Follow on Twitter:@WhiskyPassionsThere aren't many alcohol based topics as controversial non age statement whisky. Essentially in order to call a product Whisky the freshly distilled spirit must be aged for a minimum of three years and a day. The results of this will likely end up in your Bells type products.
Historically the vast majority of Single Malt Whisky's came with clear ages brandished on the font of bottle and packaging; such as 10, 12, or 15 as an indication of quality. This meant that the youngest whisky in that bottle would be the age displayed. Although nothing would be there to stop a distiller putting old whisky in. This description differs from other oak aged products such as Tawny Port where the Age Statement is an average age of the Ports in the bottle.
With stocks running low of older whisky due to popularity being at an all time high, in addition to new markets such as China, distillers have looked at ways of furthering their whisky supply's and therefore increasing profit. This is what has tended to give Non Age Statement whisky a bad name.
Broadly speaking Non Age Statement (NAS) whisky falls into three different categories:
- Luxury Whisky such as Johnnie Walker Blue Label
- Premium Whisky such as Ardbeg Uigeadail & Corryvreckan, Talisker 57 Degree's North or The Yamazaki Sherry Cask which Jim Murray gave whisky of the year
- Budget supermarket Whisky slightly cheaper than (or replacements for) than Age Statement bottling such as Laphroaig Select Reserve, Talisker Skye, The Glenlivet Founders Reserve or Dalwhinnie Winter's Gold
Many people who are passionate about whisky are extremely angry with the massive influx in NAS whisky that has been brought to market in recent years. I understand this point to an extent but it is difficult to accept the argument that NAS whisky is cheap to produce and used to inflate profit margins when some of the finest whisky bargains are NAS. The aforementioned Ardbeg Uigedaal and Corryvreakan are whisky's of an incredibly high standard, I enjoy the fun Auchentoschan Three Wood as well as the Arran Cask Finished range (Amarone Finish in particular). My most recent purchase at the time of writing the Bunnahabhain Moine Oloroso is a batch of seven peated Oloroso casks vatted and released at Cask strength; no Age Statement in sight.
NAS whisky is nothing new. Johnnie Walker Blue Label has whisky upto 40 yrs Old in each bottle and as such I struggle to get on board with any anti NAS whisky sentiment. I understand that distilleries are now selling cheaply produce rubbish at around the £30 price point. Laphroaig sells the Select Reserve for a couple of pounds cheaper than the Laphroaig 10, so they can Age their product for less than half the time required for the standard bottling; but the solution to this is simple; don't buy the Select Reserve. Laphroaig will soon stop producing it if no one buys it.
I didn't see anyone complaining about NAS whisky when Laphroaig first brought out its Quater Cask bottling. This was a few pounds more than the standard bottling and the whisky was aged in smaller barrels to give it more contact with the wood. This quicker maturation process meant that they bottled the whisky after approximately six years, without an Age Statement and the ABV increased from 40% to 48%. It was very popular.
In conclusion there is no doubt that low end NAS whisky can be cheaply produced and lacking in quality; I certainly wouldn't recommend taking any NAS whisky of a supermarket shelf. However I tend to buy at least as much NAS whisky as I do Age Statement and the reason for this is the quality and value that the bottles are purchase are some of the best available today. I love a beautifully aged whisky that offers great value such as Laphroaig 18 (sadly now departed), the BenRiach 20, the, The Glenfarclas 25 but, I'll never limit myself to only Age Statement whisky and continue to try and pick the winners and avoid the duds.
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