Annandale Man O' Words Cask #144

Annandale Man O' Words Cask #144, NAS, 61.5 %

This is the first whisky I have tasted from Annandale Distillery. The distillery, located in Annan, Scotland, was established in 1836 and closed down in 1924. In 2007 it was bought by the Annandale Distillery Company. In November 2014, the Annandale Visitor Centre opened and the first casks were filled.

The Annandale Man O' Words Cask #144 was distilled in 2014, and matured in a 1st fill bourbon cask. The total outturn was 263 bottles.

Nose: Clean and fruity up front. Vanilla, laid back maltiness, and a touch of green grass and dried herbs. With time I also detect mint and malt drops.

Taste: Oof! This is a hard-hitting dram! Overwhelmingly aggressive at first sip. Heavy handed and punchy with lots of tropical fruits, vanilla and a perfume-like rawness.

Finish: Short finish. My head is still buzzing. Vanilla and malty nuttiness. Minty fresh.

Comment: Interesting, I would say. I’m ready to try more.

Score 81/100

PS! Confusingly there is also a cask #143 from 2015, bottled at 60.8 %.

Thanks to Tone for the sample!

Slaínte!
- Thomas