Express Cask Strength Viewing - link & chapters added 0:00 - Opening 3:20 - Almost recovered from GWF 5:30 - Welcoming in the lounge 17:08 - Coming next year? 18:26 - A Thank you to the GWF team 20:04 - Bunnahabhain CS 2022/2023 29:55 - A run through of tonight's whiskies 32:48 - Benromach Cask Strength 43:38 - The growth of Cask Strength 53:02 - Kilkerran CS 2023 Bourbon 1:02:19 - Clydeside - saved for another day 1:02:56 - Indri Drú Cask Strength 1:23:21 - Ardnamurchan CS 2023 1:34:34 - Torabhaig Allt Gleann CS 1:45:20 - Arran's Quarter Cask 1:53:25 - Summarising 1:57:17 - My Wish List for CS Releases 2:08:12 - Quiz at the End Dramface GWF article: www.dramface.com/features/2023/glasgow-whisky-festival-2023
I'll recommend that You buy a Canon R-type camera for Your streaming (etc), both the sensor and the glass is far, far larger than the phone camera's, so the quality will be far better, the thing is that these new cameras has a very well functioning eye detection autofocus, FAR better than what the DSLR's had, so finally it is possible to get DSLR quality video with a properly functioning autofocus (and they WILL still focus on a bottle with no eyes....;- ) -However, the reason that I recommend Canons R type cameras over for instance Nikon Z or Sony A type, is that the autofocus (as pr 2023) is just a tad more stable than these, however if You buy new camera some time out in the future, these will probably have caught up.... If You are up to it, I'll recommend spending the money and buy a full frame camera like the Canon R6 mk2 or R8 (< larger sensor than the cheaper options, and far more interesting optical solutions, low depth of field for instance, also called bokeh), however an R10 will serve You fine as well.... -With the R7 or R10 or whatever the cheaper ones are called (< these have a so-called cropsensor), You'll need something like the RF-S 10-18mm (which has just been announced, so it has not arrived on the market yet), but I'll guarantee that You will not regret buying a R8 or R6 mk2 fullframe camera, with either a 35 mm f/2 (< cheap) or a 35 mm f/1.4 (< far more expensive, but, You WILL love it, I promise that You will not be able to take a bad image with it, not on f/1.4 anyway...). Now that I am at it, one thing that RUclipsrs often get wrong is that they have far too hard light, it is not bad with You, but I'll put it anyway; the smaller a light source and the closer placed a lightsource, the harder the light will be.... -Btw, if You haven't got it, You'll properly want a quality external microphone as well (< OMG the sound was awful in thát pre OSWA thing You and Ralfy did....;- )
8/10 for the quiz that got me. Anything from Tobermory CS is abcolutely amazing. The 9 year Bordeaux cask matured Ledaig and a 17 and a 15 year old PX matured Tobermory I had this year was just delicious.
Really do enjoy cask strength whisky, great flavour, but don’t have the new cask strength bottles you opened this evening, thank you for the vPub, enjoyed it!
Loved this session Aqvavitae. Over the years, mostly due to a shift of focus to indy bottles, much of my bar is now stocked with cask strength releases. Tomatin Cask Strength didn’t get a mention this year but is really great as well. Cheers
A huge thanks to Julie, Mark, Thomas, Roddy and all the other organisers and helpers who forgo their own GWF experience to allow others to enjoy it and have many wonderful memories to last a lifetime.
Hi @Aqvavitae Barflies nad Roy. This time I pass 8/10 hard quiz . I'm just buy Arran Quarter Cask The Bothy 56,2%abv . I can't wait for it. Slanth math or Na zdrowie from Poland.
These cask strengths are almost water when compared to Ralfy's 16yo Glenlivet at 65.7%! I tried it at the Good Spirits Co and was very impressed so purchased a bottle.
