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Aberfeldy 16 Year Old: The Golden Dram — Dewar's Backbone Malt from Perthshire's Gold-Bearing Burn

Aberfeldy 16 Year Old: The Golden Dram — Dewar's Backbone Malt from Perthshire's Gold-Bearing Burn

7.5 /10
EDITOR
Distillery: Aberfeldy Distillery
Type: Scotch
Age: 16 Years
ABV: 40% ABV
Price: £60

Tasting Notes

Nose

Peach, ripe melon, grapes, apples over light oak spice, buttery sweetness — the golden honey character immediately evident

Palate

Smooth and mild — honey, toffee apple, marzipan, a touch of coconut, dried cherry, bakers' chocolate, firm tannins underneath the sweetness

Finish

Medium-long — honey sweetness giving way to nutty, chocolate notes and strong black tea, lingering oak spice

First Impressions

Aberfeldy 16 — 'The Golden Dram,' the backbone malt of Dewar's blended Scotch. The distillery draws water from the Pitilie Burn in Perthshire, famed for alluvial gold deposits. The golden, honeyed character is no accident.

Dewar's Secret

While most Aberfeldy goes into Dewar's blends, the single malt range showcases the distillery's signature honey-forward character. The 16 Year Old is a step up from the 12, delivering lush fruit and deeper oak. 40% ABV.

Tasting

Peach and melon nose with buttery sweetness. Smooth palate of honey, toffee apple, and marzipan with bakers' chocolate beneath. Medium-long finish with nutty notes, chocolate, and strong black tea. Lush and approachable.

The Verdict

Aberfeldy 16 earns a 7.5 — a lush, honeyed Highland malt that suits sweet-tooth drinkers. At £60, fair value for 16 years. Some find it one-dimensional, but the honey character is genuine and the Pitilie Burn story adds romance. The golden dram from gold-bearing water.

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Joe Whitfield
Joe Whitfield
Editor-in-Chief

Joe has spent over fifteen years immersed in the whiskey industry, beginning his career at a Speyside distillery before moving into drinks journalism. As Editor-in-Chief at Whiskeyful.com, he oversees...

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