Aultmore 12, 18 and 21
By victor
Something I've been meaning to do for quite a while! I've touted the 12 as "one of the great core range 12s" here and there but realized it's been a while. I'm also not as familiar with the 18 and 21 as I should be.
0.2 (Pale straw)
Nose
Fruity and light, very clean. Floral and a little hay-like.
Palate
Some pineapple and citrus but still clean throughout .
Finish
Apple pie, a little sharp. Overall light and not very long finish.
It might be a little on the light/clean side to make it interesting to me compared to its rival Deanston 12, which has a little more to offer in my opinion. Nothing wrong with that profile though and it's a well made whisky.
Score
76 / 100
0-50 Subpar
51-60 Drinkable
61-70 Decent
71-80 Good
81-90 Great
91-100 Fantastic
| Country | Scotland |
|---|---|
| Region | Speyside |
| Brand | Aultmore |
| Distillery | Aultmore Distillery |
| Classification | Single Malt |
| Abv (%) | 46 |
| Age | 12 |
| Coloring | Natural color |
| Chill Filtration | Non-chill filtered |
1.1 (Burnished)
Nose
More tropical notes here compared to the 12. A bit more honey added to the consistent lightness.
Palate
Now we're starting to get some tannins, a slight bitterness and some spice added into the mix.
Finish
Spicy, winey, bready and peppery.
Much in line with its little brother but some resistance added. Makes a bit more fun, and it's still well put together.
Score
80 / 100
0-50 Subpar
51-60 Drinkable
61-70 Decent
71-80 Good
81-90 Great
91-100 Fantastic
| Country | Scotland |
|---|---|
| Region | Speyside |
| Brand | Aultmore |
| Distillery | Aultmore Distillery |
| Classification | Single Malt |
| Abv (%) | 46 |
| Age | 18 |
| Coloring | Natural color |
| Chill Filtration | Non-chill filtered |
1.1 (Burnished)
Nose
Grassy, malty, doughy. Fruity, yes, but less so than 12 and 18.
Palate
Herbal, something that the younger siblings didn't show much of. Fuller and softer mouthfeel. Vanilla.
Finish
Tea, peaches (maybe peach-infused black tea?) and a bit longer finish here.
The odd one out in this lineup, with a lot of that herbal and grassy stuff going on. I'd wish for more fruit and sweetness to balance that out.
Score
79 / 100
0-50 Subpar
51-60 Drinkable
61-70 Decent
71-80 Good
81-90 Great
91-100 Fantastic
| Country | Scotland |
|---|---|
| Region | Speyside |
| Brand | Aultmore |
| Distillery | Aultmore Distillery |
| Classification | Single Malt |
| Abv (%) | 46 |
| Age | 21 |
| Coloring | Natural color |
| Chill Filtration | Non-chill filtered |
I gotta say that I am slightly disappointed with the 12. I remember it as a bit more vivid, fruity and summery, but now I can't shake the feeling that it's just too light and clean. I've given myself the benefit of the doubt and tried it a few times over the last few days, trying to extract something more, but the conclusion is the same. The Deanston 12 wins the core-ex-bourbon-12 battle easily.
I also think that 21 is not a favorite and that the 18 might be a small step up from the 12, and the best one here. They're all light, clean and floral, but the 18 has a bit more to it.