Well done Roy, you managed to avoid slurring the quiz. You mentioned Ledaig cask strength which reminds me that I recently bought a Rattray Ledaig 9 year at 59.5% for £51.49p. It’s not yet open but Christmas is coming. An informative v pub. Thank you.
Hi Roy, the Arran QC is such an excellent CS malt and especially for the price. Being a bit of a Benromach fan boy I love their vintage CS offerings, and last week picked up the Torabhaig. Awesome vPub Roy, of course as ever picked up the replay Friday. Slàinte 🥃
This year the best cask strength whiskies for me have been Ballechin 15, Tobermory 11 and Smögen PX cask 8.The first two I tasted at the Bon Accord in July.The Tobermory and Ledaig were special releases and I agree with you Roy, a cask strength core range version would be lovely! Thanks for an interesting Vpub Roy! 🥃
Huge thanks for this cask strength vPub. Very informative and excellent bottlings mentioned throughout 👏 my favorites are Ardnamurchan Rum Cask, Kilkerran Heavily Peated and LAGG Corriecravie 🎉
Love that 2022 Bunna CS, it only arrived here mid-year and disappeared just as quickly but its magic and maybe my WOTY. Also agree that Arran Qtr Cask is the high tide mark for value based cask strength drams. In fact, whilst not "Cask Strength" their Amarone, Sauternes, Port and Sherry expressions offer a rainbow of engaging experience for a very, very fair price.
Awesome vPub Roy once again. My Indri Cask strength was delayed and should arrive today from TWE, but cracked open the 46% last night instead. Glen Moray do have a cask strength range, the Warehouse 1... They put out some great bottles this year, including a fully matured oloroso. The Manzanilla is still my favourite though.
Agree with Roy that the Arran Quarter Cask (the Bothy) is an exceptional value cask strength, I’ve only had one batch, but it was bursting with flavour. Also agree with Jimmy Leg that the Sherry Cask (the Bodega) was a disappointment. Cheers from 🇨🇦
Finally catching up with this. Saw you exiting the Glasgow Festival as my brother and I were session 2. I remember as an 18 year old being introduced to Glenfarclas 105 and thinking it was rocket fuel. Fast forward to more recent years and I do like a cask strength these days. Tried the Idri Dru at the London Whisky Show as it was a recommendation from Julie Hamilton. Loved it and managed to get hold of a bottle. There weren't many places in the UK selling it. Worth noting that it appears to be solely ex-bourbon and that it is significantly cheaper in Germany in the mid 60s Euros online, but unfortunately they won't ship to UK.
I enjoy cask strength bottles. However, I don't like the fact that pretty much all the distilleries think it's ok to do a NAS bottle. 12-15 year age statements would be my preference. Glen Moray CS is a great idea, but a 15-year old one. Another for me would be Glenmorangie 10 CS ncf nc. They have done CS 10 special releases in the 80's and 90's. Cheers Roy
I'm also curious to hear Roy's opinion on Mossburn's Caesteal Chamius Blended Malt. I can buy the NAS version in Ukraine for around 20 pounds (an incredible price for heavily peated 46% naturally presented whisky, it is often cheaper then Monkey Shoulder) and it's very interesting and rich. It seems there's a high amount of Torabhaig in the blend. The 12-year-old version is also interesting and remarkably affordable (around 29 pounds), but the NAS seemed much more deep and powerful to me) Also both releases have a very nice bottle and label designs)
I've got unopened bottles of that 53.8% The Bothy and Arran 12 year old CS (52.4%). Really looking forward to both. Has anybody tried the new Powers John's Lane CS? That could be fantastic but I feel it's a bit pricey to buy untested.
My favourites Arrans have given me this cantucci/biscotti, malty biscuit, orange oil and macadamia nuts... I'll happily buy any Arran that can give me that again
Aberlour Abunadh batch 46(?) from 2013/2014 was my first cask strength… it was a revelation in terms of strength and flavour. The original Sherry bomb?
