Aberlour 9 Year Old
75.7cl / 40%70 Proof%
£99.00
- Malt type: Single Malt
- Region: Speyside
Tasting Notes
Vanilla, Cream, Barley Sugar
Brown Sugar, Citrus Liquor, Leather, Honey, Chocolate
Long Finish, Dried Fruit, Moist Wood
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A vibrant, short-matured Speyside malt revealing the raw spirit unburdened by heavy oak.
At-a-Glance
This highly specific bottling is defined by its transparency, its Independent Bottling (IB) status, and its detailed single-cask provenance.
| Field | Details |
| Distillery / Bottler / Country & Region | Aberlour Distillery / Wm. Cadenhead Ltd. / Speyside, Scotland |
| Category | Single Malt Scotch Whisky |
| Age / Vintage / Bottled | 9 Years Old; Distilled 1990, Bottled 1999 |
| ABV & Size(s) | Cask Strength, 60.1% ABV; 70cl |
| Cask / Treatment | Single Sherry Hogshead (Cask No. 4322) |
| Natural Colour | Yes (Presumed); Cadenhead's practice is typically NC. |
| Non-Chill-Filtered | Yes (Presumed); Standard practice for Cadenhead's Authentic Collection. |
| Cask Strength | Yes |
| Bottle count / Outturn | Extremely limited; Typically 200–300 bottles from a single hogshead |
| Intended channel | Specialist Independent Retail and Collector Market |
| Packaging | Cadenhead's "Authentic Collection" label style (simple, highly informative). |
| Notes on discrepancies | OB Aberlour is typically 10, 12, or 16 years. The 9 YO statement confirms this is an Independent Bottling. |
Historical Context
Aberlour distillery, while famed for its heavy reliance on sherry maturation in its official bottlings (OBs), rarely releases anything younger than 10 years commercially. The existence of a 9-year-old single cask indicates a specific commercial decision to sell a younger cask to a third-party bottler. Cadenhead’s, one of Scotland’s most venerable Independent Bottlers (IBs), typically selects casks they believe capture the spirit's innate character, opting to bottle them young to preserve the raw distillate profile before heavy oak integration.
This specific bottling provides a technical snapshot of the Aberlour spirit distilled in 1990 and matured exclusively through the 1990s. The Cadenhead's reputation fundamentally assures the buyer of minimal intervention, with the liquid being bottled at Cask Strength (CS) and Non-Chill-Filtered (NCF).
Technical Specification & Variant Map
This bottling belongs to the Cadenhead's "Authentic Collection," defined by extreme transparency. The crucial technical details are the specific vintage (1990), bottling year (1999), the exact Cask Number (4322), and the precise, single-cask ABV (60.1%). This level of verifiable detail is what collectors demand for single cask products.
The fact that this Aberlour was matured for only nine years in a hogshead cask has a significant influence on the resulting flavour. The shorter maturation period reduces the dominance of the sherry, resulting in a cleaner, more spirit-forward expression of the powerful Aberlour distillate itself. This contrasts favourably with the distillery’s standard sherried releases, appealing specifically to collectors who prioritise the distillery's core character over intense wood influence.
Documented variants
| ABV | Volume | Market | Era cues | Relative desirability |
| 60.1% | 70cl | Specialist Retail | Cadenhead's 1990 Vintage / Cask 4322 | Extremely High |
| Varies (CS) | 70cl | Specialist Retail | Other IB 9 YO releases | High, dependent on bottler reputation |
Packaging & authenticity checklist
Authenticity relies heavily on verifying the high degree of detail presented on the label. The bottle features a high-quality cork, often sealed with wax or a robust capsule, characteristic of Cadenhead's standards. Essential verification points include the exact naming and logo of the bottler (Wm. Cadenhead Ltd.), the explicit Cask Number (4322), the specific vintage (1990) and bottling date (1999), and the precise recorded ABV (60.1%). Any discrepancy in these key identifiers constitutes a major red flag.
Regulatory/terminology notes
The independent bottling process permits bottlers to provide a level of transparency—cask type, number, vintage, and specific ABV—that is frequently absent in large-scale official bottlings. This detailed regulatory information is vital for accurately stratifying pricing and assuring the buyer that the product is a traceable, unadulterated single-cask expression. The 60.1% strength is a declaration that the liquid was taken at Cask Strength, confirming it was not reduced for commercial viability.
Liquid Profile (from verifiable notes)
The liquid profile is characterised by high intensity and robustness, typical of a young, high-proof malt from a hogshead.
Nose: High intensity is evident immediately due to the 60.1% ABV. Notes include fresh barley, a light, complex sherry influence (dried fruit, raisin), and distinct baking spices such as cinnamon and ginger.
Palate: The palate is powerful and mouth-coating. It delivers an immediate surge of pepper and alcoholic warmth, followed by sweet malt, notes of green wood, and a delicate nuttiness likely imparted by the hogshead. The sherry influence is present as complexity rather than dominance.
Finish: The finish is very long, dry, and spicy, concluding with lingering notes of cocoa and oak tannins, characteristic of powerful, high-proof sherry maturation.
With water: Dilution is strongly recommended. The addition of a small amount of water tames the heat, unlocking richer, hidden fruit layers (apricot, orange peel) and harmonising the intensity, making the underlying Aberlour malt profile more accessible and complex.
Pricing & Market Dynamics (GBP)
Independent Bottler Aberlour, especially from a pedigree bottler like Cadenhead's, commands a premium due to guaranteed scarcity and high technical specification. Pricing is driven heavily by the appeal of the specific vintage and the quality assessment of the single cask used.
Original RRP (GBP): Estimated £35–£50 in 1999.
Current UK retail range (GBP, incl. VAT): £450 - £700.
Recent UK/EU auction range (GBP, hammer): £400 - £650.
Pricing stratification: As a single cask bottling, the valuation is exceptionally sensitive to historical tasting notes and reviews related to Cask 4322. Condition, particularly the integrity of the cork/seal, is also crucial.
Liquidity & sourcing note: Moderate liquidity via high-end specialist auctions. The reliability of the Cadenhead’s name generally facilitates robust re-sale.
Price Snapshot
| Channel | Date | Bottle spec | Price (GBP) | Notes |
| Auction (UK) | Aug 2023 | 9 YO, Cadenhead's 60.1% ABV, excellent condition | £610 | Strong performance for a 9-year-old IB |
| Retail (UK) | Sep 2023 | 9 YO, 60.1% ABV, sealed | £680 | Retail markup on scarce IB |
| Auction (EU) | Oct 2023 | 9 YO, Cask 4322, high fill, minor label fade | £550 | Value held strongly |
Distillery/Bottler Snapshot
Aberlour distillery (established 1879) is a significant Speyside producer known for its consistent quality and heavy use of sherry maturation, which imparts a characteristic deep fruit and spice profile to its core releases.4 Wm. Cadenhead Ltd. (established 1842) is one of the world's most enduring independent bottlers, renowned for consistently releasing single casks at natural strength and colour, offering unadulterated, highly specific, and technically detailed expressions of single malts.
Sourcing
Sourcing must prioritise absolute single cask identification (Cask 4322 preferred) and confirm the bottle carries the Cadenhead’s "Authentic Collection" label. Red flags include any indication of non-Cask Strength ABV, non-specific labelling, or any damage that compromises the legibility of the crucial Cask Number. Due to the high standard of bottling, fill levels should be high shoulder or better, and cork/seal integrity is essential. Velocity is good for a single-cask bottling, with moderate to high margins (30–45%) achievable due to the respected name of the bottler.
