Aberlour 16 Years Old, Double Cask Matured

I picked up this lovely bottle on New Year's Eve of 2013 to help me ring in Hogmanay in in style. Aberlour 16 Year Old Double Cask Matured is a nice middle of the road single malt from the Speyside region of Scotland. At around $70, it doesn't hurt the wallet that much and the product is worth every penny. It begins with a spicy floral nose, lots of dried fruits and vanilla with a hint of caramel. Plums and raisins, even a touch of rosewater. The palate is smooth and rich, with fruit and a lingering sherry dryness while loaded with dark chocolate and some nuttiness. The finish is extraordinarily long with tons of fruit and spice. All in all it is a wonderful dram and a nice representation of the Speyside region, no smoke and very little oakiness. It is matured in traditional oak casks and re-fill sherry casks, and bottled at a very low ABV of 43% which helps keep it somewhat tame and not overpowering.