Bacardi) and long-time contributor to Dewar’s Blends eg White

Located in the sweeping hills of Moray, just north of the town of Keith on the rolling road to Buckie, it's often cloaked in thick fog, exuding an air of mystery. The distillery was originally powered by a waterwheel, and was soon adapted to use a steam engine instead which ran day and night for seventy years, apart from maintenance. During maintenance hours power was provided by the mainly retired waterwheel. The steam engine is now on display at the distillery.

Water source  Auchinderran burn

No. of stills       Two wash, two spirit

Capacity            3m litres pa

Whisky

Part of Dewar's The Last Great Malts range launched in 2014, this 12-year-old Aultmore is the first release from the distillery for a few years and is elegant, light and fruity.

Colour:

NOSE

  • Fresh and vibrant with crunchy apples and pears, floral notes and gentle creaminess.
  • fresh and lively, with some biscuity aromas and green fruits. Granny Smith apples, unripe pear, light citrus, green leafy notes. Also bright flowers and just a hint of wax. Rather delicate but very uplifting.

PALATE

  • Richer than the nose suggests, with fruit, sweet pastry, custard and more floral notes.
  • same profile. Truckloads of apples, with peelings and a cidery edge. Oranges and rhubarb. Hints of sweet pastry and honey. Some green wood spices and mineral notes. Ginger. Still plenty of floral notes too.

FINISH

  • Medium length, with the fruit slowly fading to leave soft spice.