Arran is mastering the low key marketing trail of just being excellent, I wish that other distilleries would copy them both in price and malt experience quality.
@eymerichinquisitore9022
19 күн бұрын
They almost all start like this and then we know what happens
@brownwaterboys8304
8 ай бұрын
Arran 10 and Deanston 12 are true value. I pick em up whenever I see them in the store. Always worth it.
@JR-nl3mh
8 ай бұрын
And Glencadam
@robbullis5025
8 ай бұрын
Pretty Clever there Ralfy, with your 2 bottles of the Arran next to each other you get 1010.
@thewhiskybothy
8 ай бұрын
. .. you noticed, the only one to say you did 😊👍
@michaelwood3203
8 ай бұрын
I am sure it must be difficult to reproduce the output from the distillation of ingredients which must change from one growing season to the next. So variation must be unavoidable. The critical element for any producer is to maintain a quality product and to acknowledge the reality of the variation that can occur to the consumer. This should never be an excuse for a lesser quality product to be palmed off but as far as I am concerned it would not unduly upset me if there were variations from time to time.
@robfut9954
8 ай бұрын
They can also blend casks with the season they were produced in under consideration. And they can save outlier casks for use in “special edition” bottles or experimental series instead of letting them into the run.
@DasHemdchen
3 ай бұрын
I‘m a Scotch beginner, tried Arran 10 today and it blew me away.
@joshwebber2088
8 ай бұрын
I would love to see a re review of Penderyn Welsh whiskey. It would be interesting to see how it compares to your review from 10 years ago! Fantastic content as always Ralfy
@dksculpture
8 ай бұрын
Lately I’ve taken to buying Signatory Scotch because I can buy a bottle and if I particularly like it I can go back to the liquor store and buy several more bottles from the same cask.
@gordanbudimirovic2374
8 ай бұрын
I've only once had a Signatory whisky that I was underwhelmed by, and I have bought countless bottles from them. Excellent independent bottlers.
@alexk3088
7 ай бұрын
Signatory aren't the only such independent bottler, but yes, you've discovered the open secret. It stays well under the radar of label shoppers and allows us to find some real belters.
@freddiemoses467
6 ай бұрын
Do you have any recommendations? Just bought the Edredour 10 but am open to suggestions
@alexk3088
6 ай бұрын
@@freddiemoses467 recommendations are hard without knowing what you've tried. Signatory own Edradour, but they bottle other distilleries as well. I believe with Signatory you can't go wrong. Gordon & Macphail has a similar reputations. Others you kinda have to research their reputations and individual bottlings. But it's not like official bottlings are risk-free, either.
@gordanbudimirovic2374
6 ай бұрын
@@freddiemoses467 If you can find a Signatory Laphroaig, Coal Ila or a Bunnahabhain (both peated and not), you can't go wrong.
@MrLachlanmackenzie
8 ай бұрын
Thanks Ralfy, great to know that Arran are retaining quality.
@mahal1891
8 ай бұрын
If a substandard batch happens to be the first bottle someone tries they may never go back to that distillery again
@ARGONUAT
8 ай бұрын
It’s fun to watch Ralfy get riled up sometimes!
