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Aberfeldy adds Malbec finish to wine cask range
The 21-year-old single malt from Highland distillery Aberfeldy was finished in casks from Argentinian winery Finca Ambrosia.
Bacardi-owned distillery Aberfeldy is adding to its collection of wine cask-finished single malts with a new 21-year-old whisky. Aberfeldy 21 Year Old Malbec Cask Finish spent close to eight months in French oak wine casks from Argentinian winery Finca Ambrosia.
The limited edition whisky was distilled on 14 November 2001 and matured in a combination of Sherry hogsheads and refill Bourbon barrels. The finishing casks previously held the winery’s Viña Unica expression, which represent winemaker Daniel Pi’s constant search for identity and harmonious use of oak.
The wine spent 15 months in used toasted French oak barrels and Pi worked alongside Bacardi malt master Stephanie Macleod for the release.
“This delicate yet complex Finca Ambrosia cask finish opens with intriguing notes of sweet, toasted cereal, herbal sage and hints of rosemary,” Macleod said. “It then begins to develop with ripe strawberries, drizzled in Aberfeldy’s signature Highland honey notes and then it’s delicately sharpened with notes of blackcurrant. Melting to floral notes of rose and violet, and a background hint of cinnamon spice. Settling on the palate the fruit sings and rejoices, soothing to a creamy vanilla and endlessly smooth finish.”
Aberfeldy 21 Year Old Malbec Cask Finish is bottled at 46% ABV and priced at US$280/£230. It is available in Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Singapore, Taiwan, the UK, and the US, as well as select markets in the Middle East and Africa.
While Aberfeldy has used red wine casks in the past, including a 15-year-old Bordeaux-finished release in 2019, this is the first time that Macleod has worked alongside a winemaker in crafting the whisky.
Other releases in Aberfeldy’s Wine Cask Collection include a 15-year-old Cadillac white wine finish, an 18-year-old Napa Valley red wine finish, an 18-year-old Tuscan red wine finish, and an 18-year-old Côte-Rôtie wine cask finish. The collection launched in 2019.