Arran Marsala Cask Finish

Arran 12 Year Old / Cask Strength / Batch 6

This 12 Year Old Cask Strength appeared in 2016 and seems to be the last of its kind. I did not see such a release in 2017 (nor in 2018, but the year is only halfway after all). Looks like this Batch 6 is the final one. Lovely mix of white orchard fruit, sultanas, marzipan and Reine Claude plums, with a truckload of vanilla. Some salted caramel....

Score 84/100

Arran Amarone Cask Finish

This whisky spends around 8 years in bourbon casks before being transferred for 9 months to Amarone wine casks. The smell directly from the bottle strongly suggests grapes. When you pour a glass you see that the whisky is a pale but unmistakable pink hue, like strawberry Frutopia. Rest assured that this is the natural colour. It goes very cloudy...

Score 89/100

Arran 14 Year Old 1997 Maltman

Maltman is the label used by the Medowside Blending Company. I have already tried quite a few of their single malts. Today we try one from a distillery that I am not at all familiar with: Arran. The nose is sweet on malt, vanilla, flowers, pineapple, apple and peach. Some marzipan and something that reminds me of cuberdons, a typical purple candy...

Score 84/100

Arran 12 Year Old Cask Strength

This is batch # 1 of Arran's new core expression. Nose: at full strength, it is warm, butter-nutty (peanut brittle?), somewhat closed. After adding water it becomes fudgy, slightly herbal, and much fruitier (melons, pears). A touch of licorice. Very inviting. Taste: at full strength it fairly explodes on the tongue, first with that lively Arran...

Score 90/100