Aberfeldy 6 Years Old 2013 Cask #304375 (van Wees)

Distilled at Aberfeldy in 2013 and matured 6 years in a single ex Bourbon cask numbered 304375, bottled by van Wees in 2020 at 46% under The Ultimate series for the European specialist trade. 395 bottles drawn from the cask. A six year old age statement is unusual for Aberfeldy in the independent catalogue, where the bulk of single cask output from this distillery sits at the 10 to 16 year working band and younger releases are less commonly held back for full age statement bottling.

Long fermentation Aberfeldy wash from the four still configuration, distilled in 2013 under John Dewar & Sons (Bacardi) ownership. Filled into a single ex Bourbon cask and aged 6 years at van Wees's bonded partners. Bottled at 46% with reduced chill filtering and no caramel adjustment under The Ultimate house specification.

Six years in ex Bourbon American oak produces a young, primary spirit profile: the cask has had limited time to extract lignin breakdown products, so vanillin sits at lower levels and cis whisky lactones contribute a light coconut and dill background rather than a leading note. Aberfeldy's distillate character is well forward at this age: medium chain ethyl esters (ethyl laurate, ethyl myristate) and heavier fusel alcohols drive a bright heather honey and beeswax base, with the orchard fruit ester character (apple, pear, light citrus) lifted on the nose by the 46% bottling strength. Hemicellulose breakdown supplies a soft cereal sweetness.