Superb vPub as usual, Roy! Totally agree with you naming the Arran Quarter Cask best value cask strength whisky. I love it! In Bulgaria I can have a bottle of it for the equivalent of 36-37 pounds. Haven't had the Sherry Cask yet but for me Arran malt shines the brightest in ex-bourbon wood. Apparently the distillate itself is quite superb and there is simply no need to be bulldozed by heavy cask influences. Tomatin CS is also very solid dram and great value, or at least was so before the recent price hike. Still a bottle of it from 2019 has very special place in my hearth. Next time you have Scott Adamson behind the bar I may ask him in the chat if he remembers anything special about that release. I have also tasted a bottle from 2021, very competent malt, but the 2019 one was just on another level. Cheers!
Picked up the Indri Dru recently, $139 NZD which is approx. £65-70. I'm really enjoying it. I find on adding water I get rich chocolate notes on the finish. By comparison Arran Quarter Cask is around $100 NZD.
I just bought the Arran Quarter Cask so I had my fingers crossed for the reveal at the end. It was my last pour for the evening. Not sure how old it is but I don’t care. It’s a good one.
Express Cask Strength Viewing - link & chapters added
0:00 - Opening
3:20 - Almost recovered from GWF
5:30 - Welcoming in the lounge
17:08 - Coming next year?
18:26 - A Thank you to the GWF team
20:04 - Bunnahabhain CS 2022/2023
29:55 - A run through of tonight's whiskies
32:48 - Benromach Cask Strength
43:38 - The growth of Cask Strength
53:02 - Kilkerran CS 2023 Bourbon
1:02:19 - Clydeside - saved for another day
1:02:56 - Indri Drú Cask Strength
1:23:21 - Ardnamurchan CS 2023
1:34:34 - Torabhaig Allt Gleann CS
1:45:20 - Arran's Quarter Cask
1:53:25 - Summarising
1:57:17 - My Wish List for CS Releases
2:08:12 - Quiz at the End
Dramface GWF article: www.dramface.com/features/2023/glasgow-whisky-festival-2023
Thanks Roy
I'll recommend that You buy a Canon R-type camera for Your streaming (etc), both the sensor and the glass is far, far larger than the phone camera's, so the quality will be far better, the thing is that these new cameras has a very well functioning eye detection autofocus, FAR better than what the DSLR's had, so finally it is possible to get DSLR quality video with a properly functioning autofocus (and they WILL still focus on a bottle with no eyes....;- )
-However, the reason that I recommend Canons R type cameras over for instance Nikon Z or Sony A type, is that the autofocus (as pr 2023) is just a tad more stable than these, however if You buy new camera some time out in the future, these will probably have caught up....
If You are up to it, I'll recommend spending the money and buy a full frame camera like the Canon R6 mk2 or R8 (< larger sensor than the cheaper options, and far more interesting optical solutions, low depth of field for instance, also called bokeh), however an R10 will serve You fine as well....
-With the R7 or R10 or whatever the cheaper ones are called (< these have a so-called cropsensor), You'll need something like the RF-S 10-18mm (which has just been announced, so it has not arrived on the market yet), but I'll guarantee that You will not regret buying a R8 or R6 mk2 fullframe camera, with either a 35 mm f/2 (< cheap) or a 35 mm f/1.4 (< far more expensive, but, You WILL love it, I promise that You will not be able to take a bad image with it, not on f/1.4 anyway...).
Now that I am at it, one thing that RUclipsrs often get wrong is that they have far too hard light, it is not bad with You, but I'll put it anyway; the smaller a light source and the closer placed a lightsource, the harder the light will be....
-Btw, if You haven't got it, You'll properly want a quality external microphone as well (< OMG the sound was awful in thát pre OSWA thing You and Ralfy did....;- )
Love the cask strength episodes. Make them perennial!
