A Late Night Rendezvous

Aberlour A'Bunadh Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Aberlour Distillery.; Someplace in Scotland; $90/btl

When I first met her, she was seated at the bar, her tawny legs stretched out oh so temptingly beneath a cream-colored getup that left me in awe. She appeared simple and easy-going, if not possibly a bit moody. I couldn’t help but look her over and wonder what she might be like if I could only get a little closer. To my surprise, she looked at me with that look you only get when there is definite interest, and motioned for me to sit with her. So, mustering the courage to take the next step, I moved over.

"What’s your name?” I asked, trying not to sound desperate.

“Sherry,” she responded, and I could sense her addictive qualities by the sound of her voice.

“Is there a last name in there?" I asked in a tone that told her of my curiosity.

“Cask,” she cooed. “It's Sherry Cask.”

“Where are you from, Sherry Cask?” I asked, my voice musky and protruding.

“A little place called Aberlour. You might know it. It’s in the Highland District.”

“I’ve heard of this Aberlour you speak of. I’ve heard it’s beautiful, like you.”

Sherry Cask smiled at me and turned away, a soft blush in her cheeks. “You flatter me too kindly,” she said as she reached over and placed herself in my hand.

I squeezed her tender fingers softly, and for just the briefest moment I was quite certain she purred. It was a gentle, almost poetic sound, something like, “A’bunadh.”

So, I grabbed her, tore her loose of the bar and wrestled every last drop of nectar from her and now she’s imprisoned on my Bottom Shelf!

Ah, Aberlour. Of all the Scotch whiskies, she is my favorite. Just the 12-year will do nicely, but there are others. The 16-year is a hoot (I’ll write about that one a bit later), and I have yet to try some of the more rare gems (20-year and such) but they’re on my gotta-have-it list.

Such as it is, I happen to have this wonderful bottle of Aberlour A’bunadh (#64) and cannot say enough nice things about the stuff. Right off the bat is that smokey punch in the face you expect from a good Scotch — but not too smokey; this ain’t Laphroaig, after all! Then, just as you’re getting ready to say, “Wow!” you’re hit with this sweet, sherry blast right across the sides of the tongue, and you realize this is really good stuff. There’s a bit of fruit in there, and the finish has a long and addicting quality to it that just loiters in the back of the mouth screaming for her buddies. “More,” she seems to be saying. “Give. Me. More!”

And so I do, because why make the poor girl suffer? And just in case, I invited her twin to hang out in the storage cabinet. I mean, you never know, right?

So, yeah, I’m a bit ashamed to admit it, but I took Miss Sherry Cask home on the first date. I mean, she was single and all, and I got her for a good price. I mean, $90 ain’t bad for a Single Malt of such character. Fact to know: I would pay more for such company, and it would be worth every last penny!

---

---

Aberlour A'Bunadh Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
$$$$$
*****