Aberlour Casg Annamh (Batch 3)

A new NAS line from Aberlour, this third batch was the first time I saw it. 48% ABV. Non-chill filtered. Colorsso sherry. I guess this is meant to be A'bunadh's younger sibling? Let's see. Nose: Apple, apricot, pear. Raisins, cranberries, raspberries. Vanilla, caramel, toffee. Cola. Red grapes. Honeydew. Peaches and cream. Banana and walnuts. Nougat. Wood and light baking spice. The alcohol is barely detectable; the complex layers of the nose hide the ethanol. Very pleasant. Palate: Apple, cranberry, raspberry, golden raisin, and red grape. Caramel and vanilla. Milk chocolate and fudge. Orange. Tobacco smoke. Pear and apricot. Wood, cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. Full-bodied, layered, and tasty palate. Amazing. Finish: Plum, cranberry, raisin. Apricot and orange. Caramel, cocoa, and cola. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and wood. Medium-long. A great way to end it. I purchased this somewhat spontaneously. I didn't have high expectations. So, it's a pleasant surprise that this absolutely delivers; both in quality and value. $70 for a NCF, high-proof, quality Olrosso cask single malt is well worth it in my opinion. A message for Aberlour: stick with the higher-proof offerings. This and A'bunadh show that the distillate performs better uncut; they're both significantly better than the 12 and 16. The 18 is great on its own, but even that is at a higher proof than the 12 and 16. Regardless, great malt. This is a welcome addition to Aberlour's core line. I look forward to trying future batches. 4.5/5.

Notes after consuming one-third of the bottle: Similar to other young, sherry-influenced whiskies, the nose is overwhelmingly sweet. Golden raisins and dates are prominent, but a pleasant wood spice becomes noticeable over time. The palate generally stays balanced; an initial wave of dried fruit is succeeded by the astringency of black tea, the woody character of cinnamon bark, and a very faint earthiness, reminiscent of damp soil. The texture is on the lighter side, and the finish is moderately long. If memory serves, it improved considerably during the 8-9 months it was open. I enjoyed this offering, but I find Glendronach 12 to be comparable, superior, and a better value.

Smell: sweet orange, cherries, a whisper of cinnamon Sip: additional sweet fruits with notes of spice like clove, perhaps a trace of ginger Aftertaste: fruit that has been dried, bread that's been sweetened? In summary, truly delightful for those who enjoy a robust, fruit-forward Scotch. Certainly a memorable one.

The Casg Annamh appears a bit darker and isn't quite as mellow as the A'Bunadh Alba. It still falls into the 'sherry-bomb' category, however, it lacks some of the punch of the Alba.

Absolutely delicious. Possesses lovely, deep richness, likely from the sherry casks. Delicate hints of spice. No rough edges. I detect an almost banana-like note on the palate.

Cherry. Improved with water