Non Age Statemen Whiskies Have Advantages, But Also Weaknesses

The Non Age Statement whisky, also known as NAS whisky, seems to be a trend that's here to stay. In this article, we delve into the main advantages and disadvantages of NAS whisky.

Distilleries constantly push boundaries and aren't afraid to experiment with various blending techniques and aroma profiles to craft new and exciting expressions. The absence of an age statement gives distilleries a lot of freedom, but this change has its downside too! We'll help you understand what's what.

Unsurprisingly, an NAS offers the flexibility to blend various whiskies in different proportions, creating a unique flavor that's hard to achieve with strict age limitations.

With the ability to blend different age whiskies, distilleries can ensure a consistent product that varies less in taste over time than whiskies with an age statement. Even the taste of major brands like Johnnie Walker and Glenfiddich has varied between a whisky from the 1980s and now.

NAS whiskies provide the opportunity for more experimentation with maturation techniques (cask-finishings) without too many restrictions.

As no specific maturation time is required, other than the usual three years for Scotch whisky, an NAS whisky can be brought to market sooner, which can be a more cost-effective way of producing whiskies.

NAS whiskies can be attractive to younger whisky drinkers as they are often softer in taste and less pronounced than older whiskies. Unique blends, or innovative whiskies, can also be attractive to the more seasoned drinker looking for something different.

Some whisky connoisseurs argue that the absence of an age statement means a lack of transparency, giving customers less information about the quality and taste of the whisky.

As there's a chance a whisky could be rushed to market for profit, there can be concerns over the quality of the whisky. Moreover, there's worry over the potential inconsistency between different batches. Critics fear that NAS whiskies are being used to mask inferior whiskies in a blend by mixing them with higher quality whiskies.

Because NAS whiskies provide less information about the age of the whiskies used, they may hold their value less well than single malt whiskies with an age statement. This can result in NAS whiskies being less coveted in the secondary market and less valuable as collectibles.

Of course, we're interested in where you stand on this debate. NAS Whisky, yes or no?