Aberfeldy 16 Year Old Scotch Whisky
Aberfeldy 16 Year Old is a 750mL Highland single malt Scotch whisky bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof), matured in first-fill, refill and re-char bourbon casks and then finished for six months in deluxe first-fill Oloroso sherry casks. Released in 2015 as part of the Last Great Malts series from Aberfeldy Distillery in Perthshire — the heart malt of Dewar's, drawn on Pitilie Burn water — the Oloroso finish makes it richer and more full-bodied than the 12, with the house's honeyed fruitiness brought to the fore. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 16 years
- Casks: Bourbon casks (first-fill, refill, re-char), finished 6 months in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks
- Water: Pitilie Burn, Perthshire
- Origin: Aberfeldy Distillery, Highland, Scotland
Where the Oloroso Finish Earns Its Keep
Aberfeldy was built by the Dewar brothers in 1896 and in production from 1898, and its spirit — 100% malted barley, a long fermentation of around 70 hours, Pitilie Burn water once panned for alluvial gold — is naturally honeyed before a cask touches it. The 16 takes that honey into darker territory: the bourbon-cask years build the base, then six months in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks, the deluxe end of the distillery's four-cask programme, layer on fruitcake richness. Malt Master Stephanie Macleod oversees the range, and the brand states Aberfeldy has won over 200 gold medals in total. See the full range on the Aberfeldy vendor page, or browse our Scotch whisky collection.
Tasting Notes
Per the distillery: the nose exhales honey, citrus and spicy cloves; the palate is sherried and full, like fruitcake, with dabs of rich dark chocolate; and the finish is soothingly rich and mouth-coating — generous honey throughout.
How to Enjoy
Neat, or with a splash of water to loosen the fruitcake and dark chocolate; it also stands up beautifully after dinner in place of dessert. More sherry-finished malts are in our whisky collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Aberfeldy 16 finished in?
After maturation in bourbon casks (first-fill, refill and re-char), it is finished for six months in deluxe first-fill Oloroso sherry casks, per the distillery.
Is Aberfeldy 16 the same as the Madeira Cask Finish?
No — the Madeira Cask Finish 16 is a separate duty-free bottling. This is the core 16 Year Old with the Oloroso sherry finish.
What proof is Aberfeldy 16 Year Old?
80 proof (40% ABV), in a 750mL US bottling.
Sixteen years, then a sherry-cask encore — order Aberfeldy 16 Year Old online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.