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- Suggested retail price: $199
- Thursday, February 5 (for as long as it lasts), we're pouring a one-ounce pour for $7
"Obar Lobhair" or "Aberlour" is literally translated, “The Mouth of The Chattering Burn.” A “burn” is a smaller river or brook. Nobody understands the Scots.
The provenance of this whisky may be confusing to some. You may be familiar with the famous The Glenlivet Distillery. It is not the only one in Glenlivet Parish. In 1824, an era of bootleggers hiding small stills in the Highlands, The Glenlivet was licensed and agreed to pay taxes. For this, founder George Smith was almost killed.
Whilst The Glenlivet is the oldest legal distillery in the Parish, it is not the only one. The Aberlour Distillery, located at the confluence of the Lour and Spey Rivers, is within parish confines. Though not the first, the Aberlour Distillery is no spring chicken. It was founded in 1879 by James Fleming. After a devastating fire in 1898, the distillery was entirely rebuilt under the supervision Scotland's foremost whisky expert of Charles Doig.
Aberlour Single Malt Whisky is made exclusively from Scottish barley, which is malted for approximately seven days before being dried above an unpeated kiln. Once the barley has been dried, it is milled and mashed with water drawn from St. Drostan's Well.
The well, which has been the distillery's source for water for over a century, was named after a missionary who used water from it to baptize inhabitants in 580 AD. By all accounts, it worked.
Aberlour's copper-pot stills have broad bases to deliver as much direct heat as possible to the wash. The stills are tall with swan-shaped necks that contribute to the unique flavors of Aberlour.
The whisky merchant known as Cadenhead has been in operation since Victorian times. Cadenhead never chill-filters or adds colors. Each bottling comes from an individually selected cask.
Aberlour-Glenlivet 24 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Cadenhead Bottling) was matured for nearly 9,000 days in a traditional oak cask (Cask Number 13/445-1). Bottled at cask strength, it has a fruity aroma of orange, limes and peach that gives way to notes of toffee, melon, custard and pineapple on the palate. The finish is long and lasting, with hints of fruit juice and apples.
I look forward to opening this bottle, our second from Rattray, Thursday evening at 6:30. We will pour one ounce portions at cost. I look forward to sharing it with you.