Aberlour Casg Annamh REVIEW: BEST of the Core Range???

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

Nice vid. Without a doubt, the further I crawl down this rabbit-hole, the more I realize how much more interesting, and how much more I prefer, imperfect malts.

[@Gwhisky]

100%. “Technically perfect” is almost never used as a compliment in my reviews.

[@buffdogg]

This whisky is incredible. Especially for the price. Batch 7 for me.

[@aframs-cctaf-rams-cct6424]

KZbind this bottle after seeing it at the store for a good price and your video was the first to come up, so perfect! Purchased after I saw your good score.

[@Gwhisky]

Eesh. The batches vary a lot. Which did you get?

[@aframs-cctaf-rams-cct6424]

@@Gwhisky batch 5. Initial opinion it’s an 84

[@olamire.flowers]

Just got the batch 6 a few hours ago and I love the spices. You video made me feel like I made the right decision for not going with the Remy Martin instead. I had tried the A'Bunadh 12, I think I prefer the Annamh. The aroma and taste is just gorgeous...I am pleasantly surprised.

[@Gwhisky]

It's good stuff. The spices are fantastic. Glad you're enjoying it!

[@a.davidg4719]

First time with this distillery. I agree wholeheartedly with your candor and spot on review. Having it neat first, then with water, which opened open a bouquet of florals and spices with balance. So glad I found this vid. thank you

[@Gwhisky]

Thanks for the kind words David. Cheers! 🥃

[@jackthepickledhound]

Totally......48% is a righteous ABV. And about 2/3 the price of A'Bunadh. I think it's a great option for sherry. I wasn't sure if I was a sherry fan but this bottle converted me.

[@dougpetty3417]

I could not agree more. I tried to buy this bottle 4 times last year and put it back on the shelf for another Whisky. I was finally offered a sample this year and wow I was impressed. I purchased a bottle and it was gone in no time. I went back and the shop had two bottles on display. When asked they had no more so I purchased the remaining 2 bottle a month ago for ~63 USD. For that price I wanted more but such is life. Keep up the quality reviews. PS the shop owner talked me into purchasing Armut spectrum 004. Have you heard of or tried this whiskey?

[@Gwhisky]

Glad you enjoyed it. There's a lot of variation between batches, though, so be aware of that. I haven't tried the Amrut Spectrum. I've heard it's good!

[@dougpetty3417]

@@Gwhisky I have Casg Annamh Batch 003 (all the bottles from the same batch).

[@kellywellington7122]

I like your rationale. I'm long on Aberlour and sherried, so it'll be a while before I get around to it.

[@duchessofislay]

😂 Yes, the Gaelic names are so tough to pronounce. Cheers! 🥃

[@ps3inquisition441]

The 18 has really shot up in price around me. $240 now, completely insane. Makes this even more appealing.

[@bartoni572]

I can confirm batch 7 is extremely nice

[@yulaswift2439]

Braugh, it’s confectionery sweet and well worth a try. I’m NAS averse, but like “the Chita” Japanese dram (which was pure, sweet pineapples) this one’s a total RECOMMENDATION 👍🏻

[@Nikolay_Nikolov]

Nice review, Geoff. I haven't tasted Casg Annamh. I've had A'Bunadh batch #65 and liked it. Fell a little short in terms of complexity though. Shortly after I finished the bottle I opened Tomatin Cask Strenght, NAS (distillery says it is around 9 yo), 57.5%, vatting of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry matured spirit. I liked the Tomatin better than A'Bunadh. More elegant, more complex and interesting. Extremely high price/quality ratio. I have also tasted the 18 yo Aberlour, 43%, before they moved to 0.5 l. bottles. Found it just OK, nothing special. I wonder what is your opinion about the 12 yo non chill filtered expression of Aberlour, which comes at 48%. Cheers

[@Gwhisky]

The 12 at 48% is pretty hard to find where I live. I might keep an eye out for it, though. I tried the Tomatin CS recently and I didn't find it to my taste. I much preferred the old version of it, which to me tasted older and had a richer sherry presence. I agree, the Aberlour 18 should feel more “special” than it does. A beautiful whisky, but no real points of interest that grabbed my attention. Casg Annamh is pretty different than the Abunadh. Some of the better batches might rival it for quality imo, but the majority of the newer batches of Abunadh do come off a little simple. If you can find Casg over there, give it a shot!

[@steveno7058]

Nice review. This one is very nice with a bit of water.

[@Gwhisky]

Agree, this can definitely take some water! Thanks for watching Steven!

[@briandrier3864]

hey! nice work, as always. i'm curious how you view this relative to a couple of other sherry-influenced expressions that i've had. i'm currently into sherry bomb glenfarclas 105, but i tend to be big on moderate sherry influence: ardbeg uigeadail is at the top of my list, and i've recently found kilchoman sanaig rapidly rising up the ranks for me (i actually prefer it ever so slightly to the machir bay, which i like quite a bit to begin with). i also enjoyed the pete's beast sherry cask batch strength--though i'm more keen on the sanaig. your thoughts?

