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From: ralfystuff
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  • got a wee dram of the batch 35 in my hand...first sip neat was like a sledge hammer to my tongue...I have no comparison to other batches so am interested to see if anyone else has a bottle from batch 35?

  • This review is so easy to watch and informative. Ralfy you really did find your other calling as a Vlog whisky reviewer.

    I just watched a review from the whisky bitch (USA) and find her loud squawky and quite annoying.. with a lot of blah blah blahing, and she begs for money at the end of her reviews

    keep up the good work Ralfy

  • Ralfy can you please buy a new bottle of Aberlour A'bunadh. I taste one batch # 37 and it was disappointing for me. I think they have not maintained the quality. But your expert opinion will be the last word. Thanks !

  • Ralfy, what is your view on the Aber 10 y/o please? I have read your review but would love a more detailed response! best wishes.

  • @fuseh

    it is competent, but not brilliant !

  • Hey Raffly, Enjoy you videos. Just tried Adunadh Batch 37 and loved it! A new favorite for me. Do you know if Aberlour adds die to their whisky's? Also, whats else might you recommend for one who likes this style?

  • @TheWhocares1981

    Glenfarclas 105

  • @TheWhocares1981 They don't add die to the a'bunadh, that's for sure. It's straight from the cask. Gave my dad a batch 35 for his birthday today. Haven't tried it yet though but it seems promising :)

  • I have tried the Aberlour 10 . Its a darn good whisky .

    I recommend it .

    I am yet to try the A'bunadh .

  • It would be interesting to see you review some of the supermarket labels. Tesco and Sainsbury's own brands for example. I've never bought them myself, for obvious reasons, but one might surprise you. If not (and much more likely) it will be funny!

  • LoL ... this Whisky review is way too short :)

  • Ralfy have you tasted the last batch 37?Is it as good as the one you are reviewing in this video?

  • @christos990

    no idea ! ... not tasted it yet !

  • Ralfy, would you say that this particular whisky is worth $100 a bottle? That, unfortunately, is what it costs where I live...

  • @slappedbyabonzo

    thats expensive !

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  • Very nice, thanks for reviewing this!

  • cracked open a bottle of batch #34 last night... wow! it's amazing stuff... i'm liking it much more than my glenfiddich 15... at 59.5% ABV, it seems to be reasonable to add 1 part water to 2 parts whisky, although i prefer less water

  • Getting a bottle of this for Christmas... quite looking forward to it.

  • Hi Ralfy, have you tried the Aberlour 12yo non-chill-filtered edition with 48%?

    At the moment i can't decide between this and the Glenf. 105! I'm looking for a complex, sherry influenced Whisky!

    Do you have any Recommendations?

    Greetings from Germany,

    Marcel

  • @dvdreviewer87

    I reckon either one will be fine, although I have not tasted this Aberlour yet . . . should be decent. good luck Marcel.

  • breathing outwards I got a small and quickly fading aftertaste of Raisinets

  • ABSOLUTELY BBBUUURRRIIFUULL

  • Ralfy, I've been watching your video reviews for a while now but came back to this one after purchasing a bottle of Aberlour 18 recently. Any plans to review other expressions in the Aberlour range?

  • @mrqwertyui

    yes, next year.

  • Ralfy, I really liked the Glenmorangie Quinta Rubana. Can you recommend any other single malts matured in port pipes?

  • @jacobreinvented

    Springbank and older Balvenie's.

  • @ralfystuff Thanks Ralfy, your the best.

  • @ralfystuff, just had a dram of this delicious whisky. It was fantastic with toffee and sherry overtones with a quite a fruity palate... Bottom line is that I enjoyed it very much. I also tried a Macallan cask strength, but imo it does not hold a candle to the A'bunadh. I would be very interested to hear your thoughts on the Macallan cask strength. Are you planning on reviewing that any time soon?

  • @Bltz1075

    no Macallan reviews ! .... I don't buy it now (and you know why !)

  • @Bltz1075

    no Macallan reviews !  .... I don't buy it now (and you know why !)

  • @Bltz1075

    no Macallan reviews ! .... I don't buy it now (and you know why !

  • Ralfy, what do you do when you pop the top off a bottle of fine single malt and the f**cking cork disintegrates into the bottle?... I proceeded to take a pocket knife out, ream the rest of the cork out, and replace it with a fresh cork off another bottle. First dram had cork particles, but in all honesty... what the hell? For the price, I would think this shouldn't occur. Let me know your thoughts. Sláinte.

