AberlourSingle Malt Scotch Whisky
Situated at the junction of the rivers Lour and Spey, the distillery is surrounded by glorious scenery, dominated by the rugged peaks of Ben Rinnes a short distance away. Pure spring water for making the whisky is drawn from the Lour, and the maturing spirit in the warehouse beneficially inhales the moist Speyside air.
Aberlour is an ancient place as well as a beautiful one. For more than 1,400 years there has been a community there and signs of its long heritage are all around, from the age-old oak trees above Linn Falls to the mysterious standing stones on Fairy Hill.
Distillery History
The distillery was founded in 1879 by James Fleming, who shrewdly built it on the site of St Drostan's Well, thus securing forever this priceless source of pure spring water. When the journalist Alfred Barnard visited Aberlour in the 1880s, as part of his exhaustive survey of Scottish whisky distilleries, he described James Fleming's new establishment as a "perfect modern Distillery".
In 1898 a fire destroyed several of the distillery buildings and most of the whisky stocks. Under the supervision of Scotland's foremost designer of whisky distilleries, Charles Doig of Elgin, the Aberlour Distillery was largely rebuilt.
Over the past 100 years, with modernisation and technology, the landscape of the distillery has inevitably altered, though many of the original features are still there and the traditional working character of the place remains unchanged. The latest addition is the new Visitors Centre - the Fleming Rooms - named after the founder of the distillery.
James Fleming
Founder of the Aberlour Distillery, James Fleming (1830-95) was a man of enterprise, vision and compassion. The son of a local tenant farmer, he became a grain dealer with many whisky distillers among his customers.
This encouraged him to establish his own distillery and create a whisky of distinction. He acquired the land at Aberlour and with it the priceless water source of St Drostan's Well. Work began in 1879 and within a year the whisky began to flow.
James Fleming was a man of extraordinary generosity. He built a community hall for the people of Aberlour and left money to fund the construction of a hospital and a bridge across the River Spey. Self-effacing and modest, he lived by his family motto (bestowed on it by Robert the Bruce) of "Let the Deed Show". A sentiment appropriately displayed on every bottle of Aberlour.
Water Source
The crystal-clear spring water that cascades down the slopes of Ben Rinnes, and makes its way from there along the Lour valley to the distillery, is the lifeblood of Aberlour malt whisky.
The plentiful rain and snow that falls on "The Ben" is filtered through layers of peat. The mountain itself is made of granite, which being very hard gives only trace elements to the water rather than minerals. As a result, the water that emerges from the ground is very soft.
Not a drop of this precious water is wasted. Only the required amount for each batch of whisky production is drawn off from the springs. Apart from being heated prior to joining the grist (ground malt) in the mash tun, the water is untreated in any way. Nothing is added and nothing needs taking away. It is a gift from Nature, pure and simple.
Character and Style of Aberlour
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Milk Chocolate
Butter
Dried Fruit
Highland Influence
Created some 500 million years ago through massive volcanic upheavals, the Highlands are among the oldest rock formations on earth. During the Ice Age the landscape underwent further dramatic changes, the glaciers cropping and smoothing the mountaintops and gouging out the glens. When the ice subsequently melted, Scotland's famous lochs were formed.
The Highlands have been described by ecologists as the last great wilderness in Europe. They are large and largely empty, the terrain and climate creating ideal conditions for making whisky. Down the slopes of the hills and mountains fast-flowing streams tumble through rich peat cloaked in fragrant heather, influencing the flavour and character of the whisky. The air is clear and bracing, and the soft Highland mist seeps into the maturing spirit leaving an indefinable imprint.
Expert Comment
What the experts say about Aberlour Single Malt:
"Lovers of the richer style of Speyside malt rightly regard Aberlour as being in the top echelon."
Michael Jackson, Malt Whisky Companion
"A first rate Speyside single malt . . . a beefy 10 year old . . . with a multi-layered complexity . . for admirers of neater, thicker expressions."
F Paul Pacult, editor of Spirit Journal
"A smooth, rich, sherried Speyside malt which is an ideal after-dinner drink."
Carol P Shaw, Classic Malts
[Aberlour 10 Year Old] "This whisky has a voluptuous body, and a typical Speyside sweet, estery, bubblegum and pear-drops flavour that is well-balanced with a clean, sweetish finish."
Charles Maclean, Malt Whisky
"Aberlour is a beautiful amber single malt."
Helen Arthur, The Single Malt Whisky Companion
"Few distilleries in the world fill me with such a plethora of warm memories and experiences as Aberlour. Inside and outside the glass."
James Murray, whisky writer and broadcaster
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Limited Edition
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Aberlour 12 Year Old Double CaskGift Box
£45.50
(£65 per litre)
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£10Aberlour A'Bunadh
£83.75
(£119.64 per litre)
Aberlour 16 Year Old Double Cask (40%)
£113
(£161.43 per litre)
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£6Aberlour 12 Year Old Non Chill-Filtered
£52.75
(£75.36 per litre)
Aberlour 10 Year Old Forest Reserve
£47.25
(£67.50 per litre)
Aberlour 18 Year Old
£151
(£215.71 per litre)
Aberlour 11 Year OldAmerican Oak
£72.75
(£103.93 per litre)
Aberlour Casg Annamh
£56.75
(£81.07 per litre)
Aberlour 16 Year Old Double Cask (43%)
£105
(£150 per litre)
Aberlour Triple Cask
£65.25
(£93.21 per litre)
Aberlour 197021 Years Old
£800
(£1,066.67 per litre)
Aberlour 15 Year OldSherry Wood Finish
£125
(£178.57 per litre)
Aberlour 10 Year OldBot.1980s
£175
Aberlour-Glenlivet 10 Year Old VOHMBot.1970s
£299
(£427.14 per litre)
Aberlour A'Bunadh Alba
£99.25
(£141.79 per litre)
Aberlour 5 Year OldBot.1990s
£120
(£171.43 per litre)
Aberlour 33 Year Old (1989-1991)Whisky Sponge Edition 92
£366
(£522.86 per litre)
Aberlour 10 Year OldBot.1990s
£89.95
(£128.50 per litre)
Aberlour 15 Year Old Double Cask MaturedLitre
£150
Aberlour 44 Year OldCellar Collection
£7,500
(£10,714.29 per litre)
Aberlour A'Bunadh Batch 25
£399
(£570 per litre)
Aberlour 12 Year Old VOHMBot.1980s
£250
(£357.14 per litre)
Aberlour 10 Year OldBot.2000s
£79.95
Aberlour A'Bunadh Batch 59
£140
(£200 per litre)