@nickolaymiltenov
8 ай бұрын
Dear comrade Ralfy, i patiently waited for this review in order to share my opinion again. As i commented relatively long ago under a review of yours (don't remember which exactly and when) i don't blame whisky, wine and other alcohol beverages producers for minor to moderate variations in quality. Especially small cellars and distilleries where most of the processes are manual and free from modern machinery and computer control. I do believe that these people make efforts and always give their best to achieve quality, but because of the fact that wine and other spirits are alive and vivid products it is not possible to have the same results every time. Factors that have influence are countless. I say this as a man who is familiar with home wine and brandy making. Every year i do the same things and get different results. So i am not angry with whisky brands whose batches vary in taste and aroma unless it is extreme deterioration. My last experience with whisky which was not the same as i remember it from the first time was with Glen Garioch 12 YO. But don't get me wrong - it wasn't bad at all, just different and slightly less flavoured from my memories. Or just maybe my palate has changed
@danw1086
8 ай бұрын
I think what you say is only partially true. Yes if you are producing an alcoholic product on a small scale then variation from batch to batch despite no apparent difference in production methods will occur. But we're not talking about producers of alcohol on a small scale here. They have 100s maybe 1000s of casks to choose from when making the vatting to release a product. If they find their latest batch isn't up to scratch they can add a few better casks into the vatting to lift it up a bit before bottling it. If they decide not to do that then they don't care enough about the quality of their product imo. I had a bottle of Ben Nevis 10 a few years ago. It was excellent. Then it became hard to get hold of. When it became availble again I brought a bottle and it was not even close to being as good as the first one I had. Where the first one was lively an full of character. The second bottle was flat and uninteresting. I've have scored the first bottle a 8/10 the second a 5/10. That's not just a bit of batch variation. And Ben Nevis produces 2,000,000 litres a year. They have plenty of stock to choose from. When they knew that second batch was nowhere near good enough they could have added more quality casks to lift the batch. they didn't. As a result I no longer buy Ben Nevis 10 and that will continue until I hear the quality has improved.
@michaelgonzalez347
8 ай бұрын
Batch variation will always be there. Primary due to select casks. The key is to keep the variation limited. Batch variation can improve at times from previous batches and when that is acknowledged, that becomes the new batch a distillery would want to reproduce. Its the bad batches or lower grade batches that get pushed out to everyone. The distillery is well aware of a batch has declined from previous releases. They know when something is great and when something is average. The key thing is we are starting to know as well, and it will show in lack of sales, due to word of mouth. If a batch is great and you can repeat that very closely each release, then you will have long time customers. If you are constantly inconsistent with each release then people will start looking elsewhere for quality. Especially with the cost of living these days. Thanks Ralfy for bringing attention to good, consistent quality each time. Cheers 🥃
@alexk3088
7 ай бұрын
As Ralfy mentioned, there's variation of flavor - unavoidable, but it's the master blender's job to maintain the "signature", perhaps by using some of previous barrels in the new batch, for continuity. And then there's the quality variation. This is avoidable - inferior barrels should not be bottled into the same expression. They can go into a one-off separate expression, cheaper blends, sold off to negotiants, used for liqueurs, etc. The decision to bottle the inferior stuff is what sinks them, not the technologically unavoidable variation. That's always been my beef with single barrel expressions, particularly bourbon. Yes, every barrel will be different, but if the barrel is not stellar, just use it in the cheaper mainstay, don't sell it as a premium single barrel! The whole point of single barrel expressions is that the best casks are selected. I found that almost every expression of Glenmorangie core range has gone downhill, noticeably. I'm done with them, and neither do I buy their annual "Tale of NAS".
@mr2gordons940
8 ай бұрын
Who actually selects the barrels that are used to mature Scotch whisky? You identify the warehouses as having greater importance than the distillers, at what point does each maker select the barrels and are they chosen in batches, individually, via contract where they allow the sellers of the barrels to hand pick them? Is there an exchange where the quality of casks is set from best to worst and buyers bid on different qualities? Would be an interesting extras to walk through that process. Also, to identify the people involved. To rail against a particular distillery is one thing, to identify by name the individuals who are actually selecting the barrels that create today's inferior products may be a way to have an influence on the process. Beats just complaining anyhow.
@barryhamilton7845
8 ай бұрын
Most distullries core range change from year to year wether it be Ardbeg,Bunnahabhain, Glenfarclas or Springbank.Ive tried them all and differnt batches and they all had some difference, some being better than others. You have to remember its different casks getting used and the weather can fluctuate from year to year. Nothings ever the same consistently and its expected.
@alexk3088
7 ай бұрын
"Arran - the quiet excellence".