  • @IrishRyan1

    when a cork disintegrates, ... curse loudly, pick ot whats left of cork, smell and taste Whisky to check for 'spoilage' (contamination by infected cork) If OK, strain entire bottle into jug and ensure all cork removed prior to re-bottling Whisky..... good luck !

  • @ralfystuff

    If the Whisky is so damn good, the cork was so damn bad, and the weather in Louisiana so grand...well, I don't really need you for this one Ralfy! GEAUX TIGERS!

  • I bought this after seeing your ratings for Laproaig 10, Laproaig 1/4, Ardbeg 10 and Lagavulin 16. Thinking if you liked them, as do I, then A'bunadh would be on the money (mine). Well, may I say I was blown away. Such a difference to Islay style but fantastic in its balance - either neat or a few eyedrops of water. Anyone who thinks JW Blue is a good drop should try this. I love your work Ralfy.

  • I just bought a 12 yr aberlour....I have to say it was one of the best I've tasted. I'm slowly moving away from blended scotch as finances allow.

  • Hey Ralfy,

    once again, a question.

    What would you prefer, the A Bunadh or the Aberlour 18 y.o. ?

    I already had the Aberlour 15 y.o. and I really enjoyed it.

    Thanks all the great reviews.

  • @CowboyFromFarbeyond

    my choice would be to continue to have the options ! 10, 12, a'bunadh, 15, 18 e.t.c. ... as they say variety is the spice.

  • Batch 33, 60.9% alc./vol. Lovely stuff. Took some of your advice and for second tastings tried it in a pint glass with generous filtered water. It really opened up the aromas and eased up to allow far more flavours.

    Thank you for making these videos and helping to improve out knowledge and appreciation of whisk(e)y.

  • one of the absolute best sherry whiskys out there ! i love it so much

  • Picked up a Batch 29 today, curious to see what it's like once my poor stomach settles down

  • Just want to mention that Aberlour A'bunadh got new packaging around Batch 33 (I got a bottle of 34 so I'm not sure if it's 33). I'm also bringing this up because the new packaging is a bit more difficult to open now that the neck of the bottle is dipped in wax.

  • Keep the rubber on the road!! Thanks.

  • By "Spring !" do you prefer the Springbank, or just happy it's spring and motorcycle season??

  • @ridercanada1

    Spring ... bank !

  • Hi Ralfy, Aberlour A'bunadh or Springbank 12 claret wood ??

  • @ridercanada1

    Spring !

  • @ridercanada1

    actually, both are very good !

  • ralfy -

    I got a bottle of this a few weeks ago (batch 32, I think) and it's an utter revelation. The quality of this whisky is so high that I almost hate watering it - it's like swallowing delicious, hot little embers. I tend to see myself as a peat and smoke guy, but this whisky definitely has challenged that perception. Are there any similar malts (sherry bombs, I guess) you'd recommend in the same vein?

  • @JoeDawg15

    try Glendronach 15yo 'revival'

  • @JoeDawg15 I feel the same, it's on another level.

  • its funny this was recorded in 2009 now 2011 and the only bottle i could find was batch 21 so i bought one...

  • Watching this is like going back in time :P

  • Enjoying a bottle of Aberlour 16 year presently...very delicious. My bottle of Abunadh should be here next week.

  • Ralfy, I'm a beginner to scotch, I've been watching your reviews and I recently picked up this Aberlour A'bunadh and I really enjoy it. I also picked up the Ardbeg 10 year old and liked that as well. They are so different in smell and taste that it's hard to believe they are both in the same family of spirits. Could you recommend some other entry level scotches that will offer such a contrast in flavor? I'm living in Canada, so they may have to be commonly found. On to the next review!

  • @shaneflight

    three for complete variety ...

    Caol Ila 12yo

    Ben Nevis 10yo

    Auchentoshen 12yo

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  • @shaneflight many good options here, my three would be Old Pulteney 12, Oban 14 ND , Benromach Trad.

    ... but you might go to lochfynewhiskiescouk and 'search' ACE, All results are good guidance.

  • @ralfystuff Cheers Ralfy, thanks for the advice, keep up the good work, these reviews are priceless for folks wanting to learn about scotch

  • Thanks Ralfy - the color is very nice but I would be happier with natural colors. By the way, I wanted to tell you that we have a pretty good selection of Scotch and American whyskys here in Upstate South Carolina, USA - many of the brands that you review are in the stores here.

