About this whisky

Aberfeldy sits in the green foothills of Highland Perthshire, where John Dewar & Sons built a distillery in 1898 to supply the heart of their famous blends. Its water comes from the Pitilie Burn, a stream long known locally for traces of alluvial gold, and the house character is honey: round, golden and generous. Malt Master Stephanie Macleod and her team mature the 12 Year Old in a mix of sherry, bourbon, refill and re-charred casks before bottling it at 40%.

In the glass it is syrupy and warm, with heather honey, spice and plump fruit on the nose, then vanilla and fudge on the palate and a faint trace of smoke at the end. It is an easy, rewarding introduction to Highland malt for someone moving up from blended Scotch, and a thoughtful Puja or Diwali gift for anyone who likes their whisky on the sweeter, rounder side. Pour it neat after dinner, or with a splash of water on a slow Sunday afternoon.

Key facts

• Distillery founded in 1898 by John Dewar & Sons in the foothills of the Scottish Highlands
• Matured in a combination of sherry, bourbon, refill and re-charred casks
• Made under Malt Master Stephanie Macleod
• Bottled at 40% ABV

Tasting notes

Nose:

heather honey, gentle spice and plump fruit

Palate:

syrupy and rounded, with vanilla, fudge and honey

Finish:

medium, with a faint trace of smoke

Serve

Neat or with a few drops of water. It also makes a soft Highball: 45 ml over ice, topped with chilled soda and a twist of orange peel.

Food pairing

Try it with nolen gurer sandesh in winter, or with a mild aged cheddar and roasted nuts.