@gerhardschote8000
8 ай бұрын
Immer wieder sehr interessant
@James-zo6xq
8 ай бұрын
"get rid of people in the office" Clearly a man of the people..... 🙄
@farshadp6114
6 ай бұрын
Greetings Mr Ralfy and thank you for another informative video. In this age of technology, I believe adding a QR code is a must. Put a QR code to take you the information page of that product, then redirect you to the new products where you can o4der online with 5% discount or whatever to encourage people to know about you more. Cut down the cost of labelling and boxing and put everything that consumers need to know online. I understand that there are still people with a little bit of challenges to use internet etc but that is where we are heading. Have a good evening. Okay, I am off to the next video 😂
@ashokmathur137
8 ай бұрын
The first bottle of Caol ILA that I bought around 12or 13 years ago was simply outstanding. The next one I bought 3 years later was not at all as good. Nor subsequent bottles.
@escofies
8 ай бұрын
good morning ralfy. why have you never done a review of glenlossie. when you visited springbank in connection with that video no 1000, you asked one of the employees what whiskey they drank and it must not be springbank. she answered glenlossie much to my surprise. it's really delicious whisky, but nobody talks about it much. i have glenlossie 2006 15 years signatory and a bottling from james eaddie 10 years. really delicious whiskey and for reasonable money. don't you want to create hype about it, or is it just not your distillery. I was just wondering that you haven't tasted it on your youtube channel.
@sundowner62james69
8 ай бұрын
I bought a mini in 2022 , that was slightly better (in my view ) than the 700 ml bottle of 2023 . I'll do it again this year . Definitely an engaging extra . Cheers Ralfy
@Dionisis_malt
8 ай бұрын
I really love arran 10 i also tasted a new batch which i found it a bit changed but not so to disappoint me! I found it the same excellent for its age!
@players02
8 ай бұрын
Had two bottles of Arran 10, and they had some significant variation.
@DominikK45
3 ай бұрын
How do you know they are different batches being just one year apart
@jaxson1948
8 ай бұрын
Another great moment in analysis of a fine Scotch Ralfy!
@sandrofazzolari8833
8 ай бұрын
Fascinating episode dear Ralfy! I will try it when I can. Thanks 🙏 and kindest regards, S.
@b1gsteve251
8 ай бұрын
Personally, I’m fine with some batch variation, which I haven’t noticed in an Aaran 10yr since I bought my first 5 years ago. Now Ardbeg 10 and Talisker 10 have varied pretty far in the last couple years, as far as my taste buds are concerned. But they’re huge multi-nationals that could probably care less about it, because their brand fans will always put it in the cart regardless 🛒
@leojudkins2040
8 ай бұрын
"couldn't care less" actually means something. If they could care less, then they care. And they really don't care about anything other than profit.
@longdeadfox219
8 ай бұрын
After over a thousand reviews and a corresponding number of extras, the Malt Mentions may be getting somewhat worn. Might I suggest some Malternative Mentions where appropriate: "Benignly besotted bourbon bibbers"; "Cordial convivial cognac connoisseurs"; "Tipsy temperance-tossing tequila tipplers"; "Rowdy rambunctious rum rascals" . Anyhow*, keep up the great work. Cheers.
@stevenodell4323
8 ай бұрын
Really an excellent video, sir. Very informative, thoughtful, and yes, engaging too
@stevewhan7308
8 ай бұрын
I do wonder if the paradoxical scourge of wider brand success is the requirement to repeatedly produce the product without any variation. I have blamed this on the fixation of Chill Filtration and especially Artificial Colouring.
@yusufsayed1583
8 ай бұрын
Good Evening 😊 Awesome video👌🏽Thanks for sharing 👍🏼 Have a great day and stay warm 👏🏼 Greetings and Cheers 🍻 From South Africa 🇿🇦
@grahamokeefe9406
8 ай бұрын
Whiskey - Scotch in particular - has so much tradition behind it that it may be that some of the decision makers are looking back rather than ahead when it comes to marketing and the internet. Will definitely look for Arran next time I go shopping.
