Annandale Man O Words Cask 821 Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 60.7%

2015 was the distillery’s first full year of production. The stills had been fired up the previous November and everything was still new: new equipment, new people, new casks. Cask 821 comes from that year, and it is one of the earliest pieces of evidence of what Annandale can do.

The Expert's Description

Annandale Man O' Words Cask 821 is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in an Oloroso Sherry Butt and bottled at 60.7% cask strength. The cask was filled in 2015, the distillery's first full year of production after reopening.

Man O' Words is the unpeated range, named after Robert Burns, and Oloroso is the classic sherry style for whisky: matured with air contact, dark and nutty, without the flor veil that keeps Fino pale. A full butt of around 500 litres works slowly, which is why the whisky has gained depth without being smothered in wood.

The combination of Annandale’s fresh, fruit-driven spirit and an Oloroso cask gives a whisky where dark fruit and bright fruit sit alongside each other rather than one taking over. The whisky is non-chill filtered and bottled undiluted.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Raisins and orange marmalade first, with walnut and a dry sherry note behind. Underneath sits the distillery’s own fruitiness, green apple and pear, pushing through the sherry rather than disappearing into it.

Palate

Full and dark to begin. Dried fruit, caramel and bitter chocolate open, then spice and a firm oak tannin arrive. At 60.7% there is plenty of concentration, and a fresh acidity beneath the sweetness keeps the whisky in balance.

Finish

Long and spiced. Raisin, walnut and dry oak, with a final warmth that lingers. No bitterness.

Specifications

Name: Annandale Man O' Words Cask 821 Single Malt Scotch Whisky 60.7%
Distillery: Annandale
Region/Country: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 60.7%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oloroso Sherry Butt, cask no. 821
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Distilled: 2015
Edition: Man O' Words

Flavour Profile

Sherry Matured · Dark Fruit · Nutty · Spiced · Cask Strength · Fresh

Investment Potential

Medium. The cask comes from the distillery's first full year of production after a break of nearly a century, and no more 2015 whisky will ever be made at Annandale. Early vintages from reopened distilleries are the kind of bottle collectors go looking for afterwards.

Did You Know?

Cask number one was filled at Annandale on 15 November 2014, six days after the first spirit ran from the stills. It was laid down in the original 1830s warehouse, which still stands on the site. Cask 821 comes from the following year, still right at the beginning of the distillery’s new life.

See our full range of Annandale

Listen to our podcast:

Frequently Asked Questions about Annandale Man O' Words Cask 821 Single Malt Scotch Whisky 60.7%

Why is the 2015 vintage interesting?

Because it was the distillery’s first full year of production after reopening in November 2014. Everything was new, and only a limited number of casks exist from that year. Once they are emptied, the vintage cannot be remade.

Is it worth the outlay?

The case rests on the vintage, the cask and the strength: a full Oloroso Sherry Butt from a reopening vintage, bottled undiluted and unfiltered. It is a bottle that can be both drunk and documented, and there is no replacement once the cask is empty.

What is an Oloroso Sherry Butt?

A cask of around 500 litres that has held Oloroso, the sherry style matured with air contact that turns dark and nutty. It is the classic cask type for sherry matured whisky and gives raisin, walnut and spice.

Why is there no age on the bottle?

The distillation year is stated but not an age. For single cask releases from young distilleries the vintage is often used instead, because it says more precisely when the whisky was made.

How does it differ from the Fino cask in the same range?

Markedly. The Fino cask gives dryness, salted almond and apple acidity. Oloroso gives raisin, walnut and dark sweetness. Same spirit, same range, two opposite cask profiles. See more bottles in our range of Lowland Whisky.

Should I add water?

At 60.7% it usually makes sense. A few drops open the sherry fruit and calm the tannin without the whisky losing body. Add slowly, and let the glass rest for a minute between each addition.