Aberlour Debuts 21 and 25 Year Old Single Malts
Aberlour has not added an older bottle to its permanent lineup since the 18 Year Old arrived in 2008, and now it has added two at once. The Speyside distillery, owned by Chivas Brothers, is launching a 21 Year Old and a 25 Year Old single malt. They are its oldest permanent expressions to date. The pair debuts at Whisky Live Paris from 26 to 28 September 2026 before heading to specialist retailers worldwide.
Did You Know?
Aberlour's 25 Year Old is bottled at 50.8% ABV simply because that is the strength the casks delivered. Nobody diluted it to hit a round number.
In September 2025, Aberlour bottled its oldest single malt yet, a 53-year-old called The Mouth of the Chattering Burn 1967. It fetched a hammer price of £60,000 at the Distillers One of One charity auction.
The first batch of the 21 Year Old runs to just over 4,800 bottles, while the 25 Year Old is down to a few hundred bottles worldwide, according to the brand's team.
The Release
Both whiskies use Aberlour's double cask maturation. Single malts are matured fully in ex-Bourbon barrels and in oloroso Sherry casks (Sherry casks that held a dry, nutty style of Sherry), then married together. The result is two older whiskies built on the contrast between the vanilla-leaning sweetness of Bourbon wood and the darker, spiced richness of Sherry wood.
The 21 Year Old is bottled at 48% ABV. It has no added colouring and is not chill filtered, a step many brands use to keep whisky clear when cold but which can strip some texture. The Spirits Business reports notes of cherries, baked apples, chocolate ganache and crystallised ginger on the nose, then blood orange, cinnamon and nutmeg on the palate. The European RRP is €270 for 700ml.
The 25 Year Old is bottled at natural cask strength, 50.8% ABV, again without added colouring or chill filtration. It is described as reminiscent of peaches in syrup, red liquorice, marzipan and red plums, alongside cardamom and fresh ginger. The European RRP is €650 for 700ml. Research notes say this first batch marries a small number of hand-selected casks, including a single first-fill Sherry hogshead (a cask that held Sherry for the first time).
Both will return as an annual release "in highly limited, small batch runs." Master distiller Graeme Cruickshank called the launch "a proud milestone for everyone at the distillery." He also compared the work to a chocolatier, saying great chocolate and great old whisky both depend on precision and patience.
The Story of Aberlour
Aberlour Distillery was founded in 1879 by James Fleming. It sits in the town of Aberlour in Speyside, where the Lour Burn meets the River Spey near Ben Rinnes. Fleming was a local figure who worked in the grain trade and banking before turning to whisky. The distillery has been part of Pernod Ricard since the company acquired Chivas Brothers in 2001.
Aberlour has been busy at the top end lately. Alongside the 53-year-old charity bottling, it released a 50-year-old single malt in 2025, limited to just 20 bottles worldwide at £31,000 per 700ml. It has also released a limited edition A'bunadh collection. The new 21 and 25 give the core range some older, more attainable steps above the 18.
Why It Stands Out
Older age statements from big Scotch names are increasingly one-off or ultra-limited. Making these two permanent, annual releases gives collectors something to look for each year. The 25 Year Old at natural cask strength adds a cask-driven option to a range often known for its Sherry-influenced style.
The Details
Style: Speyside single malt Scotch whisky
Age: 21 Years Old and 25 Years Old
ABV/Proof: 21 Year Old at 48% ABV; 25 Year Old at 50.8% ABV (natural cask strength)
Cask/Finish: Double cask maturation in ex-Bourbon barrels and oloroso Sherry casks, then married
Release Size: Highly limited, small batch annual releases
Price (SRP): €270 for the 21 Year Old and €650 for the 25 Year Old, both per 700ml (European RRP)
Availability: Specialist retailers worldwide after the Whisky Live Paris debut
Release Date: Debuts 26 to 28 September 2026 at Whisky Live Paris
Tonights Poison Take
Two older Aberlours at these strengths and with no chill filtration should get attention from Sherry-cask fans. The 25 is the scarcer bottle, so expect it to go quickly in the specialist shops that carry it. The 21 looks like the easier one to actually find and open.
Bar Talk: Aberlour just made its oldest bottles permanent for the first time since the 18 Year Old landed in 2008.
Send this to the Sherry cask fan who has been waiting for an older Aberlour that is not a six-figure auction lot.
Please enjoy responsibly.
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