Aberlour Casg Annamh (Batch 3)

Nose: candied orange, cherries, touch of cinnamon Taste: more candied fruits with added spices such as clove, maybe a hint of ginger Finish: dried fruit, sweetened bread? Overall, really delicious if you like a full, fruity Scotch. Definitely one I'll remember.

A slightly darker, not quite as smooth as the A'Bunadh Alba, the Casg Annamh is still in the 'sherry-bomb' class but doesn't have quite as much kick as the Alba.

Impressions @ 1/3 bottle: Like other young sherried whiskies, the nose is cloyingly sweet. Aromas of golden raisins and dates dominate, but a nice wood spice emerges with time. The palate generally remains balanced as the initial burst of dried fruit is followed with the bitterness of black tea, the woodiness of cinnamon bark, and a very slight earthiness, similar to damp compost. The mouthfeel is on the lighter side and the finish is medium-long. If memory serves me, this improved substantially over the 8-9 months that this was open. I enjoyed this, but Glendronach 12 is similar but better, and also better value, in my opinion.

Cherry. Better with water