8/10 for the quiz that got me. Anything from Tobermory CS is abcolutely amazing. The 9 year Bordeaux cask matured Ledaig and a 17 and a 15 year old PX matured Tobermory I had this year was just delicious.
Before watching the replay - The Clydeside Cask Strength is a banger. At 65 delivered, great value too.
Really do enjoy cask strength whisky, great flavour, but don’t have the new cask strength bottles you opened this evening, thank you for the vPub, enjoyed it!
What a great vpub and who doesn’t like cask strength
Loved this session Aqvavitae. Over the years, mostly due to a shift of focus to indy bottles, much of my bar is now stocked with cask strength releases. Tomatin Cask Strength didn’t get a mention this year but is really great as well. Cheers
A huge thanks to Julie, Mark, Thomas, Roddy and all the other organisers and helpers who forgo their own GWF experience to allow others to enjoy it and have many wonderful memories to last a lifetime.
Hi @Aqvavitae Barflies nad Roy. This time I pass 8/10 hard quiz . I'm just buy Arran Quarter Cask The Bothy 56,2%abv . I can't wait for it. Slanth math or Na zdrowie from Poland.
Wonderful show again ❤
That Kilkerran CS is funkier than George Clinton. Love it.
Another Quality v pub🥃
These cask strengths are almost water when compared to Ralfy's 16yo Glenlivet at 65.7%! I tried it at the Good Spirits Co and was very impressed so purchased a bottle.
You're finally in focus 😍
great sound and video!
Well done Roy, you managed to avoid slurring the quiz. You mentioned Ledaig cask strength which reminds me that I recently bought a Rattray Ledaig 9 year at 59.5% for £51.49p. It’s not yet open but Christmas is coming. An informative v pub. Thank you.
Great vPub again Roy! I caught it on replay as usual. Loved seeing your self-described "peat blind" reaction to the Torabhaig.😂 It looks hefty!
7/10 slipped on the last three. Great list Roy thank you! Happy to see that Kilkerran 8 getting so much love.
Hi Roy, the Arran QC is such an excellent CS malt and especially for the price. Being a bit of a Benromach fan boy I love their vintage CS offerings, and last week picked up the Torabhaig. Awesome vPub Roy, of course as ever picked up the replay Friday. Slàinte 🥃
This year the best cask strength whiskies for me have been Ballechin 15, Tobermory 11 and Smögen PX cask 8.The first two I tasted at the Bon Accord in July.The Tobermory and Ledaig were special releases and I agree with you Roy, a cask strength core range version would be lovely!
Thanks for an interesting Vpub Roy! 🥃
Huge thanks for this cask strength vPub. Very informative and excellent bottlings mentioned throughout 👏 my favorites are Ardnamurchan Rum Cask, Kilkerran Heavily Peated and LAGG Corriecravie 🎉
Grand Vpub as usual roy! Gotta luv a cask strength dram! Slainthe & much love as always from the two of us
Love that 2022 Bunna CS, it only arrived here mid-year and disappeared just as quickly but its magic and maybe my WOTY. Also agree that Arran Qtr Cask is the high tide mark for value based cask strength drams. In fact, whilst not "Cask Strength" their Amarone, Sauternes, Port and Sherry expressions offer a rainbow of engaging experience for a very, very fair price.
Awesome vPub Roy once again. My Indri Cask strength was delayed and should arrive today from TWE, but cracked open the 46% last night instead. Glen Moray do have a cask strength range, the Warehouse 1... They put out some great bottles this year, including a fully matured oloroso. The Manzanilla is still my favourite though.
Agree with Roy that the Arran Quarter Cask (the Bothy) is an exceptional value cask strength, I’ve only had one batch, but it was bursting with flavour. Also agree with Jimmy Leg that the Sherry Cask (the Bodega) was a disappointment. Cheers from 🇨🇦
Finally catching up with this. Saw you exiting the Glasgow Festival as my brother and I were session 2.
