Malt Of The Month January 2023 - Red Wine Cask Collection
Our Malt of the Month is the Red Wine Cask Collection by Aberfeldy Distillery
Aberfeldy Distillery has released two new limited releases in their Red Wine Cask Collection, an Aberfeldy 15 Year Old finished in Cabernet Sauvignon wine casks from Napa Valley and Aberfeldy 18 Year Old finished in Tuscan red wine casks from Bolgheri.
Crafted by Malt Master Stephanie Macleod and inspired by her adoration of fine wine, Stephanie began the exploration of how flavours from red wine casks interact with and elevate Aberfeldy’s aged malt. Evolving to include red wines from further afield, the newest bottlings widen the collection’s offering to encompass cask finishes from both an Old World wine and a New World wine.
Aberfeldy 15 Year Old Napa Valley Red Wine Cask Finish
In 2022 Stephanie Macleod selected Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon red wine casks to finish this 15 year old Aberfeldy Single Malt. The long warm growing season gives ripe grapes packed full of deep dark fruit, violet and fragrant spice flavours that complement a younger aged Aberfeldy.
Tasting Notes: This is like a brandysnap filled with jammy dark berries, scented with mint and violets.
ABV: 43%
Aberfeldy 15 Year Old Napa Valley Red Wine Cask Finish
MORE INFORMATION AND PURCHASE HERE
Aberfeldy 18 Year Old Tuscan Red Wine Cask Finish
In 2022 Stephanie Macleod also selected red wine casks from the Bolgheri region of Tuscany. This fascinating area is home to the Super Tuscans which use international grape varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines feature blackberry and dark cherry flavours alongside strong oak influence that stand up to the more mature flavours in older Aberfeldy.
Tasting Notes: With heady of notes of cherry frangipane and vanilla spice. It’s then freshened with sliced green pepper and limes, and finishes with soft oak.
ABV: 43%
Aberfeldy 18 Year Old Tuscan Red Wine Cask Finish
MORE INFORMATION AND PURCHASE HERE
Podcast
In March 2022 we recorded a podcast with Jonathan Wilson, Visitor Centre Operations Manager at the Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery. He told us what it’s like being part of the Bacardi family, while living the history of Dewar’s; what their other distilleries of Macduff, Royal Brackla, Craigellachie and Aultmore bring to his work, and his 182-mile charity cycle which took him to each one. He also discussed the beauty of blends and the process involved in their Double Double 32 year old; and the surprise bit of wildlife that they pulled out of their condenser!