Aberlour A’Bunadh Batch #66

Score: 72

Aberlour A’bunadh is no ordinary Speysider. With no age statement and a rotating batch system, it’s a whisky that thrives on variation and intensity. Since its launch in 1997, each batch—released up to five times a year—carries its own fingerprint, bottled at cask strength and matured exclusively in first-fill Oloroso sherry butts. That kind of sherry devotion is rare, shared only with a few elite names like The Macallan. Batch #66 featured in a dedicated tasting, standing tall among some of the industry's most revered heavyweights. Despite the formidable lineup—names like Redbreast 15 and Glendronach 18—it came last, 6th place. Not a showstopper, but certainly no wallflower. Bottled at a fiery 61.2% ABV, it delivered a festive nose of orange peel, black cherries, and ginger, followed by a palate rich with dried fruit, dark chocolate, and oak. It was fondly remembered as a decadent Speyside counterpoint to the evening’s coastal and pot-still powerhouses.