A'Bunadh Batch 44

Also, can anyone tell me how to pronounce A'Bunadh?

Here is a pronounciation guide that includes a'bunadh

theploughclaverley.co.uk/html/…

For the record I have no clue where the "R" sound in the pronounciation and I have heard it pronounced Aboenah or Aboonah many time me but here is a list to audio from a you tube clip showing the "proper" pronounciation.

www.youtube.com/watch

Thanks! @Nolinske

@JJBoud: Ralfy's pronunciation most closely resembles how they say it at the Distiillery.

youtube.com/watch/…

I have a batch 44 on the shelf now that I plan to open on a fishing trip I'm going on in a few weeks. Are you asking for our opinion because you haven't tried it yet or asking because you have and want to know what others think? Because if you have tried it, maybe you can tell me what you think. :)

@JJBoud Here you go: Ah-Buh-nah

@A'bunadhman www.youtube.com/watch...

@mrgargus

I have not tried it. I love the batch 38 and wonder how the 44 stacks up.@mrgargus

@JJBoud: a'bunadh #44 is simply stunning! It does, however, need a little time to fully open up - Say, about a month in a large decanter with a large air space, will be most rewarding. Adding a little pure water will bring out the Sherry and spice. Best (for me) is 3 small teaspoons in about 2 1/2oz. It will take more water but 3 spoons seems just right and these are not all that big, (small glass coffee spoons).

My eldest has both #42 and #44. I haven't tried #42 yet but he thinks it shades the #44 by the smallest margin. I'm not sure #44 could be any better: We'll see!

Cheers!

So I consumed about 3/4 of the bottle while on a trip to the cottage this past week. The a'bunadh #44 followed me on many occasions, from dinner to the fire pit as the sun set and the lake settled. I really liked it. I can't say how the other batches are/were as I haven't had chance to try them (I've seen batch 37 lurking on the shelves of my local LCBO) but the #44 is a fine whiskey to have by your side as the campfire burns into the night. I consumed this one neat for the most part though I added a bit of water on the last night. The water took the edge off a bit and also seemed to diminish the flavor. Maybe I put too much water in? I still have 1/4 of the bottle left so I'll be trying it again with a bit less water sooner than later...sooner being in about 15 minutes. :)

On it's own though, very strong sherry right up front. Again, not sure how this compares to the other batches but this drink really hits you over the head with it. I've sampled more Islay's so this was something different for me.

I'd buy the #44 again if I can find it.

I have heard the 44 described (by someone who prefers peated Islay whiskies) as "what Scotch is supposed to be", meaning that regardless of what your favourite scotch is, this batch is so well crafted that it appeals to all (?anoraks?) because of its intrinsic quality.

I tried it with my Whisky club, and may have had a dram since then, and I really liked it. I had just bought it because I was turning 44 ( I had it the day after my birthday) and thought it would be cool to have a batch correspond to my age. This is the first time that happened since I started drinking it.

But I liked it so much I got a second bottle. I hope to find a 45 at the LCBO or elsewhere before I turn 45, and then I may have to start buying bottles every 5 batches as I'll otherwise accumulate them too quickly ( I drink other whiskies too so I can't buy so many in advance...

I did, interesting enough, notice on Wikipedia that they describe batch 42 then 44 and no mention of 43. And nothing when I google. Does anyone know what happened to it?

@Nozinan: We haven't seen #43 either! Lets hope it's being held back because of its' excellence, to be released later as another 'Sterling Silver Label' a'bunadh at 12 or even 15 years...dream on!

@JJBoud My wife bought me a bottle of Batch 45 for fathers day and I had a few glasses throughout the day. I found it very similar in body and overall taste to Auchentoshen Three Wood and the Macallen 12 Year Fine Oak with a stronger "punch". My brother in law had a few cups and loved it as well.

@A'bunadhman

So I contacted the company and apparently batch 43 was a limited release batch tat did not get distributed widely. Pity.

