Latest news with #CASCBar
Press and Journal
09-05-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
'Rescued' CASC Bar reopens as Whisky Situation Aberdeen
A new Aberdeen bar serving more than 700 different bottles of whisky is opening today, at the venue previously known as CASC Bar. Whisky Situation Aberdeen, the brainchild of 37-year-old Carlos Yabrudy, promises an exclusive whisky offering, as well as cigars, beer, wine and cocktails. The new owners of the the Stirling Street bar, opening on Friday at 5pm, hope it will become a tourist destination in Aberdeen. 'We want to eventually become the best whisky bar in Scotland,' Carlos says. 'We want people to say: 'when you go to Scotland, that's where you need to go'. 'That's the goal.' CASC Bar closed its doors back in December 2024 after 11 years on the Aberdeen food and drink scene. Carlos – who founded retail company Whisky Situation back in 2023 – has retained several members of staff in his bid to 'rescue' the city centre venue. He adds: 'I found out about this place, and when things were on the rocks I met the old manager and decided to rescue the place. And in doing so, saved three jobs and brought in three more staff members on top of that. 'For a lot of locals, this place was their second home. 'Hence there was a lot of sadness in the closing.' Carlos believes that his new bar – and its sister whisky shop on King Street – could help improve Aberdeen city centre. He says: 'Aberdeen is always playing third fiddle to Glasgow and Edinburgh, isn't it? 'Aberdeen has a lot here – Tall Ships and a lot of festivals. 'It's a city that works more like a town, where people talk more than other places. It's not so disconnected. 'Aberdeen is the closest to distilleries, on the cusp of Speyside – close to Macallan and Tomatin. 'People should be coming here from all over the world. 'Now there is an even better reason for them to come to the city centre. And hopefully start driving the city's regeneration.' The new bar will host private events including weekly tastings from distilleries like Tomatin and Lochlea. The range of whisky on offer is exclusive, says Carlos, with many bottles unavailable elsewhere in the UK. 'The main draw is having over 700 whiskies for people to try,' adds Carlos. 'We can give people the opportunity to try different things. 'A lot of this isn't available to taste before people buy it. So this will be a hub for people to try the newest GlenAllachie or Lochlea.' Unique bottles available to sample include Brother's Bond straight bourbon whiskey from actors Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, and Japanese whiskey from Yamazaki Distillery. Also boasting the 'largest humidor in Scotland', the bar offers a range of cigars. Drams will range from £4.50 to over £100 at Whisky Situation Aberdeen. 'We can open a bottle that costs £200 per dram, it depends what people ask for,' he adds. 'I'm a very flexible guy. It's not a problem.' Bottles like the single cask Glenfarclas Family Cask range might be more pricy for a dram. Carlos adds: 'You're looking at £8,000 per bottle. 'So if you divide them up, that's about £200-300 per single [dram].' The team are looking forward to opening the new bar and King Street shop this evening. Carlos says: 'I'm excited to have everyone down. 'It feels like your family coming to see you again when you haven't seen them for a long time. 'The atmosphere won't be clinical – or like a dank student bar – but rather a familiar place.' There are plans for refurbishment further down the line to turn the bar into a 'speakeasy style' venue. The new King Street whisky shop will be open Tuesday to Saturday. The Stirling Street bar will be open daily 3pm to 12am Sunday-Thursday, and till 1am Friday and Saturday.
Press and Journal
30-04-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
Exclusive: Meet the whisky businessman taking over the former CASC Bar in Aberdeen
A globetrotting businessman with 'big plans' is taking over the former CASC Bar in Aberdeen. Carlos Yabrudy, from Surrey, founded Whisky Situation in 2023 in response to what he says was 'frustration' over the high prices of older whisky. When the whisky-mad businessman heard in December that the CASC Bar was to close, he thought it a 'great opportunity' for the company to open their own bar. As well as this, the 37-year-old and his team will also be taking over the adjacent shop and the running of the Whisky Mash festival. The bar will open its doors on May 9 and will be open seven days a week from 3pm to 12am – with later opening until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays. Shortly after founding the company, they began working with bottlers like Douglas Laing and Angus Dundee, then after a lot of positive reception, exhibited at Whisky Live London in 2024. The event caused their popularity to skyrocket with many then following them on social media. Speaking exclusively to the P&J, he said: 'After hearing about CASC Bar in Aberdeen, we thought 'what better thing could we have than our own bar?'. 'Having a bar in Scotland makes a very strong statement that we're serious about this. 'We don't just want some money, we want to be a part of what this is and contribute and help one of the greatest industries the UK has. 'We believe whisky is for drinking, and that the industry deserves a large amount of support for what it does.' CASC Bar – an acronym for cigars, ale, Scotch and coffee – had been a part of the Granite City's bar scene since 2013. It offered beers from all over the world and an extensive selection of whisky. In September, CASC owners Bill and Paul West said ongoing work at Aberdeen Market had combined with LEZ zones and bus gates to have a huge impact on customer numbers. And in December they decided to close their doors. Carlos has a background in telecommunications and has worked in an array of countries, including Germany and The Netherlands. He also speaks a range of languages – among them English, Dutch, German, Italian and Spanish. And Carlos believes his adventures across the world help Whisky Situation focus on a lot of different markets. He said: 'We will have whisky that people have heard of, but never tried, and others that will be totally new to them. 'We think that, because of what we have there, people will want to come back. 'On a month-to-month basis, when people come, what we offer will be different. 'We want people to come in and ask: 'what do they have now?' as it will constantly change.' Some exciting additions to the bar will include Old Jim Beam Bourbon decanters as well as distillery exclusives from Springbank. Mr Yabrudy has already employed five new people for his team at the Aberdeen bar. He said: 'What we offer at Whisky Situation isn't a bar job – it's a career. 'They will go to distilleries, they will have their knowledge expanded. 'A lot of the focus will be on their development.' Alongside Carlos is Euan Blair, who he said has been 'massively helpful' with the development of Whisky Situation. The founder said: 'Euan's been massively helpful and I don't think this place would be here now without him.' They will also be taking over what was formerly CASC shop – where they say they will have over 700 kinds of cigars available, as well as a wide range of whisky. It will be open from 10am to 6pm. 'Since we know our market well, and our orders are very steady, another physical store will give us even more of presence,' Carlos explained. 'We will join the Aberdeen Whisky shop, who are a bunch of great guys, to be a part of what the city has to offer. They will also be taking over the Whisky Mash festival. 'Whisky Situation Aberdeen is going to be a bar that is for the people in Aberdeen and for people from around the world. 'We aim to provide people with an exciting experience – and one that will be different every time they visit.'
