Skip to main content

Aberfeldy and Craigellachie Launch Exceptional Cask Series

This month, the Aberfeldy and Craigellachie distilleries are launching new expressions as part of their Exceptional Cask series. For many years, these whiskies were important components in the makeup of Dewar’s blended Scotch, but were not available on their own as single malts. That’s all changed, and these five new expressions are very different from the core range, showing how cask type, maturation, and quality of new make spirit affect the final product. Malt Master Stephanie Macleod selected the liquid for these releases herself, and she has successfully picked a broad range of flavors to showcase each lineup’s potential.

There are three Exceptional Cask expressions from Aberfeldy available. Aberfeldy 18 Double Cask ($200, 570 bottles) was aged in second and third-fill sherry casks for nine years, then put into first-fill sherry casks for another nine years. That long second maturation period is why it’s called Double Cask instead of being labeled as a finish. It’s bottled at 53.8%, and is rich, dark, and sweet. Aberfeldy 19 ($200, 270 bottles) spent nearly two decades inside first-fill Oloroso sherry casks. It’s a single cask release and is intensely flavored with fig and dried fruit notes, along with a bit of spice. Finally, Aberfeldy 24 ($300, 312 bottles) is a single cask release exclusive to New York. The liquid was matured in first-fill sherry casks as well, but has a bit of a lighter touch than the 19 even though it’s older.

There are two Exceptional Cask releases from Craigellachie. The first is the 19-year-old ($200, 402 bottles), a single cask release matured in second fill Oloroso sherry casks. It’s bottled at 55.2 percent ABV, but drinks cooler than you’d expect, with tropical fruit and vanilla notes. And Craigellachie 23 ($300) is a single cask release matured in first-fill sherry casks, with notes of cloves, cinnamon, and pineapple, according to the brand.

Aberfeldy and Craigellachie

“Each expression in this series elevates a particular aspect of the liquid’s flavor profiling, adding character that one may not immediately recognize,” said Macleod in a prepared statement. “You can’t tell the quality of a cask just by looking at it. You have to open it up and sample it, and what a joy it is to discover an expression that goes on to be exceptional.”

The Exceptional Cask Series will be available across the country, with the exception of Aberfeldy 24 which is exclusive to New York.

Editors' Recommendations

How to make Ranch Water the right way for a day-drinking gem
Looking for a refreshing beverage suitable for functional day-drinking? Search no more, ranch water is here.
Refreshing Cold Tequila Ranch Water Cocktail with Lime.

If there was ever a beverage built for day drinking, it's Ranch Water. The simple cocktail, born in Texas, can take the sting out of the hottest days and refresh you to the core, without knocking you out with an abundance of alcohol.

We're still hibernating our way through winter but the days are getting longer and, soon enough, the warmth will return. When that happens, you'd be wise to have some Ranch Water on hand for you and yours. Lighter than a Margarita and far more interesting than plain water, the drink resides in a happy middle ground. Better, it'll tackle your thirst and keep you functional.

Read more
This is how to make an Irish coffee like a pro bartender
The Irish Coffee is a classic drink for the ages — here are some great recipes
irish coffee

The Irish Coffee is a classic drink that's outlasted any number of trends and movements within the cocktail industry. Better, it's open to all kinds of interpretation, meaning you can mix a different version up each time you feel in the mood. And since we're still in winter's cold grip, the core ingredients of warm coffee and whiskey are even more appealing.

Of the many great hot cocktails and whiskey cocktails on the menu, the Irish Coffee has a big and deserved following. It's an old beverage showing no signs of slowing down, originally concocted in northern Europe to take on the many grey days of the offseason. We love it around St. Patrick's Day as well as late in the evening, with decaf plugged into the equation for an ideal nightcap cocktail.

Read more
Colombian or Kona coffee: Which is the superior drink?
Colombian or Kona coffee: Sweet and spicy, or rich and chocolatey? Which do you prefer?
Ways to Make Coffee

If you're anything of a coffee connoisseur, you're well aware that coffee beans come from coffea plants, which is grown all around the world. Depending on your preference of flavor, boldness, and acidity, you may already have a preferred location from where your coffee originates. Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Honduras, and Vietnam all grow a delicious bean. And while all of these types and their rich, complex flavors are worth exploring, the two coffee varieties that people seem to be the most drawn to at the moment are Kona and Colombian.

While there are over 120 varieties of coffea plant, and each makes its own unique bean, coffee beans are usually broken down into four categories of flavor: Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa.

Read more