Age statements: how important are they +"NAS age drift

[Quaich1]

We have been discussing a lot about trends toward NAS offerings. I came across an interesting article on the subject and particular reference to "NAS age drift."? :"When a producer first goes NAS with a brand, it might taste just fine. But, after time, as their ratio of old to young whisky nosedives, they might be just too tempted to "tweak"? the formula, slowly and gradually so most of you won't notice, getting more of the younger whisky into the mix." The rest of the article below.

Your views on this concept.....



http://whiskyadvocate.com/whisky/2013/04/09/age-statements-how-important-are-they/
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"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946)

[opelfruit]

Indeed, and naturally it will happen.

Most NAS offerings are there because either the distillery is struggling with aged stock level or they want to get the whisky out to market faster to increase profits during what they perceive to be a boom in buyers.

If the issue is with aged stock levels there is a problem with drift;

They have stock problems with older whisky, they put some into the NAS but not a huge amount, they realease a NAS whisky to take the pressure off.

The learn'ed consumer (us) sees the NAS hit the market, gets concerned about older versions and starts to buy it up at current prices before it gets too pricey or withdrawn, thus putting more presure on the aged stock.....so they shoot themselves in the foot.

Aged stock prices start to rocket as they try to put off buyers so the speculators pop up and jump in to make a quick buck, buying more aged stock and thus increasing the presure.

So what goes into the NAS a few years down the line? Well, they're running out of aged stock, and by now it's far far far too expensive to use in the NAS offerings, so the ratio goes down and so does the quality (generally).



A self perpetuating circle of decline, pat your selves on the back distilleries



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I might add that I do buy NAS and will contiue to do so as long as it's of good quality. Bad NAS I won't buy. If there is a good NAS bottling out there that is priced right then I don't have an issue with it, and some NAS is certainly equal (if not better) than some older whisky. Take is each on it's own merrit.
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"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."

[sorren]

There is little point going round in circles talking about NAS, they are here to stay no matter what, I for one would have no problem buying younger whisky if the distilleries gave us higher abv and ncf, no caramel,single barrels, if it's good it will sell, NAS can be good ...

[Quaich1]

Now, take a gander at this. Even graffiti artists know about NAS drift.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/swisher13/14533973025/


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"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946)

[glenugie22]

Quality find Quaich1 !!

All he needed was a botlle as the 'dot' above the 'I'

With the trend seemingly moving towards NAS expressions from distilleries - will this mean there will be more opportunities for 'master distillers' to make their mark ??
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Slainte

The last time I turned down a whisky, I didn't understand the question!