Uploaded November 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
With December just around the corner maybe we're looking forward to settling down with something warming for winter? Looking at the shelves of what's new and what's interesting, perhaps we'll therefor be tempted by something with a little oomph
Once the preserve of independents, specialists or single casks, official distillery releases of fully dialled-up expressions are becoming commonplace. These days, it seems, if you're range doesn't have an amped-up, full-strength version - it's not really a 'range', is it?
Well, yes, and no.
You see, with retail shelves struggling to cope with the sheer variety of bottlings available at this time of year one of the questions we need to ask is - do we really need it? Surely the distilleries know the best ABV for their whiskies and that's what they offer us? Yes? Well...
I think, as enthusiasts, we very quickly discover the magic of a higher ABV and it's potency for bringing flavour and, almost ironically, helping us to slow down and ponder. Sip, by tiny sip, we can decide where we're getting the most fun and set the 'temperature' just right.
So, with the perceived demand of these higher ABV releases, we're seeing more and more available. So much so that, as predicted, this has become an annual November vPub fixture. And, truth be told, I have more bottles than is appropriate to uncork in a single sitting. We're spoilt for choice and, in recent weeks, it's been too easy to roll into my local retailer and take my pick. Let's see if any of them are worthy of that shelf space and - more importantly - the similarly amped up price.
I'll work out what's what and share the final bottles on the night, we'll still be able to get through a few!
Hope to welcome you there!
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: dramface.com/features/2023/glasgow-whisky-festival-2023
With December just around the corner maybe we're looking forward to settling down with something warming for winter? Looking at the shelves of what's new and what's interesting, perhaps we'll therefor be tempted by something with a little oomph
Once the preserve of independents, specialists or single casks, official distillery releases of fully dialled-up expressions are becoming commonplace. These days, it seems, if you're range doesn't have an amped-up, full-strength version - it's not really a 'range', is it?
Well, yes, and no.
You see, with retail shelves struggling to cope with the sheer variety of bottlings available at this time of year one of the questions we need to ask is - do we really need it? Surely the distilleries know the best ABV for their whiskies and that's what they offer us? Yes? Well...
I think, as enthusiasts, we very quickly discover the magic of a higher ABV and it's potency for bringing flavour and, almost ironically, helping us to slow down and ponder. Sip, by tiny sip, we can decide where we're getting the most fun and set the 'temperature' just right.
So, with the perceived demand of these higher ABV releases, we're seeing more and more available. So much so that, as predicted, this has become an annual November vPub fixture. And, truth be told, I have more bottles than is appropriate to uncork in a single sitting. We're spoilt for choice and, in recent weeks, it's been too easy to roll into my local retailer and take my pick. Let's see if any of them are worthy of that shelf space and - more importantly - the similarly amped up price.
I'll work out what's what and share the final bottles on the night, we'll still be able to get through a few!
Hope to welcome you there!
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: dramface.com/features/2023/glasgow-whisky-festival-2023
