Best Abunad´h Batch

[scotchdrinker]

We are so far behind out west. The newest batch I've seen is Batch 23...and it has been on the shelf for 6 months.

The last batch I saw and purchased was 21 and that is still what I am finding on the shelf. And it has been 6 months since my purchase of 21.

[Holysinner]

Batch 27 is on the shelf in Spec's in Austin, in other stores I've seen 21, 23, and 25. I've never seen 22, 24, or 26...is it only the odd numbered batches that make it to Texas?

[Sherried Malt]

We are so far behind out west. The newest batch I've seen is Batch 23...and it has been on the shelf for 6 months.

Same here in NY. Nothing newer yet...

[Wave]

We finally got the batch 26 here after many months of batch 21. I've got a batch 26 though I'm still working on a wonderful batch 8 atm.


Cheers!

[lohssanami]

Hey Ganga...Batch 26 up here at Beltramo's. Do you need one?

[Rob B]

Just tried my first ever A'bunadh - a batch 25. I got christmas cake and marmite from the nose and the taste was sweet and full for quite a while until the spirit started to become hot. The finish was long, with the heat receding leaving lovely sweet notes and hint of oranges. A glencairn filled to a depth of about 3/4 of an inch has lasted me most of the afternoon and it has been time well spent.

I can see why so many like this whisky and I think we are going to become good friends.

Rob

[Drammed]

While I have nothing to compate it too yet, I am really enjoying my batch 23

[Rui_dram]

A couple of weeks ago I bought a bottle of batch 25 having never tried this scotch before.

So yummie that I bought another bottle a week later for my collection.

I am hooked.

[slojo]

Just found a batch 15 on the shelf

Can't say whether or not it's "the best", but I really enjoyed Batch 15

[borgom]

Yep I loved batch 15 too.

[artmanjohn]

Batch # 18, Hands down. Tasted 14,18, 21, and 23. Hot, love the heat and the lingering sherry aftertaste, just gets better.

[ama]

Any comments on newer batches?

[Jarppa]

I have batch 22 in my cabinet.This one is hugely flavored hot and creamy sherry monster. I haven´t tried other/newer batches yet though. I bought this bottle from the finnish off licence chain Alko at whopping 70 €
I always add splash of water to this whisky, so it will prevent the strength of the whisky numbing my senses and reducing my enjoyment of this fantastic dram.

[ama]

What about 26, 27, etc.

[AnnieB]

I believe #23 is the latest release..outstanding!

[jmrl]

We tried 26 (60.6%) from Waitrose christmas give away. The 3 of us thought it was absolutely fine whereas Mr J. Murray thought it was 95 out of 100. Anybody else tried it?

[AnnieB]

I think #23 was the latest in BC, we are always behind..thanks for the tip on 26. Should have read the Bible!

[mikeymad]

Out of the recent releases that I have tried, I really liked the 26.... If I didn't have 5 bottles of other batchs still sealed, this would be the current one that I would buy.

Cheers,

[Reggaeblues]

Anyone tried 25?? Keep coming across it, but can't find no notes nowhere!

Please advise...

[clicker7]

Batch #26. I opened a new bottle a little while ago, and just finished my second, no make that third dram.

I am pouring 1oz. drams, and adding approx. 1/2 teaspoon of water.

The nose opened up quite a bit with the addition of water:

Nose: Honey, sweet berries and cherries, sherry, toffee, fresh air/grass, orange marmalade, tiny bit of oak.

Palate: Honey, berry sweet, mouth watering, creamy brown sugar, juicy, fruity, cherries, syrupy sweetness, plenty of heat, sherry, cherries, just a little drying, then juicy again....Luscious!

Finish: Long, sweet, pepper, little drying, heat, sweet again...

Beautiful, opulent, a good batch! I could drink this all night (and day!).

I hope #27 is good also... if anyone has any notes to #27 please post.


Joseph

[artmanjohn]

Well, here it is almost Thanksgiving 2009. I think I've given up on trying to find a bottle of batch #18. In my search there seems to be an abundance of new batches on the shelves. I live in Fort Worth, Texas. What I've found in the last couple of weeks are batches #21, #23, #25, #26, and just today Batch #27. So much to choose from. My experience has been, I love Batch #18. Very close to #14, but it's hotter, I loved it-my favorite singlemalt. Best lingering after taste of Sherry I've ever experienced. I'd love to buy one of the new one's on the shelves, but let me tell ya, it's a gamble because I bought #21 in the past and didn't like it at all. The after taste was like licking an ashtray. Batch # 23 was OK, but not close to #14 or #18. Not worth the money to me. Question: Has anyone tried any of the new batches I mentioned above? Specifically: #25, #26 and #27? Love some input because I'm really in an A'dunad'h mood!!

[jmrl]

28 much more to my pleasure than 26

[Holysinner]

Well, here it is almost Thanksgiving 2009. I think I've given up on trying to find a bottle of batch #18. In my search there seems to be an abundance of new batches on the shelves. I live in Fort Worth, Texas.

I've sent you a PM about where to find a bottle of batch 18 in Texas, they ship in-state.

