Aberfeldy 18 Year Cabernet Sauvignon Cask Finish 750ML

Aberfeldy 18 Year Cabernet Sauvignon Cask Finish 750ML is an 18-year-old Highland single malt Scotch whisky bottled at 43% ABV (86 proof) after finishing in Cabernet Sauvignon wine casks. Ranked #10 on Whiskey Advocate's Top 20 Whiskeys of 2020, this expression layers Aberfeldy's honeyed malt character beneath deep red-fruit and wine-influenced complexity.

Quick Facts: ABV: 43%  |  Origin: Highlands, Scotland  |  Age: 18 Years  |  Distillery: Aberfeldy

Production & Heritage

Aberfeldy Distillery was founded in 1896 by the sons of John Dewar in the town of Aberfeldy, Perthshire, and is now operated by John Dewar & Sons under Bacardi ownership. The distillery has long been recognized for a house style built on honeyed sweetness, driven by its use of local Pitilie Burn water and relatively long fermentation times. For this expression, the spirit matures for 18 years in a combination of refill and hogshead casks before undergoing an additional finishing period of approximately 15 months in hand-selected Cabernet Sauvignon red wine casks. That extended secondary maturation imparts pronounced dark-fruit character and a velvety texture that distinguishes it from the standard Aberfeldy 18 bottling.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Cherry and plum jam arrive first, followed by blackcurrant, heather honey, and cranberry. Deeper notes of toffee apple, muscovado sugar, and well-integrated oak spice develop as the whisky opens in the glass.

Taste: The entry is soft and honeyed, quickly giving way to pronounced Cabernet Sauvignon grape flavors layered over plum, tart blackberry, and marmalade at mid-palate. The peak delivers clove, cinnamon, stewed apple, dried fruits, and a subtle bittersweet chocolate undercurrent that adds considerable depth.

Finish: Medium-long, with a velvety texture that carries raspberry syrup and honeycomb into a gentle fade. Lingering coffee and vanilla notes round out the close.

How to Drink Aberfeldy 18

Neat or with a few drops of water is the ideal serve; a small dilution opens up the wine-cask influence and lets the honey and berry layers separate nicely. On the rocks works in warmer weather, though the finish compresses slightly with heavy chilling.

• Rob Roy: The dark-fruit depth and velvety body stand up to sweet vermouth without being overwhelmed.
• Blood & Sand: Cherry and plum notes in the whisky echo the cocktail's blood-orange and cherry components, creating seamless integration.
• Whisky Sour: The wine-cask sweetness provides natural balance against citrus, reducing the need for heavy syrup.

Best For

• Gifting a whisky enthusiast who appreciates wine-cask experimentation
• After-dinner sipping alongside dark chocolate or berry desserts
• Building a Highland single malt tasting flight comparing cask finishes
• Celebrating a milestone occasion with a critically acclaimed dram

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Aberfeldy 18 Cabernet Sauvignon taste like? It leads with honeyed malt and transitions into pronounced dark-berry and wine-grape flavors, finishing with chocolate, coffee, and raspberry syrup sweetness. The overall profile is rich, fruit-forward, and velvety.

How does Aberfeldy 18 Cabernet Sauvignon compare to The Macallan 18 Sherry Oak? Both are 18-year-old Highland/Speyside single malts finished in wine-adjacent casks, but the Aberfeldy leans toward red berry and grape intensity from its Cabernet Sauvignon casks, while The Macallan 18 Sherry Oak emphasizes dried fruit, ginger, and raisin from oloroso sherry seasoning. The Aberfeldy is typically positioned at a lower price tier than The Macallan 18.

Is Aberfeldy 18 Cabernet Sauvignon good for sipping neat? Yes — at 43% ABV it is approachable and smooth enough for neat sipping, with enough complexity to reward slow drinking. A few drops of water further open the layered fruit and spice notes.

Where is Aberfeldy 18 made? It is distilled at Aberfeldy Distillery in the town of Aberfeldy, Perthshire, in the Scottish Highlands. The distillery, founded in 1896, sits along the Pitilie Burn, a tributary of the River Tay.

What foods pair well with Aberfeldy 18 Cabernet Sauvignon? Dark chocolate truffles complement the chocolate and berry notes. Aged Comté or Gruyère cheese mirrors the honeyed sweetness. Duck confit echoes the rich, savory depth. Berry tarts or crème brûlée align with the raspberry and vanilla on the finish. Charcuterie with dried figs bridges the wine-cask fruitiness.

What sizes does Aberfeldy 18 Cabernet Sauvignon come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format for this expression.

Is Aberfeldy 18 Cabernet Sauvignon worth the price? It positions as a premium expression within Aberfeldy's range and within the broader Highland single malt category. Its 18-year age statement, extended Cabernet Sauvignon cask finish, and Top 20 recognition from Whiskey Advocate place it competitively against other wine-finished single malts at similar or higher price points.

Why Aberfeldy 18 Cabernet Sauvignon?

The approximately 15-month finishing period in Cabernet Sauvignon wine casks is uncommon among aged Highland single malts, most of which default to sherry or port wood for secondary maturation. That choice gives this expression a distinctive red-grape and dark-berry intensity rarely found in 18-year-old Scotch. Whiskey Advocate's inclusion of this bottling at #10 in their 2020 Top 20 list validated it as one of the year's strongest releases across all whiskey categories. For drinkers drawn to wine-cask influence who also want significant age and the honeyed Aberfeldy house character intact, this remains one of the more compelling options in its segment.