ABERLOUR 19 ans First Fill Sherry The Chronicles

Nose : expressive, complex. Revealing a magnificent fruity oxidation (orange, apricot, black grape), the initial nose boasts an imposing palette of aromas. Allowed to breathe, these fruits release their tangy and divinely sweet juices. Shortly after, florals (lily, rose, peony) fill the air with their heady fragrances. In the background, we catch a glimpse of chocolate, liquorice and a few spices (black pepper, candied ginger).

Palate : clean, precise. Coconut, almond milk and vanilla pod bring lots of freshness and originality to the start of the stunningly elegant palate. The stately mid-palate is honeyed (lime blossom, heather) and fruity (mandarin, wild peach). Next, a basket overflowing with freshly picked black and red fruits (blackcurrant, blueberry, strawberry, raspberry) make way for notes of tobacco, camphor and polish (beeswax).

Overall : svelte, distinguished. The balsamic and saline finish unmistakably evokes a very old sherry, perhaps even a venerable sherry vinegar. Initially empyreumatic (cedar, bay leaf), cocoaed and candied (apricot), with time the very end of the palate takes on floral and honey (lavender, cornflower) tones. The very rich retronasal olfaction is a delicious melting pot of black fruit, chocolate and spices (cinnamon, nutmeg). The empty glass returns to the oxidative character of the initial nose with an exotic aspect that has hitherto remained hidden (mango, passion fruit, guava).