Thanks for taking us around the shop Jack. I liked the tone and pace of this vid punctuated by your dry humour. I've got to admit I've got a thirst on now. I've only tried the Bodega, Amarone & 10 from Arran but it's definitely a whisky I would be keen to explore further.
@@TheWhiskyBaron I wouldn't mind picking up a bottle of the 17 before it disappears and maybe the port cask. I'll leave the non core range stuff until I can do a tour of the distillery and visit the shop.
Ah thank you for watching and glad to read you enjoyed it. I’ve just come back from the Arran Malt & Music festival and can confirm the shop is still incredibly well-stocked with a wide range of bangers! There was a cheeky 28yo single cask which just arrived last week, a bit outa my price range. Lots more bottlings to choose from other than that ☺️
@@jackabussingly You should be on commission with Lochranza, I have the breaking strain of a kitkat and bought both the 17 and port cask. I'm done with your videos, they are proving too expensive but it should provide the most enjoyable weekend for me🤣
Nice one Jack. It’s a great distillery with a really good visitor experience. The Barrel Reserve and the Quarter Cask remain firm favourites. Fantastic ‘distillery only’ releases. So… which pullover/jumper is up next??😂
@@SteveW459 ah thanks Steve, glad you enjoyed the video. Well, I had hoped to have a period of enjoying t-shirts and shorts what with it being summer, however…it’s been jumper weather ever since 😅 The most overcast, wet, windy summer I can remember. Good whisky sipping weather 😉
nice one Steve, thanks for tuning in and showing Jack and the channel some love. the distillery exclusives here are great - still trying to cling onto the end of mine
Hey Jimmy, thanks for watching. Have just come back again from Arran and can confirm, it’s still as well-stocked a few months later (including a 28yo single cask which was a bit outa my price range).
Heya Richard, thank you for watching. You won’t be disappointed when you arrive there - so many amazing bottlings on offer and very friendly staff to make you feel welcome ☺️
You could drink whisky at 57% abv or more, if you want. It's your money. Just as someone who buys a 30 Year Old Single Malt and knocks it back in shot glasses. Do what you want. Is it advised? IMO, No! Is it giving respect to those who made the whisky or the amount of time it has laid in the warehouse maturing? No! These Cask Strength Single Malts are bottled at 57-62% abv but are not designed to be drunk without first diluting it. You have all those flavours locked up in those ethanol molecules. Theoretically, the higher the abv, the more potential flavour will be locked inside. To unlock them, you add water. How much? That's up to you. The fun is in the experimentation. If you feel alcohol nose pain or "nose pinch" then keep on adding a few drops of water every few minutes until the nose pinch goes. Then sip, hold in the mouth and enjoy. Take your time. If drinking whisky at cask strength is a "man" thing for you, then, by all means, preserve your ego, but do me a favour, just try drinking a half a glass of water just before you sip the whisky (which will hydrate the mouth somewhat), and then see if the whisky becomes more interesting. What do you have to lose?
Hi Reb, thanks for watching the video, hope you enjoyed it. Cask strength is mostly my thing I’ll be honest, but as I mentioned at the end of the vid, the Barrel Reserve from Arran comes in at a lower abv (43%) and very affordable price point. Something for everyone ☺️🥃
@jackabussingly Absolutely. For those who don't want to start messing about with water, 40% or, better still, 43% abv is the correct choice. But for the whisky enthusiast who wants to get the most flavour from his/her whisky, they should definitely go for the Cask Strength. However, in my opinion, with over 30 years of experience, I would certainly not recommend drinking Cask Strength whisky without some water dilution. It's like listening to brand new HiFi speakers with the transport wrapping stilll on. Will you hear something? Yes, but it will be muffled. Transport wrapping is essential in order that the speakers arrive perfectly intact but before playing music you should remove the wrapping. Similarly with whisky, the higher the abv, the more flavour is potentially preserved. But in order to expose these flavours, you must add water. How much? Dilute to 50%, 45%, or 40%? That's up to you, but please don't tell your viewers that it's a good thing to drink straight from the bottle at fifty something or sixty something percent abv. As well as not getting the best out of the whisky, ie maximum flavour, I don't think it's particularly healthy for you either.
@@RebMordechaiReviews I really think it’s a case of each to their own when it comes to how to drink whisky. I add water to cask strength whisky, that’s my preference, and I know lots of my friends that prefer not to add anything. For me it’s more about the communal experience that we may be sharing a dram together and all too briefly spending time together in our adult lives. Slainte 🥃
@@jackabussingly May I ask, do you know why your friends prefer not to add water to their, say 60% plus... abv whisky, even though they are aware that drinking straight without some dilution, will mask much of the flavour and complexity?
