Aberfeldy 10 Years Old 1989 ‘Samson’s Apple Pie’ (SMWS 60.21)

Distilled at Aberfeldy in 1989 and matured 10 years in a single ex Bourbon cask, bottled by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society around 2000 under their numeric code 60.21 and the character name 'Samson's Apple Pie'. 301 bottles drawn from the cask at full cask strength 60.6%. The 1989 vintage falls in the United Distillers ownership era of the distillery, before the 1998 sale to Bacardi.

Long fermentation Aberfeldy wash from the four still configuration, distilled in 1989 in the United Distillers period of the distillery's operation. Filled into a single ex Bourbon cask and aged 10 years at the society's warehouses. Bottled at the SMWS house specification of full cask strength 60.6% with no chill filtering and no caramel adjustment.

Ten years in ex Bourbon American oak at cask strength gives a relatively young but concentrated oak profile: vanillin from lignin breakdown is present but not yet at peak, cis whisky lactones are lively with clear coconut and dill character, and furfural plus 5 hydroxymethylfurfural from hemicellulose contribute the cooked apple, pastry and cereal sweetness that the panel landed on for the cask name. Aberfeldy's house esters (ethyl laurate, ethyl myristate, heavier fusel alcohols) drive a sharp heather honey core at 60.6%, with the high strength concentrating ester volatility on the nose.