Aberlour, a charming distillery located in Speyside, is currently owned by Pernod Ricard. The introduction of the sherry-casked A’Bunadh in 1997 significantly enhanced the distillery’s popularity, making its whiskies from various periods increasingly sought after.
Following a tradition reminiscent of 19th-century single malts, A’Bunadh is bottled at cask strength. In the past, villagers would visit the distillery to collect their dram directly from the cask, often using apothecary bottles acquired from the local chemist.
These historical bottles served as the inspiration for the shape of the A’Bunadh bottle we see today. This whisky is exclusively bottled using Spanish Oloroso sherry butts, which are believed to have aged between 5 and 25 years.
Batch #18 of A’Bunadh was bottled in 2006.
The Distillery Aberlour
During the early 1970s, Aberlour, which was then under the ownership of the Chivas Brothers group, became one of the pioneering Speyside distilleries in Scotland to introduce a range of single malt whiskies exclusively aged in ex-sherry casks to the French market.
Some of these expressions had matured for 8 or 9 years, with the labels proudly displaying vintages from 1964 and 1965. However, what truly set Aberlour apart from its contemporaries was its “100 proof” alcohol content, indicating a robust character, and its distinctive small square bottle, adorned with the words “Aberlour – Glenlivet, Unblended All Malt Scotch Whisky.”
Nowadays, Aberlour is under the ownership of the esteemed Pernod Ricard group, which has continued to uphold the distillery’s distinctive character.
As a tribute to its heritage, Aberlour has released a limited edition whisky named A’Bunadh, transitioning from the original small square bottle to a more rounded and generous shape. For its most prestigious releases, the distillery opts for a slender, classic, and elegant design.
