Annandale 10 year old Man O Words Cask 121 Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 59,7%

Robert Burns was an exciseman in Annan before he became Scotland’s national poet. That is a pleasing detail to carry into a whisky named after him: the man who came to collect the duty has now given his name to a bottle at cask strength.

The Expert's Description

Annandale 10 Years Old Man O' Words Cask 121 is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a refill ex-bourbon cask and bottled at 59.7% cask strength. It is the first ten year old unpeated whisky from the distillery to be made available internationally, aimed at the trade and at enthusiasts.

Man O' Words is Annandale's unpeated range, named after Robert Burns. This particular bottling is atypical for the house because cask and spirit carry equal weight: neither the wood nor the distillate dominates. The refill bourbon cask has been allowed to work gently alongside the distillery's fruity new make across a full decade.

The distillery’s signature orchard aroma of apple and pear is clearly present and balanced by classic bourbon notes of vanilla, light spice and sweet oak. The whisky is non-chill filtered and bottled undiluted.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla, spices and juicy peaches first. Behind them sit crisp green apple and a touch of tropical fruit that lends the nose an exotic edge. Clean and inviting with no sharp alcohol note.

Palate

Soft and welcoming with creamy vanilla and a fresh green herbal note. Sweet wood and something close to marshmallow step forward mid-palate. The mouthfeel is light and complex at once, and Annandale’s unpeated character really gets room here.

Finish

Long, warm and persistent with spice, ripe fruit and a touch of cherry that slowly fades out.

Specifications

Name: Annandale 10 Years Old Man O' Words Cask 121 Single Malt Scotch Whisky 59.7%
Distillery: Annandale
Region/Country: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 59.7%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill ex-bourbon cask, cask no. 121
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: Man O' Words
EAN no.: 5060427430090

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Vanilla · Fresh · Spiced · Cask Strength · Creamy

Investment Potential

Medium. This is the distillery's first ten year old unpeated bottling on the international market, made for a limited audience. Firsts cannot be repeated, and a single cask yields only one outturn.

Did You Know?

Annandale was founded in 1836 by George Donald, an excise officer from Elgin. The distillery later passed through the hands of John Walker & Sons, yes, the Johnnie Walker ones, before production stopped around 1918. There is therefore a line running from a taxman, through the world’s biggest blend, to a Robert Burns label at cask strength.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Annandale 10 Years Old Man O' Words Cask 121 Single Malt Scotch Whisky 59.7%

What does unpeated mean here?

That no peated malt was used. Annandale makes both peated and unpeated whisky on the same stills, and the Man O' Words range is the unpeated one. You therefore get the distillery's fruity green character with no peat smoke at all.

Why is it atypical for Annandale?

Because cask and spirit weigh equally. In many single cask releases the wood takes over, and in others the spirit is so young that the cask has not managed much. Here ten years in a refill bourbon cask has hit a point where the two hold each other in check.

Who was Robert Burns, and what is his connection to Annan?

Scotland's national poet, born in 1759. He worked as an excise officer in the Dumfries area, where Annan lies, in his final years. The distillery named its unpeated range after him, while the peated one carries Robert the Bruce's name.

How strong is 59.7% in practice?

Noticeably strong, but not unmanageable. At cask strength the whisky has not been diluted with water before bottling, so you get more concentration and more body. Start with it neat, then add water one drop at a time.

What characterises Annandale's unpeated spirit?

Fresh orchard fruit, apple, pear and a little peach, together with a green, almost herbal freshness. It is a style that fares well in restrained casks where it does not get drowned. See other bottles in our range of Lowland Whisky.

Is it better than the peated version?

Not better, different. If you want fruit, vanilla and freshness, this is the right choice. If you want smoke and spice, you need a Man O' Sword instead. Most people end up owning both once the distillery gets its hooks in.