@@RebMordechaiReviews as with many things in life, personal taste varies drastically from friend to friend. I’ve also got a fair number of buddies who are wayyyy more into beer and cider than whisky. We all just find a way to muddle through and enjoy ourselves the best we can ☺️☺️☺️
Well...well.. We made nearly 700 miles round trip to visit Arran and Lagg distilleries in May 24. We always taking back a bottle of own fill from every distillery visited. It was first ever two places where casks were empty and not available in both distilleries at same time.Just poor management and big disappointment for us... Love Arran whiskies but bitter taste of experience after our trip there is still with us.... 😢😢😢
@@TheWhiskyBaron Maybe... But they had about 150 ml left overs already in the bottle so even not full 200 ml and they want charged us for this... Lol... Shocking. So we said No thanks. We prefer try a sample and fill up bottle by ourselves on the spot then asking them to sort it out for us. Nobody offer to us opportunity to pre paid and send a bottles or anything. So it's ment to be this way. Hope we will be able to back there in future to complete our tradition
Heya Rob, thanks for watching and hope you enjoyed the video. I think we’ve all seen prices jump up across the board over the last few years yes. What’s great about the offering in the shop is the range of price points on offer: from mid £20 for a blend, mid £30 for the Barrel Reserve (definitely recommend if you like 1st Fill Bourbon Matured), to the more pricier end for those with deeper pockets. Have you tried their 10yo before? A very good entry point ☺️🥃
@@jackabussingly Hi Jack. 10 year old is great value for money. And that's where my loyalty lies - Value for money. After about 15 yo....we see diminishing returns. I know people will disagree, but the premium placed on older/distillery only bottles is misplaced.
@@digitaldemocracyai-rob an interesting point Rob. I personally think distillery only expressions are exciting and would chase them down, but there has to be a reason for the price jump with these bottles or it can seem misplaced as you say. what's your favourite core range release?
Another great Arran video with the irreplaceable Jack Toye! Quality of the videos are great, keep up the good work!
thanks for tuning in and supporting the channel Paul, really appreciate it!
Cheers Paul, only just back from the Arran Malt & Music Festival myself now. Glad you enjoyed this wee shop explore ☺️🥃
Oh to visit the Arran shop and Oh to have a most wonderful sweater like Jack😉👍🏼
Great stuff Mate!
if only it could all be so simple!
Heya Chaz, thank you for watching the video and the sweater love ☺️ So many interesting bottles to choose from 🎉🥃
Thanks for taking us around the shop Jack. I liked the tone and pace of this vid punctuated by your dry humour.
I've got to admit I've got a thirst on now. I've only tried the Bodega, Amarone & 10 from Arran but it's definitely a whisky I would be keen to explore further.
mission accomplished! what's first on your list to try?
@@TheWhiskyBaron I wouldn't mind picking up a bottle of the 17 before it disappears and maybe the port cask. I'll leave the non core range stuff until I can do a tour of the distillery and visit the shop.
@@Isthatabeerinyourpocket strong plan
Ah thank you for watching and glad to read you enjoyed it. I’ve just come back from the Arran Malt & Music festival and can confirm the shop is still incredibly well-stocked with a wide range of bangers! There was a cheeky 28yo single cask which just arrived last week, a bit outa my price range. Lots more bottlings to choose from other than that ☺️
@@jackabussingly You should be on commission with Lochranza, I have the breaking strain of a kitkat and bought both the 17 and port cask. I'm done with your videos, they are proving too expensive but it should provide the most enjoyable weekend for me🤣
Nice video. I would end up spending an absolute fortune in there 😂
it's easily done! have you been to Arran before?
Nice one Jack. It’s a great distillery with a really good visitor experience. The Barrel Reserve and the Quarter Cask remain firm favourites. Fantastic ‘distillery only’ releases. So… which pullover/jumper is up next??😂
@@SteveW459 ah thanks Steve, glad you enjoyed the video. Well, I had hoped to have a period of enjoying t-shirts and shorts what with it being summer, however…it’s been jumper weather ever since 😅 The most overcast, wet, windy summer I can remember. Good whisky sipping weather 😉
nice one Steve, thanks for tuning in and showing Jack and the channel some love. the distillery exclusives here are great - still trying to cling onto the end of mine
Pretty reasonable distillery shop 👌🏻
Hey Jimmy, thanks for watching. Have just come back again from Arran and can confirm, it’s still as well-stocked a few months later (including a 28yo single cask which was a bit outa my price range).
@@jackabussingly Awesome, love to see it 👌🏻
they've got a great setup there for sure JJ - all the Arran gear you could ever need!
Another place added to the to must visit list.
🙌 one of my favourites
@@TheWhiskyBaron I know I'm one of your favourites
Heya Richard, thank you for watching. You won’t be disappointed when you arrive there - so many amazing bottlings on offer and very friendly staff to make you feel welcome ☺️
@@jackabussingly so true - real island vibes
Great tour of the shop jack , I really must get my backside over there
don't leave it too long Colin, there are exciting things happening over this next year
Ah many thanks Colin, glad you enjoyed it ☺️ So many great bottles to choose from ☺️🥃
You could drink whisky at 57% abv or more, if you want. It's your money. Just as someone who buys a 30 Year Old Single Malt and knocks it back in shot glasses. Do what you want. Is it advised? IMO, No! Is it giving respect to those who made the whisky or the amount of time it has laid in the warehouse maturing? No! These Cask Strength Single Malts are bottled at 57-62% abv but are not designed to be drunk without first diluting it.
