Aberlour A'Bunadh
Oloroso sherry casks only, no chill filtration, no water added and no age statement on the label. Powerful and aromatic at 60.1%: the bottle for learning to taste whisky with water.
Whisky bottled as it was around 1879
A'Bunadh is Gaelic for “back to the origin,” and that’s meant literally. Aberlour bottles this whisky as it was made around the time the distillery was founded in 1879: straight from the cask, at cask strength, without chill filtration and without adding water to bring it to a fixed strength. The label also has no age statement.
It is aged exclusively in selected oloroso sherry casks. That’s the main difference from regular Aberlour whiskies, which are aged in a combination of oak and sherry casks. The result is a powerful, aromatic, dark whisky at 60.1% ABV. Because each batch comes from different casks, the flavor and alcohol percentage vary slightly from batch to batch.
At a glance
Powerful, dark and full of sherry
Sherry & raisin
Neat, it’s mostly power and sherry. With water, raisin, dried fruit and a dark chocolate note open up.
Powerful and aromatic
Full, thick and warm, with oloroso, dried fruit and spices. Without water, the alcohol dominates; with water, it becomes smooth and sweet.
Long and robust
A long, warm finish with sherry and spices that lingers for minutes.
Flavor profile of Aberlour A'Bunadh with a splash of water. Neat, it's even stronger and the sherry is harder to distinguish.
Tasting cask strength, step by step
With A'Bunadh, water isn't a compromise but part of the tasting. The goal is to find the point at which the alcohol no longer stings.
Start with a small sip neat
Pour 2 cl into a tulip-shaped glass and take a very small sip. Hold it briefly in your mouth; this helps your palate adjust to the 60.1% and lets you taste the power of the cask.
Glass: tasting glass →Then add water gradually
Add a teaspoon of cool water, swirl the glass, and taste again. Repeat until the alcohol softens. Many people find the right balance at around one part water to two or three parts whisky.
Tasting glasses →With one large ice cube
Prefer it cold? Pour 3 cl over one large ice cube in a heavy tumbler. The melting ice dilutes it slowly, so the whisky changes with each sip.
Tumblers →Cocktails with cask-strength whisky
A small amount of A'Bunadh adds plenty of sherry and strength to a cocktail. Use a little less than the recipe calls for and taste as you go.
Old Fashioned
Whisky, sugar, and bitters, stirred for a long time. The melting ice tempers the cask strength.
Boulevardier
Whisky, red vermouth, and Campari. The oloroso stands up well to the bitterness.
Rusty Nail
Whisky and Drambuie over ice. The honey liqueur rounds out the strength.
Hot Toddy
Whisky with hot water, honey, and lemon. The water does the work here.The right glass for Aberlour A'Bunadh
A tulip-shaped glass with room for water, a water carafe or small glass alongside, and a heavy tumbler for those who drink it with ice.
More Aberlour flavors
Aberlour
Where it began. On the brand page, you can read all about Aberlour: its origins, varieties, and classic cocktails.
Go to Aberlour →
Aberlour 12 Years Non Chill Filtered
Twelve years, 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. Rounded, 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 occasions.
View Aberlour 18 Years →
Aberlour A'Bunadh Alba
Cask strength in American oak: vanilla and coconut, with red apple and honey. Sweet and creamy, without sherry.
View Aberlour A'Bunadh Alba →Everything about whisky: the types, best-known brands, and cocktails.
Questions about Aberlour A'Bunadh
Don't see your question? Read more on the Aberlour page or browse our cocktail recipes.
Everything about Aberlour →What percentage alcohol is Aberlour A'Bunadh?
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Buy Aberlour A'Bunadh
Want the bottle delivered straight to your home? Order Aberlour A'Bunadh online at Gall & Gall.
Prices as of November 3, 2026, as provided by Gall & Gall. See the current price and availability at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; it costs you nothing extra. No 18, no alcohol.