[artmanjohn]

28 much more to my pleasure than 26

Don't you just love it?

[Islaylee79]

Opened Batch 26 and Batch 28 over the weekend to compare them side-by-side. Must say that me and a few guys in the whisky club were disappointed with Batch 28. The nose was what you'd expect (sherry; spice and christmas cake) but the palate was tainted..promising at first with some hints of dark rum/demerara sugar/almonds.....but the finish ends quicker then you'd imagine.....some sulphur as well which lets it down.........its a shame that there is so much variation between the casks as Batch 26 was amazing and one of my favorite.....anyone else have a similiar experience??

[clicker7]

Opened Batch 26 and Batch 28 over the weekend to compare them side-by-side. Must say that me and a few guys in the whisky club were disappointed with Batch 28. The nose was what you'd expect (sherry; spice and christmas cake) but the palate was tainted..promising at first with some hints of dark rum/demerara sugar/almonds.....but the finish ends quicker then you'd imagine.....some sulphur as well which lets it down.........its a shame that there is so much variation between the casks as Batch 26 was amazing and one of my favorite.....anyone else have a similiar experience??

I agree. I thought Batch #26 was delicious (my notes on #26 are up a few posts). I thought the finish was exceptionally long. I liked it enough to pick up two more bottles for the cupboard.

I am interested to see a review on Batch #27, as my local shops are shelving that now.

Joseph

[1Malt]

I may be a malt newb, but I bought a bottle of #27 for Christmas based on all the glowing reviews for the earlier batches but I am disappointed with a sulphur / burned-rubbery aftertaste that's unpleasantly bitter.

I've got about half the bottle left, so maybe letting it sit for a while with some air trapped above it in the bottle might help it out? I'm almost ashamed to say I've been adding a splash of Laphroig 10 to each dram, along with some water and/or an ice cube to drink it.


It's nothing like the bottle of Aberlour 16 y/o I've almost finished, which is extraordinarily pleasing to sip neat.

I'm sure I'll probably try the A'bunadh again some day, but I'll wait for some reviews on the particular batch number before I buy one.

[Megawatt]

I compared 23 to 28 the other night. Very similar, unsurprisingly, but I would give the edge to 28. I didn't take notes but 28 seemed more pleasant and less oily than 23.

[Megawatt]

I may be a malt newb, but I bought a bottle of #27 for Christmas based on all the glowing reviews for the earlier batches but I am disappointed with a sulphur / burned-rubbery aftertaste that's unpleasantly bitter.

I've got about half the bottle left, so maybe letting it sit for a while with some air trapped above it in the bottle might help it out? I'm almost ashamed to say I've been adding a splash of Laphroig 10 to each dram, along with some water and/or an ice cube to drink it.


It's nothing like the bottle of Aberlour 16 y/o I've almost finished, which is extraordinarily pleasing to sip neat.

I'm sure I'll probably try the A'bunadh again some day, but I'll wait for some reviews on the particular batch number before I buy one.

Interesting you say that, because I kind of thought the same thing at first about batch 23. Have you tried much sherry? I suspect that the rubbery aftertaste is simply the taste of sherry. I'm not surprised to hear that the double-matured 16 year old is a more pleasant dram.

[SoMK]

That's a funny review indeed ! I didn't pick up any trace of rubber in this batch 27 and was quite impressed that the over the top sherry disappeared as well. I remember a batch 21 that was really HIGH on orange/sherry but got better after a while though..

Ain't A'bunadh fabulous ? We all see something different !

*now, if your 27 rest alone on your shelf, just send it here, we'll take care of him ...*

[Megawatt]

I've noticed a "rubber" finish in several sherry-heavy malts: a'bunadh, The Macallan Cask Strength, and Highland Park 15 come to mind. But when I take a sip of sherry, I get the same sort of flavour in the finish so it makes sense.

[1Malt]

My bottle of #27 has now been sitting for about a full week about 50% full with air above the scotch in the bottle. It's either starting to lose the rubber-sulphur flavor or I'm becoming accustomed to the taste, but I just had another dram tonight and it's getting better. I also had about 2 oz of #27 with 0.5 oz Lagavulin 16 and 0.5 oz Talisker 10 yr added to my glass, all with no water or ice, and this blend is delicious. The sherry and the smoke of this blend are coming together very good, I can only taste a slight twinge of rubber in the mix and the bitterness goes away very quickly. It's quite pleasing now. I think I've stumbled onto a very happy blend!

[nxthree]

I haven't seen anything in this thread about batch 11? Anyone tried it? I'm hoping to get a bottle of Abunad'h soon, and batch 11 seems to be the only one available locally (and at quite a premium, to boot).

Brian

[MARS]

I tasted the batch 11 last november with 10 other people and we can not said it was bad but it wasn't really good either. Verry little complexity.
I don't know how the whisky evolve with some breething as the bottle was just open. Maybe he need some time to open as the whisky was in the bottle for some years.

Not worth paying a premium at least.

MARS

[Ganga]

Over in the Live Tastings Subforum is a whole thread on Aberlour. In there I posted notes on Batches 6 through 18, 20-21, and 23.