You have all those flavours locked up in those ethanol molecules. Theoretically, the higher the abv, the more potential flavour will be locked inside. To unlock them, you add water. How much? That's up to you. The fun is in the experimentation. If you feel alcohol nose pain or "nose pinch" then keep on adding a few drops of water every few minutes until the nose pinch goes. Then sip, hold in the mouth and enjoy. Take your time.
If drinking whisky at cask strength is a "man" thing for you, then, by all means, preserve your ego, but do me a favour, just try drinking a half a glass of water just before you sip the whisky (which will hydrate the mouth somewhat), and then see if the whisky becomes more interesting. What do you have to lose?
Hi Reb, thanks for watching the video, hope you enjoyed it. Cask strength is mostly my thing I’ll be honest, but as I mentioned at the end of the vid, the Barrel Reserve from Arran comes in at a lower abv (43%) and very affordable price point. Something for everyone ☺️🥃
@jackabussingly Absolutely. For those who don't want to start messing about with water, 40% or, better still, 43% abv is the correct choice. But for the whisky enthusiast who wants to get the most flavour from his/her whisky, they should definitely go for the Cask Strength.
However, in my opinion, with over 30 years of experience, I would certainly not recommend drinking Cask Strength whisky without some water dilution. It's like listening to brand new HiFi speakers with the transport wrapping stilll on. Will you hear something? Yes, but it will be muffled. Transport wrapping is essential in order that the speakers arrive perfectly intact but before playing music you should remove the wrapping.
Similarly with whisky, the higher the abv, the more flavour is potentially preserved. But in order to expose these flavours, you must add water. How much? Dilute to 50%, 45%, or 40%? That's up to you, but please don't tell your viewers that it's a good thing to drink straight from the bottle at fifty something or sixty something percent abv.
As well as not getting the best out of the whisky, ie maximum flavour, I don't think it's particularly healthy for you either.
@@RebMordechaiReviews I really think it’s a case of each to their own when it comes to how to drink whisky. I add water to cask strength whisky, that’s my preference, and I know lots of my friends that prefer not to add anything. For me it’s more about the communal experience that we may be sharing a dram together and all too briefly spending time together in our adult lives. Slainte 🥃
@@jackabussingly May I ask, do you know why your friends prefer not to add water to their, say 60% plus... abv whisky, even though they are aware that drinking straight without some dilution, will mask much of the flavour and complexity?
@@RebMordechaiReviews as with many things in life, personal taste varies drastically from friend to friend. I’ve also got a fair number of buddies who are wayyyy more into beer and cider than whisky. We all just find a way to muddle through and enjoy ourselves the best we can ☺️☺️☺️
Well...well.. We made nearly 700 miles round trip to visit Arran and Lagg distilleries in May 24. We always taking back a bottle of own fill from every distillery visited. It was first ever two places where casks were empty and not available in both distilleries at same time.Just poor management and big disappointment for us... Love Arran whiskies but bitter taste of experience after our trip there is still with us.... 😢😢😢
oh no! that is truly devastating. where do you live?
@@TheWhiskyBaron Potteries
@@JacekCiucias I'm sure if you call up and explain the situation they'll sort you out! that's incredibly unlucky
@@TheWhiskyBaron Maybe... But they had about 150 ml left overs already in the bottle so even not full 200 ml and they want charged us for this... Lol... Shocking. So we said No thanks. We prefer try a sample and fill up bottle by ourselves on the spot then asking them to sort it out for us. Nobody offer to us opportunity to pre paid and send a bottles or anything. So it's ment to be this way. Hope we will be able to back there in future to complete our tradition
@@JacekCiucias that's a real shame. definitely head back there, I'm sure it was just a case of bad luck
105 steerling for a 13 year old? Too expensive
Heya Rob, thanks for watching and hope you enjoyed the video. I think we’ve all seen prices jump up across the board over the last few years yes. What’s great about the offering in the shop is the range of price points on offer: from mid £20 for a blend, mid £30 for the Barrel Reserve (definitely recommend if you like 1st Fill Bourbon Matured), to the more pricier end for those with deeper pockets. Have you tried their 10yo before? A very good entry point ☺️🥃
@@jackabussingly Hi Jack. 10 year old is great value for money. And that's where my loyalty lies - Value for money. After about 15 yo....we see diminishing returns. I know people will disagree, but the premium placed on older/distillery only bottles is misplaced.
@@digitaldemocracyai-rob an interesting point Rob. I personally think distillery only expressions are exciting and would chase them down, but there has to be a reason for the price jump with these bottles or it can seem misplaced as you say. what's your favourite core range release?