Favorite Recent A'bunadh (Excepting#20)

[bjorn]

What has been your favorite batch of A'bunadh (18-22) with the exception of #20 as it is unfortunately not available in America. I had a bottle of #12 a year or 2 ago and was very pleased. I also had a glass of #13 in a pub and found it to be very nice, but not quite a match for #12. Any suggestions? Should I consider Macallan's Cask Strength or Glenfarclas' 105?

[laddie teun]

2bad you left out batch 20
easy available over here (Netherlands)
and in my opinion the best of the recent batches

[Ras Mazunga]

Mac 10cs is very good imho.
Not in the poll but I still want to mention that #23 is my favourite A'bunadh sofar because it smells like chocolate.
Yesterday I was thinking about the Glenfarclas 105, haven't had that for a while. Maybe we should have a Farclas tasting soon? Or maybe a theme tasting like: Heavily sherried whiskies.

[Deactivated Member]

Macallan 10CS is very good, but a totally different experience to the AAs.

A shame you are excluding Batch 20, it really is good.

[Willie JJ]

You probably should exclude #21 since it only seems to have been available in America.

Also I agree with Ras that (outside of #20) #23 is my favourite recent batch.

[SoMK]

#23 chocolate ? geez I have to get my hands on one.. voted for 18 although I preferred the #17 *loads of chocolate too*
as much as I like glenfarclas 105, I think it's a tad one dimensional compared to A'bunadh though.

[bjorn]

Alright, I've added on #23 (which I didn't know had been released yet.) I haven't tried a lot of Glenfarclas, but I haven't been blown away by what I have had (10+12YO), nor have I tried any other Aberlour whiskies (Do they still make the 100 proof?) I've liked the Macallans that I've had so far 12+18, but I think the A'bunadh has been my favorite Sherry Monster. If 20 were available stateside I would have just bought that and forgone the poll and 21 is on the list because I do live in America. The bottles mentioned are all available at the local liquor stores and that is why they are on the list.

Thank you for your comments.

-Bjorn

[bcrossan]

14 is good... but not on your list. I am sure it's not available in most stores... except here in Austin

[bjorn]

I've been looking for a bottle of #14 for months, all I can find now are the ones listed. But thanks

-Bjorn

[Ryguy]

I really enjoyed Batch 23, although I haven't seen it here in the States yet. 18 and 21 are available where I am now, but neither compared to 23, it was good.

The Aberlour 100 is very tasty too, and Collector 57 has mentioned it above.

[Ganga]

Me, I think I like the recent Macallans slightly better. As stated above it is a different experience - more towards maples/maple syrup end of the spectrum. However, Batch 20 is the one to get out of the most recent 6 releases of the a'bunadh.

[Lawrence]

I opened a Aberlour a'bunadh 12yo (Sterling Silver Label) last night and it is stunning..........comments in what did you drink last night thread.

[LeoDLion]

I have had batch #21 and #18 and unopened #14. I like the #21 with the nice heavy sherry taste and malty aftertase. I dont like #18, I taste something bitter and sulphury.

[biglads]

My a'bunadh is batch 15, guess that means I should crack it open and get a newer replacement

[LeoDLion]

I have had batch #21 and #18 and unopened #14. I like the #21 with the nice heavy sherry taste and malty aftertase. I dont like #18, I taste something bitter and sulphury.

Update: I finished all the bottles of A'bunadh. Went to the local store and got another, batch #21 is all we have. Its pretty good but #14 is much better.

[lincoln imp]

Batch 19 for me. Only a few shots left though

[Reggaeblues]

Yes, I never owned 19(I have half a bottle of 20 left) but i clearly remember a post gig dram of 19 offered by a pleased publican in Rochester (yes, really!!)

I recall a distinctive, rich cherry flavoured sweet cough medicine...with more of a cherry accent than sherry, and more so than other batches.

Remember 14 with great fondness too - outstanding...and 13, since this was my first ever dram, a generous portion poured by my next door neighbour.(There are 8 houses in this little road...and three are home to maltmainiacs!)

[LagaDrinker]

Mine is #23 and I love it

[Muskrat Portage]

We're doing a HTH on Saturday with a second flight of Aberlour A'Bunadh batches #7, #13, #14, #15, #18 and #23 on tap. Plus Aberlour 10, 12 and 16 yo's. Then I'll be able to choose my favorite.

The warm up first flight is Glenfarclas 12 yo, 15 yo, 17 yo, 21 yo, 25 yo and Cask 105.

I may hurt a tiny bit Sunday morning.

Muskrat Portage

[LagaDrinker]

We're doing a HTH on Saturday with a second flight of Aberlour A'Bunadh batches #7, #13, #14, #15, #18 and #23 on tap. Plus Aberlour 10, 12 and 16 yo's. Then I'll be able to choose my favorite.

The warm up first flight is Glenfarclas 12 yo, 15 yo, 17 yo, 21 yo, 25 yo and Cask 105.

I may hurt a tiny bit Sunday morning.

Muskrat Portage

Thats 15 whiskies in a single sitting what size drams will you pour 5cl

[Muskrat Portage]

Laga:

We pour a tablespoon of each whisky into individual nosing glasses then cover them with watch glasses to contain the vapours. Our very first tasting of 12 whiskies, many years ago, was an ounce of each. It was one heck of a party! And we learned from that mistake.

After the tasting is over the bottles are available for anyone to pour a heathier dram.

Muskrat Portage

[LagaDrinker]

Laga:

We pour a tablespoon of each whisky into individual nosing glasses then cover them with watch glasses to contain the vapours.
Muskrat Portage

while I don't advocate drinking 15 ounces of malt, and feel that 6 is the max for a tasting before your palate goes, what can you nose/taste from a tablespoon?

The tablespoon is just the measure not them means of tasting I think from MP's post

[Muskrat Portage]

I have found from fairly exhaustive experimentation, a tablespoon is sufficient for both a nosing and a taste of a single malt.

Consider that at some tastings you nose several ounces, sip less than a tablespoon in, taste and swirl it in your mouth, then spit it out - rinsing the mouth with water and sampling the next.

"Spit ... it... out." [[Shudder]] never thought I'd ever keyboard THAT comment.

Muskrat Portage

"Spit it out" sorta sends a chill down the spine!

[LagaDrinker]

From your earlier post though did you mean you nose from the spoon or use it as a measure?

[LagaDrinker]

I did too

[laddie teun]

I'll be doing a A'bunadh tatsing during the speyside festival
all batches (including the Sterling Silver)
will take place at the Aberlour distillery
thursday may 7th
details will follow soon
to end this discussion once and for all

[LagaDrinker]

Excellent I'll be looking out for this one.

[Muskrat Portage]

2 sleeps for me!

Musky

[xcaper]

I've only had the A'bunadh 18 and 17 so far. I think I prefer the 18.
From the list above, I've only tried the 18, so I haven't voted.

I did happen to buy two Batch 23's last weekend and am looking forward to Muskrat Portage's comments.