I wonder if batch 45 will make it to Ontario. I wouldn't mind sipping it next year as I hit another birthday. Though, as I mentioned, I can't do this every year, unless I'm prepared to drink a dram of A'Bunadh every 2 weeks and not drink down my oversupply.... Plus, at the rate they produce, by the time I'm 50 they'll be past batch 70. Where will I keep the bottles, and who can afford to buy ahead over two grand? Especially when there's Bladnoch to contend with...

May I also ask everyone opinion on Batch 45. Thsnks

@Nozinan Batch 43 isn't even listed on whiskybase... how many bottles have there been released?

@Wills - they didn't give me that information. Here's what they said:

Thanks for your message.

I enquired of our master blenders who can back with the following information:

It was a very special batch that was produced in tiny quantities for Pernod as part of a limited edition bottling.

Kind regards

Jonathan Osbaldiston

PP Julian Holder Visitor Centre Supervisor Chivas Brothers Ltd Aberlour Distillery Visitor Centre Aberlour AB38 9PJ Tel: 01340 881249 Email: Julian.holder@pernod-ricard.com

One of these days I will open my bottle. A good rainy day bottle for sure. I've got too many open right now to justify opening this one. The Uigeadail I just bought, took 44's place in line. So much hype and build up before I bought it I couldn't stand it. So far the 4's have been good to me. Batch 34 was great!

@Nozinan: Thanks for that important info. I still hope that we will see #43, perhaps dressed differently and, of course, with the usual price-hike.

I'm not entirely comfortable with a specialty Whisky maker who we support through all the batches and then has the audacity to tell us that this #43 is, in effect, too good for us - I would think that at Au.109.00 all the batches should be available to all supporters!

Slainte!

@A'bunadhman

I don't disagree. From a PR perspective there s bound to be a lot of disappointment with this "lack of respect" for the consumer.

A better strategy would have been to call the batch something else, like "Pernod's precious provenance" and keep the batch order intact for us little folk. However, just as a high-rise without a 13th floor still has a certain number of floors going up, we're not really "missing" any batches (unless they don't come our way for other reasons) so ultimately it's no big deal...

The product remains good. Most A'Bunadh drinkers will "keep calm and carry on" buying bottles as they come out.

I just bought my first bottle of A'bunadh. It is batch 44. I'm not planning to make a run on my store's supply or anything, so I'll spill the beans here for anyone who's looking for it in my neck of the woods (southern Wisconsin / northern Illinois): Woodmans in Rockford has about a half-dozen more batch 44s for the exceptionally low price of $53. Score!

Prices I've seen elsewhere (mostly Madison) run $67-$80.

I own four bottles of A'bunadh (batches 32, 34, 40, and 44) and 44 is a slight favorite among them all. As @A'bunadhman said, it is indeed "stunning."

I just finished some introductory paragraphs to a four-batch comparison review that I plan to finish later this week. I'll sample them side-by-side when I do so. I just hope my tasting notes are coherent after four drams of 60% ABV whisky in one night.

@WhiskyBee

I am eagerly looking forward to that review.

I've tasted the 32, 34 and 44, and the latter was my favourite of the three. I've also had 33, my favourite but also my first..., and 38, my least favourite.

I still have to try 27,28,35,36,37,42, and 45 (next year when I turn 45). What responsibility! What a task. I hope I'm up to it...

@Nozinan - Review posted. After four healthy drams of 60% ABV whisky in one night, I'm just glad I don't have to go to work until my evening class tonight. I need the day to rest with an ice pack on my head...;-)

@WhiskyBee

I read your review this morning. It must have been a wonderful experience. I have a few 120 cc bottles of different batches. I think 32, 34, 38 and 44. One day...

I wasn't blown away by the Batch 39. Maybe the 44 is better. I think this scotch appeals to those who really like bourbon.

@rigmorole yes I've heard that. Sometime I'll need to learn about bourbons and try a sipping bourbon to see if that is true.

Ralfy is doing a series of bourbons. I'll have to listen carefully.

@Nozinan I can't recommend batch 28 enough! From what I've read here it's particularly well regarded by many others on this site.

I just opened my bottle of batch 44 last night and did a side by side last night, and so far I still prefer 28. The 44 still seems a bit "tight" but I will give it a month or two to open up, as A'bunadhman suggests.