One number, 0 to 100. It blends independent critic ratings, community sentiment, how widely the bottle is discussed, and how consistent it has stayed across bottlings. This one lands in the TASTE DEPENDENT band. The critic average below is just one of those ingredients, not the headline.
Aberlour 16 Double Cask is the aged version of the bourbon-and-sherry double-cask style, bottled at 43% ABV. It's richer and rounder than the 12: dried fruit, toffee, a warm oak spice, a faint chocolate and orange, 16 years of age adding depth, and the 43% ABV (a step up from the 12's 40%) giving it more body. It's a competent aged Speyside, and for £55 to £75 it does a real job for an Aberlour drinker who's worked through the 12 and isn't ready for the cask-strength A'bunadh.
The 16 sits between the everyday 12 and the cask-strength A'bunadh, both of which arguably offer more for the money in different ways (the 12 on value, the A'bunadh on intensity). But as a smooth, aged, sherried-leaning Speyside it's a reasonable choice.
Buy this if you like Aberlour and want a smooth aged version at 43%. Skip it if you want value (the 12) or intensity (the A'bunadh). The right price is £50 to £65. Above £70 the A'bunadh at cask strength is the more characterful Aberlour.
TASTING NOTESDRAMFINDER EDITORIAL
Nose
Dried fruit, toffee, a warm oak spice, a faint chocolate and orange. Richer than the 12.
Palate
Dried fruit and toffee at the front, a sherry-led sweetness, then a warm oak spice and a faint chocolate. 43% and 16 years give it more body and depth than the 12.
Finish
Medium to long. Dried fruit, toffee, and an oak warmth fade together. Rounder than the 12's quick exit.
PAIRINGFOOD · CIGAR · SETTING
Food: fruit cake, dried fruit, mature cheddar, dark chocolate. Cigar: mild to medium. Setting: after dinner, a digestif.
HOW IT HAS CHANGED OVER TIMEBOTTLING BY BOTTLING
Remarkably steady across 3 decades. Quality has held.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAYINDEPENDENT REVIEWS
"See? They heard us! (S., you're a pain in the neck). Yet again a story about bourbon and sherry. Colour: deep gold. Nose: very different, much nuttier, with even a little smoke (barbecue, wood smoke), then walnut wine, amontillado-like notes, touches of menthol, humidor, then figs and raisins, a drop pf cognac, triple-sec, moist Christmas cake, chestnut purée… So all in all, a very lovely nose, more profound and rich than that of the 14. Mouth: yes, there, some action at last, more roasted nuts, leaves, malty beer, cakes, teas… Perhaps some good Assam? Darjeeling? In any case, the 43% vol."mixed reception
2021 BOTTLING
"A newish version, sadly bottled at 40% vol., which I rather find cheapish. Colour: amber. Nose: a typical vegetal and leafy sherry, which I find a little too leathery after the 12. Quite some sour dough again. I think I enjoyed the nose of the 12 better. Mouth: ah, now we're talking. Bitter oranges, raisins, walnuts, Christmas cake, these notes of kirsch and damson plums again, a touch of honey. It is a wee tad weakish indeed, I'd say bottling this high quality whisky at 43% would have been smarter."mixed reception
2015 BOTTLING
"Colour: deep gold. Nose: the sherry's very obvious, especially after the 2001 that didn't have any. Very nice notes of raisins, honeycomb, nectar, yellow flowers and maple syrup, buttered pastry, milk chocolate, maple syrup… It's a very sweet and rounded whisky but it remains light and floral at the same time, which makes it very easy and sexy on the nose. Also touches of mint. Mouth: sweeter and much more luscious than the 2001, with dried fruits and honey, toasted bread, touches of bananas flambéed and then more oak (cinnamon, white pepper, ginger)."mixed reception
2011 BOTTLING
CRITIC AND COMMUNITYCONSENSUS
84.4
CRITIC AVERAGE / 100
21%
POSITIVE · 51 MENTIONS
POSITIVE 22% · NEUTRAL 76% · NEGATIVE 2%
Solid but not standout in either dimension.
Discussed less than the Speyside median (106 mentions). Under the radar.
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU BUY THISLIFTING THE VEIL
WHY IT’S BOUGHT
plusA genuine step up from the 12. Richer, rounder, smoother, more depth from 16 years.
caveatSits awkwardly between the value-12 and the intense-A'bunadh; both arguably offer more for the money.
caveatCompetent rather than exciting.
caveatPernod Ricard pricing has crept up across the Aberlour range.
BEHIND THE LABEL
flagPernod Ricard has at times pushed NAS expressions (Casg Annamh) as alternatives to the age-stated bottles; the 16 remains, but the pattern is familiar.
flagThe 'cuvée' / wine-maturation marketing overstates what is a competent double-cask Speyside.