About half a year ago, I reviewed a 8 Years Old Aultmore bottled for Whic. Funny enough, today’s Aultmore is the sister cask of that one. And sure enough, they look pretty similar on paper: both were distilled on the exact same date (12th March),  matured in a sherry butt, bottled at the same strength (give or take a little bit) and have around the same age (the one for whic is a half year older). So with all that in mind, the question is, are there any real differences between these two? Let’s find out!

Facts

Aultmore 2007 (A. D. Rattray)

Nose

There is a lot going on here. Chocolate covers cherries, baked bananas with almonds and orange zest marmalade. Then toffee, caramel and semolina pudding with strawberry sauce, alongside wholemeal cookies and hints of vanilla.

Taste

Sweet and fruity. Raspberries and wild strawberries accompanied by toffee, caramel and orange zest marmalade on burned toast. Gets a bit spicier and charred oak joins in, too. Ends with dry earth. 

Finish

Medium and a little bit dry. Bananas, oranges, bitter nougat, pepper and fresh oak.

Overall

Wow! Something different for sure and not the young sherry bomb I had expected, but a very, very complex single malt for its age and just a great dram overall.

Score: 90 / 100

So what we have here is the very first own bottling for German online whisky retailer whic.de and to no surprise, all 60 bottles were sold within 24 hours after the release.

As some of you might already know, I am a guest blogger for whic and I do also write tasting notes in German for them.

Facts

Aultmore 2007 (for Whic Whiskycircle)

Nose

Starts with a lot of cherry-flavored tobacco and finely chopped almonds with only a touch of floral perfume. Then come hints of orange blossom, floral honey and vanilla. The alcohol is merely noticeable and stays in the background all the time.

Taste

Oily and vibrant. A really big sip of cherry liqueur. Followed by more than a handful of sherry-soaked raisins. Hints of white pepper and vanilla right before the next wave of cherry liqueur. Drying towards the end with wood and tobacco.

Finish

Medium. Strong and slightly drying with a big box of chocolate coated cherries. A bit rough around the edges.

Overall

Here fits (almost) everything: spirit, sherry butt and bottling strength work really well together. The intense cherry aromas are nothing but lovely. Just the finish is a bit too rough for my taste. But all together very fine selected whic! I am looking forward to your next bottling.

Score: 88 / 100

Sample provided by whic.de