A'bunadh
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A'bunadh is a cask-strength single malt whisky from the Aberlour distillery. Though it has no age statement, it is released in limited run batches, each batch carrying a unique number on its label.
Most scotch whisky is aged in oak barrels, or casks, that previously held American bourbon. A'bunadh is exclusively aged in Spanish oak Oloroso sherry butts and therefore has a sweeter, softer flavor than most scotch. Some distilleries, most notably Macallan also age their whisky in sherry casks. At one time, sherry casks were universally used for maturing scotch whisky.
Almost all scotch whisky is chill filtered, a process in which the aged spirit is cooled before filtering. A'bunadh is not chill filtered. The advantage or disadvantage of chill filtering is under some debate.
The word a'bunadh is roughly translated into English from Scottish Gaelic as "original."
[edit] Released batch numbers
| Batch number | Alcoholic strength | Approximate year |
|---|---|---|
| 1-5 | 59.6% | 1997 |
| 6 | 59.9% | 1999 |
| Silver Label | 58.7% | 1999 |
| 7 | 59.9% | 2000 |
| 8 | 60.2% | 2001 |
| 9 | 60% | 2002 |
| 10 | 59.8% | 2003 |
| 11 | 59.8% | 2003 |
| 12 | 60% | 2004 |
| 13 | 59.8% | 2004 |
| 14 | 59.5% | 2005 |
| 15 | 59.6% | 2005 |
| 16 | 59.6% | 2006 |
| 17 | 60.2% | 2006 |
