Everything you need to know about Aberlour Distillery

A brief History

Aberlour, Scotland. Founded in 1879. Region: Speyside

Speyside’s Hidden Gem — Where Sherry Casks Shine Bright

There’s something quietly powerful about Aberlour. Tucked into the lush, green heart of Speyside, right next to the bubbling River Spey, this distillery doesn’t shout for attention — it earns it. Founded in 1879 by James Fleming (whose motto was “Let the Deed Show”), Aberlour has always been about doing the work, letting the whisky speak for itself, and crafting bold, sherried single malts that pack richness, depth, and warmth into every sip.

Over the years, Aberlour has gained a cult following, especially among those who like their drams full-bodied and slightly indulgent. Think fruitcake, chocolate, spice — like dessert in a glass but with backbone. It's no surprise that their double cask maturation process (bourbon + sherry) has become a hallmark of the house style. If you’re someone who wants to taste Speyside at its richest and most rewarding — Aberlour is your guy.

Explore Speyside Whisky

Taste Profile


Rich / Chocolatey	Fruity	Spicy

Aberlour is all about depth and richness, with a heavy lean into sherry-cask maturation. Whether you're sipping the 12-year-old or a cask strength A'Bunadh, you'll find a bold whisky that's silky, spicy, and full of dark fruit and oak.

Aberlour is renowned for its rich, complex, and full-bodied single malt whiskies. The distillery is particularly famous for its use of sherry casks, which impart deep, fruity, and spicy notes to its whiskies. Key flavour characteristics include:

Stewed apples and figs
Melted dark chocolate and cocoa powder
Cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking spice
Warming oak and silky smoothness

Top 4 Flavour Profile Ingredients

	Dried Fruit
	Dark Chocolate / Cocoa
	Cinnamon / Clove
	Oak / Wood Spice

Aberlour's Most Popular Bottles

Here’s your cheat sheet to the Aberlour core range — packed with flavour, each one builds on the last.

Whisky	ABV	Tasting Notes
Aberlour 10 Year Old	43%	Baked apples, toffee, hint of spice
Aberlour 16 Year Old	43%	Stewed apples, clove, dark chocolate, long spicy finish
Aberlour 18 Year Old	43%	Rich fruitcake, black cherry, nutmeg, toasted oak
Aberlour A’Bunadh	61%	Toffee, rich malt, vanilla, Christmas cake, figs, caramle, white pepper
Aberlour Casg Annamh	48%	Juicy red fruits, ginger, vanilla, balanced sherry warmth

A’Bunadh, by the way, is a fan-favourite — unchillfiltered, high-proof, and unapologetically intense.

Aberlour 16 Year Single Cask Old Double Cask Matured

The Distillery

Aberlour Distillery 
Aberlour, Speyside, Moray, AB38 9PJ, Scotland

Open in maps

www.aberlour.com

+44 (0)1340 881249

Visiting Opening Times 
Monday to Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM 
Sunday: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Owners 
[Current] Chivas Brothers (a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard) – since 1974.

James Fleming (1879–1892)
Robert Thorne & Sons (1892–1921)
S. Campbell & Sons Ltd. (1921–1974)

Distillery Facts

Location: Situated in Aberlour, Speyside, Scotland, near the confluence of the Lour Burn and River Spey.
Founding: Established in 1879 by James Fleming, a grain merchant who previously leased the Dailuaine distillery.
Ownership: Currently owned by Chivas Brothers, a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard.
Production Capacity: Approximately 3.8 million liters of pure alcohol annually.
Stills: Operates with two wash stills (each 21,310 liters) and two spirit stills (20,000 and 15,456 liters).
Water Source: Utilizes water from the Birkenbush and Target springs.
Maturation: Known for double cask maturation, aging whisky in both Oloroso sherry butts and American oak barrels, imparting rich, fruity, and vanilla notes.
Signature Expression: A'bunadh—a cask-strength, non-age-statement whisky matured exclusively in Spanish oak Oloroso sherry butts, aiming to recreate a historic Aberlour style.
Visitor Experience: Offers tours and tastings, including the opportunity to bottle your own whisky directly from the cask.
Sustainability