LuxeBook May 2022

N AS or No-Age Statement whisky is simply whisky that comes without any information about its maturation. If you are a whisky fan, then the term NAS Whisky is something you might have heard many times before. One of the main reasons whisky aficionados stray far away from NAS whisky is the fact that it might not be aged for as long as a fine-aged whisky — because like fine wine, whisky only tastes better with age. However, there has been a natural shift towards NAS whisky. Given the growing popularity of the drink, more people have taken to whisky from a younger age profile. With the growing demand for whisky, NAS whiskies have been recreated with a newer zest, specifically for those who enjoy the flavours of a good barrel-aged whisky. To know more about NAS whiskies, LuxeBook spoke to Nikhil Agarwal,CEO and Founder of All Things Nice and Angad Singh Gandhi, Brand Ambassador of Glendfiddich India. No Age Statement For true whisky aficionados, the age on a whisky bottle is often the sole decider of quality single malt. That is one of the biggest differences between an aged and a no-age statement whisky. By law, the age statement carried by a whisky must be that of its youngest whisky. For example, if a whisky is made up of 99% 25-year aged whisky, and 1% 3-year aged whisky, the age statement of that whisky must be 3 years. NAS whiskies are often Aberlour A’Bunadh A sherried cask strength whisky, Aberlour A’Bunadh is a symphony of sweet notes like candied almonds, butter cookies, orange peels and dried cherry, with spices like Szechuan peppercorn and nutmeg along with holiday spices. Ardbeg Uigeadail A mix of sweetness and smoke, Uigeadail is the perfect holiday whisky that smells like Christmas, with warm raisins, pine needles, and cedar aromas. The flavour palate on the other hand starts on a sweet note with honey and toffee, that build into rich, smoky aromas. Ballantine's Finest Blended Scotch Whisky First created in 1910, Ballentine’s Finest Blended Scotch whisky remains one of the best whisky blends. The whisky has a spice- first, sweet-next flavour from milk chocolate, red apple and vanilla that settles into a fresh, fruity aftertaste. Glenmorangie Signet One of the best whiskies of the year, the Glenmorangie Signet is a blend of two whiskies, one made with estate Cadboll and the second with high roast chocolate malt barley. It has a fruity flavour from candied orange peel along with spiced notes from coffee, ginger and cinnamon, followed by dark chocolate and tiramisu. Haig Club A fairly recent NAS single malt, Haig Club was launched by Diageo in collaboration with legendary footballer David Beckham and musician Simon Fuller. The whiskey is prepared in three casks: fast fill, rejuvenate and bourbon barrels. The whisky has sweet floral notes from vanilla, honey, floral and fresh green apple closing in on raisins and toasted almonds. Johnnie Walker Blue Label An unrivalled masterpiece, the Johnnie Walker Blue Label is a favourite for both experts and novices alike. The whisky has a velvet-y taste from hazelnuts, honey, orange and sherry moving into an explosion of spice from ginger, sandalwood, pepper, and tobacco. Monkey Shoulder Blended Scotch A triple malt scotch that was made for cocktails, Monkey Shoulder Blended Scotch is a smooth and creamy but also very malty scotch whisky. Cocoa, vanilla and butterscotch mixed with toasted barley, cloves and peppermint to create a malty blend that is the perfect mix of sweet of spice. • made up of different blends with different maturation dates – 3, 5, 10 or even 20 years, yet by law these will have to state the age of their youngest whiskey only. This is what leads to conflict among whisky drinkers who prefer an older age on a whisky bottle, which is traditionally considered superior. During the early 20th century, whisky bottles often carried the average age of the whisky rather than the youngest. After this became illegal, it gave rise to NAS whiskies which have been around for nearly a century. Even though NAS whisky does not carry the age, we know for a fact that it is at least 3-years old because all whisky by law must be aged for at least three years. Angad Singh Gandhi Brand Ambassador of Glendfiddich India 8| L U X E B O O K | M AY 2 0 2 2 M AY 2 0 2 2 | L U X E B O O K | 9