Aberlour A'Bunadh Alba
The lighter twin of the A'Bunadh: also cask strength, but matured in ex-American oak instead of sherry. Vanilla and coconut, with red apple, honey, and cinnamon, at 59%.
A'Bunadh without sherry
It shares its name with the well-known A'Bunadh, and the approach too: bottled at cask strength and without chill filtration, as a tribute to Aberlour's origins and founder James Fleming. A'Bunadh is Gaelic for 'back to the origin'. The difference lies in the cask. While the regular A'Bunadh matures exclusively in oloroso sherry casks, the Alba is matured in American oak casks that have been used before.
That gives it a lighter color and a very different flavor. Instead of raisin and dark sherry, you get vanilla and coconut from the American oak, with ripe red apple, honey, and a hint of cinnamon, plus a sweet, creamy texture. At 59%, it is almost as strong as its sibling, so here too, water helps open up the flavor.
In brief
Vanilla, coconut, and red apple
Vanilla & coconut
Fresh and sweet: vanilla and coconut from the American oak, with ripe red apple and honey. With water, the fruit becomes juicier.
Sweet and creamy
A creamy texture with honey, vanilla, and apple. The 59% strength is clear, but the sweetness balances much of it.
Cinnamon
A long, warm finish with a hint of cinnamon and vanilla.
Flavor profile of Aberlour A'Bunadh Alba with a splash of water. Compared with the A'Bunadh, it is lighter, fresher, and less spicy.
How to taste Alba
Treat it like any cask-strength whisky: start small, add water, and above all, compare.
Neat, then with water
2 cl in a tulip-shaped glass. Taste a small sip neat, then add a teaspoon of cool water. The apple and honey become clearer and the alcohol softer.
Glass: tasting glass →Alongside the A'Bunadh
Pour a small glass of each with equal amounts of water. Same distillery, almost the same strength, different cask: the best lesson in what sherry and American oak do to whisky.
About the A'Bunadh →Over one ice cube
3 cl over one large ice cube in a tumbler. The cold and meltwater make it fresher; the vanilla and apple remain prominent.
Tumblers →Cocktails for a bourbon-cask malt
The American oak gives the Alba the vanilla and honey you also find in bourbon. Recipes calling for bourbon work well, too; just use a little less because of the strength.
Whisky Sour
Whisky, lemon, sugar and egg white. The apple and vanilla make it juicy.
Mint Julep
Whisky, sugar and mint over crushed ice. The ice naturally dilutes the cask strength.
Paper Plane
Whisky, amaro, Aperol and lemon in equal parts. Fresh and lightly bitter.
Old Fashioned
Whisky, sugar and bitters. The honey and cinnamon come through beautifully.The right glass for Aberlour A'Bunadh Alba
A tulip-shaped glass for neat whisky and whisky with water, a heavy tumbler for whisky on ice and a coupe for the Paper Plane.
More Aberlour flavours
Aberlour
Where it began. On the brand page, you can read all about Aberlour: origin, varieties and classic cocktails.
To Aberlour →
Aberlour 12 Years Non Chill Filtered
Twelve years old, 48% and non-chill-filtered: fuller and oilier, with fruit, sherry and chocolate.
View Aberlour 12 Years Non Chill Filtered →
Aberlour 14 Years
Fruit, butterscotch and oak with a hint of blackcurrant. Smooth, creamy and easy to drink neat.
View Aberlour 14 Years →
Aberlour 18 Years
Apricot, blackcurrant jam and sweet oak, with a long finish of wood and honey. For special moments.
View Aberlour 18 Years →
Aberlour A'Bunadh
Exclusively oloroso sherry casks, bottled at cask strength and non-chill-filtered. Powerful, aromatic and made for a splash of water.
View Aberlour A'Bunadh →Everything about whisky: the types, the best-known brands and the cocktails.
Questions about Aberlour A'Bunadh Alba
Can't find your question here? Read more on the Aberlour page or check out our cocktail recipes.
Everything about Aberlour →