Aberlour Forest Reserve 10 years old Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 40%

The name is not about the taste, it is about the trees. Aberlour has spent years working on woodland conservation in Speyside, and this bottle takes its name from that effort. What is in the glass is rather more concrete: three kinds of oak, and one of them is French.

The Expert's Description

Aberlour Forest Reserve 10 Years Old is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks and Jerez sherry casks, then finished in French Limousin oak and bottled at 40%. It is the French oak that sets it apart from the rest of Aberlour's range.

Limousin oak comes from the forests around Limoges in central France and is normally used for cognac rather than whisky. The wood is porous and tannin-rich, giving a drier, spicier wood character than American oak: think pepper and nuts rather than vanilla and coconut. The bourbon casks underneath keep the malt sweetness in place, and the sherry casks lay in raisins and orange.

Aberlour sits in the village of the same name, where the Lour Burn joins the River Spey at the foot of Ben Rinnes. The name is Gaelic and means roughly the mouth of the chattering burn.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Honey and baked apple first, with orange peel behind. Then a drier, almost woody note arrives with nutmeg and a hint of gingerbread spice, which is the French oak reporting in. Raisins and a light nutty sweetness sit at the back.

Palate

Soft opening with malt, caramel and baked fruit. Mid-palate the wood tightens up with spice and a drier tannic edge, unusual for an Aberlour at 40%. The raisins from the sherry casks round it off. Easy to drink without being dull.

Finish

Medium length. Spiced oak, honey and a light dryness that hangs on for longer than the strength suggests.

Specifications

Name: Aberlour Forest Reserve 10 Years Old Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 40%
Distillery: Aberlour
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks and Jerez sherry casks, finished in French Limousin oak
Edition: Forest Reserve
EAN no.: 5000299620403

Flavour Profile

Malty · Fruity · Spiced · Oaky · Honeyed · Sherry Matured

Did You Know?

Limousin oak is the cognac cask. The French have used it for centuries precisely because it is porous enough to let the spirit breathe and tannic enough to give structure. Using it for Scotch malt whisky is a far more recent idea, and not many distilleries still do it.

See our full range of Aberlour

Frequently Asked Questions about Aberlour Forest Reserve 10 Years Old Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 40%

What does Forest Reserve in the name mean?

It refers to Aberlour's woodland conservation work in the Speyside area, not to a cask type or a flavour profile. The name is a nod to the distillery's environmental effort rather than a description of the whisky.

What does French Limousin oak do to whisky?

Limousin oak is more porous and more tannic than American oak. It gives a drier, spicier wood character with pepper and nuts, where American oak tends to give vanilla and coconut. The effect here is an Aberlour with a little more edge than usual.

How does it differ from Aberlour 12 Years Old Double Cask?

The twelve year old uses traditional oak casks and Oloroso sherry and lands soft and fruity. Forest Reserve takes an extra spell in French oak, which brings more spice and a drier close. Same house style, tighter final act.

Is it good for beginners?

Yes. At 40% there are no sharp edges, and there is neither smoke nor heavy sherry. The spice from the French oak makes it a little more interesting than a completely neutral introductory bottle. See more options in our range of Speyside Whisky.

Where does the name Aberlour come from?

It is Gaelic and means roughly the mouth of the chattering burn. The distillery sits where the Lour Burn meets the River Spey, and the village takes its name from the same spot. The water for the whisky comes from nearby springs.

Does it pair with any particular food?

Try it with a mature cheddar or an apple tart. The spice from the French oak and the malt sweetness work well against both salt and baked fruit. It is soft enough not to shout over the food.