Core v small batch

[sorren]

Just sitting sipping a nice toshan 21 last night and I got to thinking, would it be better if the distilleries dropped the core ranges and gave us either small batch releases or just different releases all the time, I know they can't because most people want the "usual" stuff from their favourite distilleries, but it would be great to just see the likes of abunadh from all the distilleries, something different every time... I would still expect good quality products, and not all young, the Balvenie single barrel range is another good example, I know it's a core range but it does change each batch and gives us something different... So just release all cask strength, ncf, no colour, and even more single barrels, I'm not overly fussy lol... What do you think ? .. Are you a core range fan ..

[Quaich1]

An interesting perspective Sorren. Some of the variables to be considered if one accepted the idea of dropping core range expressions in favor of exclusively small batch expressions or different releases all the time:

1) price differential (likely increases)

2) consistency in quality (small batches can be variable-we know some casks may not be as good as others)

3) availability (more people wanting and less goods available of a particular expression of whisky)

4) hype ( the proverbial rush to acquire anything new) and

5) "new line fatigue" ( some folks just like a trusted familiar brew and do not want to "experiment" all the time).

Personally, I think we need both streams, the core and the unique small batch. Also, in Canada, where there is a significant price differential with Europe for single malts with them generally being 20-30% higher here for the same bottle, going exclusively to small batch would likely increase this discrepancy even further and further decrease folks financial access to single malts. One more practical factor to consider.
_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946)

[Fergie]

To a certain extent i do like the consistency of core range bottles, especially older bottlings as we obviously pay more for these and it is good to know you will get the quality you expect. but there is always room for special small batch releases and i would like to see more offered from the distilleries

[opelfruit]

This is precisely the reason why Balblair is one of my favourite distilleries. Apart from the fact that it's all NCF, 46% and natural colour, it's vintage release. So once they are out of their 15yo from the 1999 release they will replace it with a 15yo from the 2001 release next year, and it'll probably be a different cask make up. Eg the 99 2nd release is a mix of sherry and bourbon whereas the 97 3rd release it replaced was just bourbon cask.


Makes the whole thing more interesting. You get a new whisky every time they put out heir next core bottling.


The big players however do need to keep a large outrun for their core as they are mainly supplying supermarkets and big exports, so they need the volume and consistency. It'd be nice to see more of them offering a small batch bottling though.....although some of the biggies already do this;

Nadurra, a'bunadh, glenfiddich 15yo distillery edition, balvenie single barrels.
_________________
"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."

[sorren]

I know the core range will always be with us but Murray when you look at the likes of abunadh and balvenie single barrel there isn't a rush for these and there is always plenty to go round, also the indies do it well with most releasing single barrel, cask strength, NCF, and no colour, but I'm always told I want too much.. But it would be nice.. As Opel says, Balblair have a good way by releasing vintages,