Aultmore 10 Years Old Gordon & Macphail Discovery Single Malt Scotch Whisky 43%

Aultmore drew its water from the Foggie Moss, a misty marsh where smugglers of old could work unseen. The distillery chose the site for practical reasons, but the name stuck.

The Expert's Description

Aultmore 10 Years Old Gordon & MacPhail Discovery is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill and refill bourbon casks and bottled at 43%. It belongs to the bourbon profile in the Discovery range.

Aultmore was built in 1896 by Alexander Edward, and production started on 24 May 1897. The distillery sits by the Burn of Auchinderran north of Keith, a stream known locally as the Foggie Moss.

John Dewar & Sons bought Aultmore in 1923 for £20,000, and since then by far the greater part of production has gone into Dewar’s White Label. Official single malts are therefore rare, and independent casks like this one are the usual way in.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh and grassy. Apple and pear first, then vanilla, a light honeyed sweetness and a dry, mineral note typical of the distillery.

Palate

Clean and light. Apple and citrus open, then vanilla, a dry cereal note and a touch of pepper arrive. At 43% the body is fine, and the whisky stays fresh all the way.

Finish

Medium and clean. Apple, vanilla and a dry, lightly grassy close.

Specifications

Name: Aultmore 10 Years Old Gordon & MacPhail Discovery Single Malt Scotch Whisky 43%
Distillery: Aultmore
Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill and refill bourbon casks
Edition: Discovery Bourbon Cask Matured
EAN no.: 5020613094871

Flavour Profile

Fresh · Apple · Vanilla · Grassy · Mineral · Light

Did You Know?

Aultmore was for decades largely invisible to consumers, because almost the entire production went to blending. Behind the bar in pubs around Keith, however, the whisky became known as a nip of the Buttery, and that nickname lingered long after the bottles had vanished from the shelves.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Aultmore 10 Years Old Gordon & MacPhail Discovery Single Malt Scotch Whisky 43%

What is the Discovery range?

Gordon & MacPhail’s range built around three core profiles: bourbon, sherry and smoke. The idea is that you can taste through all three and learn what the cask and the smoke each do. This bottle belongs to the bourbon profile.

What characterises Aultmore?

A fresh, grassy and lightly mineral Speyside style with clear apple fruit. The distillery was built in 1896, and almost all production goes into Dewar’s White Label.

Why are official Aultmore bottlings rare?

Because John Dewar & Sons bought the distillery in 1923 and uses almost all production for blending. An official range does exist, but independent bottlings are still the usual way to meet the distillery.

Who are Gordon & MacPhail?

One of Scotland’s oldest independent bottling houses, founded in Elgin in 1895. They fill their own casks at the distilleries and hold one of the country’s deepest stocks of old whisky.

Is it good for beginners?

Yes. There is no smoke, no heavy sherry and no cask strength, just a light and fresh Speyside at an approachable strength. See our full range of Speyside Whisky.

What does Foggie Moss mean?

It is the local name for the Burn of Auchinderran, the stream Aultmore draws its water from. The area is prone to fog, and in the smuggling era that made the site well suited to running illicit stills unseen.