  • I have this A'bunadh in batch 32 - I am a beginner but I love this whisky. Can you tell us if it has E150?

  • @cattnipp

    unless it states clearly on the label, no E150a, ... we have to assume it has.

  • @ralfystuff I was just wondering the same, I have batch 33, its absolutely outstanding.. but the color is so dark that it does suggest coloring added. but none the less.. non-chill, 60.9%, the thickness and sherry with many layers I cannot yet differentiate, really happy with this one. thanks Ralfy! its a small adventure every sip.

  • Ralfy : I had a 10 year old yesterday, and even though I do not know a lot about scotch, I wasn't impressed. I'm sure this one is good, but the 10 year old just seemed poor quality to me. Do you have thought on the 10 y.o.?

  • @bonheurbrun

    The 10yo is the basic Single Malt & cheapest of the range. For people trying Malts for the first time it is affordable, but more experienced maltsters will go for the 16yo, single cask versions and a'bunadh.

  • Simply an amazing whisky this! Got my bottle, which I decided to buy based on this here review of yours. Can't say that I'll ever regret getting acquainted with A'bunadh! Normally I go for more smoky and peaty stuff, like Laphroaig 10y.o / QC, Caol Ila or Ardbeg. This the first really strongly fruity whisky for which I've fell head on. Thanks Ralfy!

  • Ralfy I wondered if you have current plans to review the Aberlour 16 year old? - at around £30 it strikes me as a healthy alternative to, eg the Glenfiddich range, with more complexity depth and quality - also bottled at 43%. It may make a more mellow and subtle alternative to those who find the A'bunadh a bit overwhelming.

  • @chrish12345

    ... no plans to buy& review this one as I was not really impressed at a recent Whisky Festival tasting !

  • Bought some Aberlor 12 yr. a month and some ago and say a big thanks for this review. I've found myself drawn to this bottle every time I pour these days - it's so darned rich, with a very sweet and toffeed flavour floating on a nice complexity!

    The expression you review here is sitting on the shelf down the street from me, and will be moving here soon.

  • @schmazly2

    All batches of a'bunadh are good except No: 30 (give it a miss)

  • @ralfystuff Why is that...other reviewers seem to like it just fine? Care to be more specific? Thanks.

  • @applevalleyjoe

    many other reviewers get free samples of best-version whiskies to review, ... which encourages good reviews otherwise the samples stop.

    My reviews generally come from bottles bought by myself or friends.

    My friends A'bunadh 30 was young and unsettled ! ... and I therefore decided not to review it as I would not buy a bottle of this Batch.

  • @schmazly2

    Just picked up a bottle and was blown away on the flavours for such an affordable 12 year old malt.

    Simply the best one I enjoy in this price range.

  • Hi ralfy,

    can you recommend a aberlour cuvee Marie d Ecosse?

    I am new in the "Whisky World" and didn't drunk much, yet.

    How would you rate it? (just like you did it here in this review)

  • @CowboyFromFarbeyond

    ... recommended, .... worth the effort ! good luck. 89/100

  • Ralfy 2 questions: Do you intend to review Glendronach 15 Revival at some point and 2) If you've tasted it, do you agree with Serge's rating of 92/100 for it? Thanks! :-)

  • hey ralfy...

    can you recommend Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition?

    thank you!

  • hey ralfy...

    can you recommend Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition?

    thank you!

  • @socius8

    ... standard 15yo Dalwhinnie, yes 89/100, Distillers Edition, .... not just as good, so no, I don't recommend it as much.

  • Hey Ralfy, which would you recommend: Aberlour A'Bunadh, Glenfarclas 105, or Macallan Cask Strength?

    thanks!

  • @BlackbeardArghh

    ... all three actually, ... all are good in their own way.

  • @BlackbeardArghh

    Macallan Cask kicks the shit out of the other two, imo.

  • shuboy05

    Comment on your video: whisky review 3 - Aberlour A'bunadh

    @ralfystuff However as a cask strength whiskey, it's not chill-filtered correct?

  • @ralfystuff

    .... quite possibly, ... if it doesn't state it is on the bottle, ... assume it is not !!!

  • @ralfystuff Ralfy, I've also noticed whiskeys labeled as single barrel. For all intents and purposes is this the same as saying cask strength?

  • @shuboy05

    ... No ! a single barrel whisky is one either matured in a single cask or exclusively from one single cask and can be at any strength above 40% vol:

    Cask strength only means that the alcohol volume has remained undiluted after removal from the cask. (or near enough ! )

    As you can see, the Whisky Industry has a good margin for 'interpretation' of our presumed values.

