Aultmore is one of those Speyside distilleries that most drinkers have tasted without knowing it. Founded in 1896 by Alexander Edward beside the burn from which it takes its Gaelic name — 'big burn' — it has spent over a century filling casks for blends, principally Dewar's. Official single malt releases only arrived in earnest in 2014, which means the independent bottlers have had the field largely to themselves.
This 14-year-old expression was distilled in 2010 and bottled by J&G Grant International as part of their Distilleries of Great Britain & Ireland series. It is a useful snapshot of the distillery's bourbon-cask character at a maturity point just beyond the official range. At fourteen years, the spirit has softened without losing the clean, grassy edge that defines Aultmore's new make.
The nose is quintessential Speyside: heather honey, green apple, a breath of vanilla, and a background of freshly cut hay. The palate is more expressive than the nose suggests — ripe pear, barley sugar, lemon curd, and a gentle nuttiness that builds with each sip. The texture is oily and medium-bodied, the bourbon cask providing structure without overwhelming the distillery character.
The finish is clean, medium in length, with a flicker of white pepper and a final note of herbal sweetness. It is an uncomplicated, well-made Speyside malt — the sort of whisky that reminds you why the region earned its reputation in the first place.
