Aberfeldy 10 Years Old 2013 Equinox & Solstice Autumn Edition (Decadent Drinks)

Distilled at Aberfeldy in 2013 and matured 10 years in ex Bourbon American oak, bottled by Decadent Drinks in 2023 at 48.5% as part of their Equinox & Solstice Autumn Edition. Decadent Drinks was founded in 2019 by Angus MacRaild and Susan Coleman in Edinburgh, focused on small batch indie releases with a distinctive thematic framing. The Equinox & Solstice series runs four seasonal editions per year tied to the astronomical calendar, with the Autumn Edition selected to match the season's character on the panel's reading.

Long fermentation Aberfeldy spirit from the four still configuration, distilled in 2013 under John Dewar & Sons (Bacardi) ownership. Aged 10 years in ex Bourbon American oak, vatted for the Equinox & Solstice Autumn release. Bottled at 48.5% with reduced chill filtering and no caramel adjustment under the Decadent Drinks house specification.

Ten years in ex Bourbon American oak gives a working oak profile: vanillin from lignin breakdown at moderate levels, cis whisky lactones contributing coconut and dill, and hemicellulose breakdown supplying furanic compounds for the caramel and toasted cereal layer. Aberfeldy's house ester profile (ethyl laurate, ethyl myristate, heavier alcohols) drives the heather honey base, with 48.5% sitting at a balanced strength that holds the ester load on the nose without overwhelming the wood signature.