@barryhamilton7845
8 ай бұрын
Irish or American Whiskey???
@JR-nl3mh
8 ай бұрын
New annual jacket❤
@robfut9954
8 ай бұрын
If the price is low, variance is forgivable. But at the steep premium they’ve come to charging we can’t be accepting of quality dips.
@alyamaut
8 ай бұрын
Top notch, thanks a lot for the information Ralfy 🤘
@ironmantran
8 ай бұрын
Goyne used to have Royal Warrant as emblem, then it changed to Barley in a circle, then the geese, . . .
@juanmlsanabria
8 ай бұрын
I've encountered inconsistency in Arran 10 a couple of times, one bottle i got 2 years ago was really poor, i realized when i compared it side by side with another bottle that a friend got, it was more balanced and i like it a lot more. Needless to say about the 18 yo bottlings, whereas i've seen huge diferences among batches, so, i Guess it is something you have to play with among small distilleries.
@edgewalker7459
8 ай бұрын
Yeah the 18s had big batch variations but the were all good , but we all know the darker ones were exceptional, one of my favourite whisky’s of all time , that new 17 too , wow
@juanmlsanabria
8 ай бұрын
@@edgewalker7459Arran 18 is one of My favorites too, i own a 2022 bottle really dark and it is amazing, specially when considered in Panama is sold at $110 😅
@florianschlammer7085
8 ай бұрын
The "new" Arran 18 batch 1 and 2 had - at least in germany - a huge batch variation. Batch 1, after being reviewed and highly praised by ralfy and german reviewers (complex sherry bomb, worthy successor of GlenDronach 18), was immediately sold out (in Germany). Batch 2 was a completely different whisky. Still good/ok, but far far away from the excellence of batch 1. After waiting nearly a year (since it sold out), ist was an big disappoinment. My conclusion: Arran isnt the rarely exception, they are also ripping off (german?) customers.
@whiskynotes9326
8 ай бұрын
I can’t speak to the 10 year old, but I’m sad to say that the Arran sherry cask - The Bodega suffers from batch inconsistency. Bought a bottle in 2021/early 2022, opened it in the beginning of 2023 and was blown away by how good it was. When I finished it towards the end of 2023 I bought a new bottle and that one was no where near as good as the one I had finished. Getting strange green woody unripe notes. Really disappointed actually
@rosslogan4154
8 ай бұрын
I was also really disappointed with The Bodega bottle I purchased. Harsh alcohol and no real sherry influence on the nose or palate.
@Pogue4
8 ай бұрын
You have sold me looking for a bottle today.
@RichardHowells1234
8 ай бұрын
Not controversial ralfy!😄😘
@mikefidler5959
8 ай бұрын
Glengoyne 21 a great example, came back to that, the price had gone up 30pc but it was now sulphur tainted
@RobertSingleton-dw9yh
8 ай бұрын
Well done Ralfy for holding up great examples of core range consistency and exposing whiskies where the time, care and investment just hasn’t been good enough. Hope to see more of this from yourself and others in the online community to keep the standard of the product we enjoy high, especially when we pay such a premium for it.
@azeriztatime5120
8 ай бұрын
wow Really like this review conversational. miss the old time. meet friends in the house taking about whiskey and anything.
@DileepB
8 ай бұрын
Batch variation does not necessarily mean bad whisky. Good quality casks can have different characteristics. Whisky making is not inorganic chemistry. You are correct when you said "Slight variation if flavor as long as there is no variation in quality"! Vive la difference! Consistent flavor is not necessary. The two you are tasting are not identical in smell and taste.
@allanhegney3835
8 ай бұрын
Batch variences are part of the experience but the Whisky industry could be more transparent & admit batch "whatever" is an inferion one so we're gona sell at a discount till the next batch. 🤔😅
@michaellehner2164
8 ай бұрын
I am a long time (around 15 years) fan of Arran for the consistent good quality and the integrity presentation from start on, but must contradict you for once😉 having had to comparible bad batches of Arran 10 in spring and summer 2023, better again now on the 3rd chance I have gegen them as a fanboy.
