Scotland, Speyside. Distillery operational. Owner: Pernod Ricard

Then owned by the Chivas Brothers group, in the early 1970s Aberlour was one of Scotland's first Speyside distilleries to release on the French market various versions of its single malt aged entirely in ex-sherry casks. Some of these had been matured for 8 or 9 years and their labels already featured the vintages 1964 and 1965. What made Aberlour really stand out from its contemporaries, however, was its “100 proof” (50% ABV) alcohol content - a reflection of its strong temperament - and its small square bottle unlike any other, emblazoned with the words “Aberlour – Glenlivet, Unblended All Malt Scotch Whisky.”Now owned by and the standard bearer for the Pernod Ricard group, Aberlour has kept its character alive through a limited edition baptized A'Bunadh, on the way swapping its small square bottle for a rounder, more generous shape. For the distillery's most prestigious bottlings, it opts for a more slender, classic and elegant design.

A 19 year old single cask Aberlour (hogshead #101774) distilled in 1990 and bottled in 2010 by Signatory Vintage. Signatory Vintage was founded in 1988 by Andrew Symington, who previously worked at Prestonfield House, Edinburgh, where he would select casks specially for the hotel. In 2002, he bought the Edradour distillery in Pitlochry, in the Highlands of Scotland and moved Signatory Vintage to the site, including the warehouses opposite the distillery. A limited edition of 252 bottles.