[@Gwhisky]

Sounds like the peat/sherry combo is your go-to! I'm a big fan of Sanaig, although it's pretty inconsistent with its sherry influence (some lighter some heavier). Uigeadail is a classic, although it's not quite as good as it used to be. There's also some batch variation there, which is understandable as it's a cask strength expression. But generally I do like it. Funny, I just popped a bottle of Peats Beast PX Sherry the other day. My first impression was that it was very loud and quite unrefined. That being said, I've only had a couple drams from the bottle so far, so it may improve as it opens up. Just my 2 cents! Hope that helps! 🥃

[@howardbecdove9780]

My favourite whisky for 2021 was (is) the ÁBunadh batch 70 61.2 ABV. The batch 5 casg has only just become available in Australia, coinciding with no stock in most of UK. I note too, that the new 12 yo is at 48% ABV. I bought a bottle of each today.

[@Gwhisky]

Good to know. I'll have to try out the 70 if/when I come across it. So the new 12 is 48%? I'm hoping that the 48% becomes the standard and they scrap the 40% altogether...

[@howardbecdove9780]

@@Gwhisky Tasting notes I’ve seen, rate the two almost equal. They are sold here at exactly the same price, and in my market, look (on paper) to be good value. The 18 has been dramatically slashed in price by 30%.

[@hermenneutics6235]

I really like this ! I think at $65 , it’s also a great value.

[@Gwhisky]

That's a great price for sure! 🥃

[@allanwhittle3041]

Agree with Christopher Molloy , I too prefer less perfect , as you say G less boring whiskies . Let’s have a few rough edges a bit of bite a bite of spice . Can’t be doing with perfectly smooth / engineered Sherry bombs . As usual ..great review G Keep em coming 👍

[@Gwhisky]

Always very kind and supportive words from you, Allan. Much appreciated!

[@WhiskyLoversSociety]

Love them both. Nice review

[@Gwhisky]

Thanks!

[@Lindsay-t2e]

You owe it to yourself to visit Speyside. All the ones you mentioned are within 20 miles of Aberlour. Dozens of them. Look up . The Mash Tun whisky bar in Aberlour I rescued that place from closure 25 years ago. It.s going strong still.. You will not regret your visit. A booon ah said softly

[@helinophoto]

Today we are looking at the Aberlour.......... .............. ............ whisky. Yeah Gaelic is a strange one. :) I have batch 4 and it wasn't much to write home about (82-83) here, seems to lack width and depth in smell and taste.

[@Gwhisky]

Actually I got too excited by this specific one. A few of the batches are pretty "meh." This is the best one I've had.

[@wp2746]

Be glad they didn’t name it ‘Klato Verata’ Annamh :)

[@Ostach14]

For me, my batch is certainly better then a'bunadh batch 72. Casg annamh is one of my favorite whiskies

[@josephappleton1061]

Good stuff good review

[@Gwhisky]

Thank you, Joseph! 🙏

[@edwardspearing5148]

GMAN.. HAVE you had a go at Writers Tears Red Head single malt.. Sherry cask at 46%n so non chilled.. None too pricey. For a good to go uisce.. 62 yoyos here in Dublin.

[@Gwhisky]

Sounds cool, but I don't think that's available in Taiwan. I don't mind the standard Writer's Tears, and I'm enjoying a bottle of cask strength Irishman at the moment. If it happens to pop up here for a good price I might just grab it!

[@WhiskyCanuck]

"Casg Annamh" - Ok that's what it's actually called. I was wondering if maybe you were having a seizure as you were typing that out for the thumbnail. As for suggestions, us whisky nerds are always after age statements and single casks, and definitely single malts, but there are probably bunch of blends out there that are worth our attention (and not just from Compass Box, though they're leading the way). Once upon a time blends were leading the way & not just in market volume but had the quality to go with it. Maybe uncovering interesting blends would be an angle to pursue.

[@Gwhisky]

I've got a Compass Box review in the pipeline, and I'm currently thoroughly enjoying an 18 year old blended malt Famous Grouse. I'll admit I'm a single malt snob, but I'm not against a blend here and there!

[@ChristopherWalker-k2y]

batch 10 is delicious

[@gintoki5757]

Nice review; it is uncoloured, though, at least here in Germany. Thanks for the review, cheers!

[@hyacinthus35]

Not so bad after all.

[@iancrombie8862]

I like this whisky..way too many are 40% abv i agree,which means I wont buy it...only £35 on Amazon at the moment....Bargain!!😃🥃

[@Gwhisky]

Great for that price!

[@edwardspearing5148]

Kasic Annov.. Well least if yer Gaeilge is The Irish variety

[@TechnovikingRS]

👋,it's strange color of your whisky in the bottle, Casg Annamh is more darker

[@Gwhisky]

Lighting and low fill level I guess.

[@Domini_k]

Unless you speak Scottish Gaelic, your most likely going to screw it up, just like any other language people mess up the pronunciation. Also, Gaelic is pronounced without the E, so Galic. It's not Irish?