@wevegraysquaw7855
8 ай бұрын
seems inevitable that the quality of wood (age) will be an issue..and the distilleries with that advantage would be well served by announcing it
@javieracosta3439
8 ай бұрын
Ralfy, are you familiar with what's going on here in the States with Elijah Craig Barrel Proof? This version has three releases a year (A1"23", B523, C923..) We've discovered irregularly within the same batch! The C923 was in for bourbon of the year by many reviewers. My personal bottle was..."meh" good but rather so-so and not anywhere near the likes of a whiskey of the year. After some discussion we found that the bottle laser codes held a clue as to what is happening. The bottling of this release spans over two weeks as the bottles have day of the year designations. Those at the beginning days of bottling seem off, tight and over oaked. Those at the latter end of bottling are a considerably better experience: red fruit, delineation of flavors as well as a defined flavor progression throughout the sip. I blinded samples of each for myself. Many a KZitemr has blinded them after the online fervor. The results are in: as this batch has sat over the weeks, the better it has gotten it appears. (Due to the clamour Heaven Hill distillery has put out responses saying it's all the exact same batch of whiskey. They also admit to no quality issues, but then, why would they! ) We made some noise and have rattled some cages it seems.
@rtstephen
8 ай бұрын
Are you sure that the laser codes are applied by Heaven Hill and not by the glass manufacturer?
@javieracosta3439
8 ай бұрын
@@rtstephen Heaven Hill's statements confirmed what was hypothesized. The letter starting the code is the bottling line "A" in this case. The following three numbers are the day of year ex. "223" being August 11th. The remaining numbers are "time of day" in military time. Needed for traceability and quality tracking. As the community delved into the issue some reported laser codes on the front on their bottle (unusual) and some had none at all (highly usual) which can be attributed to a bottle spinning and facing opposite or diagonally on the conveyor during the laser code application process. When there is a tank of such volume full of whiskey it does appear quite the challenge to have the first drop taste as even as the last. Sounds to me they may want to invest in a larger wooden spoon to stir their batches with 😆
@rtstephen
8 ай бұрын
@@javieracosta3439 Interesting. I recently retired from a glass bottle manufacturer here in the USA. About 15 years ago we began applying the laser codes to the bottles. Formerly it was inkjet and for the same reason that you have stated. Whether a customer specified a laser code on the bottle or not was up to them. Having a code made it easier for us to trace defective bottles. My bottle of Henry McKenna 100 proof (Heaven Hill) has no laser code. Hmmm. The bottle was made by one our competitors. All my scotch bottles have codes interestingly enough. Are they bottler's codes or manufacture's codes. I don't know, it's a mystery. It's cool that you detected the code and deduced they might have something to do with production dates. Cheers!😎
@javieracosta3439
8 ай бұрын
@@rtstephen Thanks for the insights. I will have to check my McKenna 10 when I get home for any codes. Perhaps the reasoning is is that it's a single barrel product and the relevant information appears on the front label? I do also have a few iterations of Elijah Craig single barrel bottles that would be worth giving the once over as well. The investigation into the C923 began because of such a large disparity in flavor notes from bottle to bottle. Certainly batch to batch variation in common but discrepancies in what is supposed to be the same batch raised our eyebrows. Ralfy has been training us too well it seems 😆 Cheers!
@javieracosta3439
8 ай бұрын
@@rtstephen I did have a look at my other bottles. I also could not find any laser code on my McKenna 10 single barrel. My hypothetical reasoning being that pertinent information is printed on the front label. However, looking at two different Elijah Craig single barrel bottle, they both carry laser codes...what a head scratcher!
@martindouwe6099
8 ай бұрын
Regarding Arran nothing to complain about their core range, decent stuff against decent prices, BUT regarding their Single Cask range we can frown. € 489 for a 1997 vintage is beyond normality.
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