  • @ralfystuff So a cask strength whiskey will still be composed from multiple barrels but single barrel means, well, from a single barrel.

    I guess this explains why I don't see single barrel whiskeys in the store too often (I mostly see this term on rums actually). I would imagine those are more exclusive (and more expensive) than cask strength whiskey.

  • hi ralfy, i bought this one the other day (same time as laproaig quarter cask). i really like it.... do you know how old it is? it annoys me that they sometimes don't say the age.

  • @BozoTheBear

    ... 8 - 11 years old as far as I'm aware. There may be a few casks of older Malt to round it off, perhaps 14 - 19 yo's.

  • i do think this is a stunning malt, but i have had one batch which was a little dissapointing. i think it was batch #14. i thought the whisky was ever so slightly sulphorous, and i did confuse. i recently got batch #26 and it was utterly brilliant. recently got me an 18 year old aberlour and its quickly becoming one of my favourites.

  • @mightyquaid1979 ... well spotted, Batch 14 has a sulphur hint which is common in Sherry casks as sulphur bombs are used to sterilise prior to transporting the casks to Scotland.

    But this is a small blemish in an amazing run of Aberlours.

    ... I hope they can keep it up !!!

  • Excellent review!

    I have Batch #15 and I believe it's one of the finest liquids I've ever tasted.

    Any recommendations on what a guy like me would love?

  • Ralphi, you never talk about cost, but at over $90 where I live a could get JW Gold, Lagavulin 12, Caol Ila Distillers Ed. for just a few more dollars. There's no rhum, toffee, honey and caramel in those, these can be bought much cheaper, I'm not sure they belong in a $90 whisky. So I understand you guys liike it, but maybe it's much cheaper where you live and that plays a role?

  • In Scotland it's £30 ($50 to you !) and you pay $90 'cos your Government taxes you crazy !!! ... and you have our unreserved sympathies at your predicament

  • yea cost is crazy on some suff i mean just to buy a ardbeg its $65

  • Ralfy I love this stuff. I got batch 28. I can't take my nose out of the glass. The instant I first smelled it I thought toffee, buttery, honey.

  • A'bunadh is like sucking honey from a bee's bum

  • Hey Ralfy, I really enjoyed this one (batch #27). After 30 minuets of finishing a dram, I noticed an oily buildup on to bottom of the glass and it smelt sour! What exactly am I smelling?! Do you get the same smell?

  • .... I can only guess, as I have never experienced this happening, .... was the glass free of detergent deposits ?

  • I would like for you to revisit this in the future as it was one of your early reviews you did not go into very much detail and also the whiskey changes slightly from batch to batch it also would be greatly interesting to do a vertical tasting of this and see if you can detect any changes thanks ralfy! Happy New Year to you. you are at almost 100 reviews and almost 100 subscribers great work indeed!

  • What do you think of the Aberlour 12 y.o.? I just bought it, havent tried it yet. I was looking for the A'bunadh but they didn't have it where I live.

  • .... the 12 yo is sound Eric and will not disappoint !!

  • Thank you very much and merry christmas!

  • Definitely gonna try this one.

  • no caramel in this Aberlour A'bunadh??

  • ... If it says 'NO CARAMEL' on the label,

    then I will believe it's true.

    If not, ... then either there is ! or they're keeping options open !

  • i see ok thanks

    ps. do you know the age of this wonderful Whisky?

  • .... Aberlour don't say,

    but I reckon 9 -14 yo's

  • wow that is great

    ps. Bushmills 16 can be a good review

    any way thanks and i see forth the day you find a 95 or more point bottle that you can review

  • Ralfy if i remember right you had give 95 points to this aberlour in other review, maybe a different bach?

  • Im still new at Scotches , i tried this cause i notice you talked about it on a couple other videos as well ... and this is one of my favorites now ... thank you for the videos they help ...

  • @ralfystuff However as a cask strength whiskey, it's not chill-filtered correct?

  • i think zacapa is a guatemalan? well 91 point that is good

  • A gem indeed. Just picked up a bottle of Batch #23 here in Los Angeles, per your recommendation. Also got myself the Ardbeg 10, to save for Autumn. Thank you for your insight, Sir.

  • Batch 23 had get 96 points in whisky bible 2010 by Jim Murray

  • did you like more Abelour than ardbeg?

  • Lovely review. That's one whisky that I seem to keep missing out on for others. That's going to have to change.

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