I remember as an 18 year old being introduced to Glenfarclas 105 and thinking it was rocket fuel. Fast forward to more recent years and I do like a cask strength these days. Tried the Idri Dru at the London Whisky Show as it was a recommendation from Julie Hamilton. Loved it and managed to get hold of a bottle. There weren't many places in the UK selling it. Worth noting that it appears to be solely ex-bourbon and that it is significantly cheaper in Germany in the mid 60s Euros online, but unfortunately they won't ship to UK.
Indri Dru - wants my hands on the same :) cheers
Thanks for sharing Indri dru
I enjoy cask strength bottles. However, I don't like the fact that pretty much all the distilleries think it's ok to do a NAS bottle. 12-15 year age statements would be my preference. Glen Moray CS is a great idea, but a 15-year old one. Another for me would be Glenmorangie 10 CS ncf nc. They have done CS 10 special releases in the 80's and 90's. Cheers Roy
The Indri Dru over here in Germany is around €65 Roy.
I'm also curious to hear Roy's opinion on Mossburn's Caesteal Chamius Blended Malt. I can buy the NAS version in Ukraine for around 20 pounds (an incredible price for heavily peated 46% naturally presented whisky, it is often cheaper then Monkey Shoulder) and it's very interesting and rich. It seems there's a high amount of Torabhaig in the blend.
The 12-year-old version is also interesting and remarkably affordable (around 29 pounds), but the NAS seemed much more deep and powerful to me) Also both releases have a very nice bottle and label designs)
Roy
What’s your thoughts on Tomatin Cask Strength at £45
I’m a fan
I've got unopened bottles of that 53.8% The Bothy and Arran 12 year old CS (52.4%). Really looking forward to both.
Has anybody tried the new Powers John's Lane CS? That could be fantastic but I feel it's a bit pricey to buy untested.
My favourites Arrans have given me this cantucci/biscotti, malty biscuit, orange oil and macadamia nuts... I'll happily buy any Arran that can give me that again
Love this ep Roy! Love your wish list. Surprised Craigellachie doesn't have a CS release.
Aberlour Abunadh batch 46(?) from 2013/2014 was my first cask strength… it was a revelation in terms of strength and flavour. The original Sherry bomb?
It was 60.4% ABV LOL. Such a departure from the 40-43% industry standard at the time.
Superb vPub as usual, Roy!
Totally agree with you naming the Arran Quarter Cask best value cask strength whisky. I love it! In Bulgaria I can have a bottle of it for the equivalent of 36-37 pounds. Haven't had the Sherry Cask yet but for me Arran malt shines the brightest in ex-bourbon wood. Apparently the distillate itself is quite superb and there is simply no need to be bulldozed by heavy cask influences.
Tomatin CS is also very solid dram and great value, or at least was so before the recent price hike. Still a bottle of it from 2019 has very special place in my hearth. Next time you have Scott Adamson behind the bar I may ask him in the chat if he remembers anything special about that release. I have also tasted a bottle from 2021, very competent malt, but the 2019 one was just on another level.
Cheers!
Picked up the Indri Dru recently, $139 NZD which is approx. £65-70. I'm really enjoying it. I find on adding water I get rich chocolate notes on the finish. By comparison Arran Quarter Cask is around $100 NZD.
If Arran 10 has to take a break from the OSWA lineup (due to Trifecta), Quater Cask will take its place.
Indri 3 wood and CS sold out at major online retailers, it wouldn't be surprising if the price increases and was a loss leader as you mention Roy
I just bought the Arran Quarter Cask so I had my fingers crossed for the reveal at the end. It was my last pour for the evening. Not sure how old it is but I don’t care. It’s a good one.
The arran website, article/technical page not main one, says 7 in ex-bourbon casks then 2 finishing in QC.
Thanks to knowledgeable barfllies who guided me on a couple of the Quiz at the End questions & amazingly onto a maximum score 😊 🪰🥃👍