Arran 11yo 2013/2026

Arran 11yo 2013/2026

Eldym Bottling Expressions, Lachlan Gillies
Single malt - Islands
Dark amber red
59.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, pears, white grapes, wet stones, orange peel, black pepper, thyme. With water, raisins, mint, wet stones, thyme, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, volatile, astringent, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, honey, cream, orange peel, black pepper, pears, black tea, hints of aluminium foil. With water, pears, honey, orange peel, black pepper. 
Finish: Short. Aluminium foil, black pepper, ginseng, black tea, honey. 

Comments: 

Really amazing whisky, especially for its age. Lots and lots of sweet honeyed notes, with a metallic edge especially on the tongue. Water brings out a peppery spiciness, which remains on the finish, which is short, intense and bitter.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Lochranza Castle (Arran 21yo)

Lochranza Castle (Arran 21yo)

Official bottling
Single malt - Islands
Golden, hints of pink

 47.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, parchment paper, honey, white pepper, orange juice, chamomile, green tea. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Honey, orange juice, chamomile, malted grains, nutmeg, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Long. White pepper, malted grains, parchment paper, orange juice. 

Comments: 

Fruity and slightly papery whisky. There are secondary notes of herbal tea, and spice on the tongue. It builds to a great, long, citrusy finish. Excellent dram indeed. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Arran 21st Anniversary Limited Edition

Arran 21st Anniversary Limited Edition

Official bottling
Single malt - Islands
Amber bronze
52.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, pears, eucalyptus, menthol, raisins, malted grains, sea salt, hints of soot. With water, fresh baked bread, menthol, camphor, hints of pencil lead. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, mouth coating, astringent. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Pears, eucalyptus, camphor, menthol, raisins, dried apricots, black tea, sea salt. With water, fresh baked bread, dried apricots, menthol. 
Finish: Medium. Walnut skins, camphor, black tea, eucalyptus. 

Comments: 

Quite herbal, with refreshing notes of menthol and eucalyptus, like liniment. But it’s also sweet and savoury, and water brings out dried fruit and cereally notes. Complex, layered, delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Arran 8yo 2014/2022

Arran 8yo 2014/2022

Provenance, Douglas Laing 
Single malt - Islands
Pale gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, butterscotch, butter, vanilla, apples, shortcrust pastry, hints of white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Green apples, butter, wet stones, cinnamon, vanilla, malted grains, hints of lemon zest, hints of fried eggs. 
Finish: Medium. Green apples, vanilla, malted grains, ginseng. 

Comments: 

Nice, appley, malty whisky, but the Island character is a little muted. There’s some sea salt somewhere, and some sulphurous fried egg, but it’s sour and fruity really.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Arran 10yo (pre-2019)

Arran 10yo (pre-2019)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islands
Amber gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, honey, wet stones, malted grains, barley sugar, white pepper, hints of golden syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Raisins, apricots, golden syrup, vanilla, barley sugar, cinnamon, hints of wet stones. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, cinnamon, vanilla, apricots. 

Comments: 

Stone fruit and minerals, along with some spicy notes. I missed this style of whisky when they were making it, the new Arran 10 is different. Quite pleased to get a sample of something that feels like it’s from a bygone era.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Arran 10yo 2011/2021

Arran 10yo 2011/2021

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Islands
Chinese tea
55.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, sea salt, cooked rice, strawberry jam, honey, Chinese angelica, hints of leather. With water, strawberry jam, cream, cooked rice, leather. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, mouth coating, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Raisins, cooked rice, leather, black tea, cloves, Chinese angelica, hints of cinnamon. With water, raisins, leather, Chinese angelica, cream. 

Finish: Long. Black tea, cloves, cooked rice, leather, raisins. 

Comments: 

Quite superb - cereally, starchy, sweet and herbal, lots of slightly bitter, savoury flavours. Excellent complexity, and some interesting flavour notes. Very enjoyable whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Arran Sherry Cask

Arran Sherry Cask 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islands
Amber gold
55.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cherries, dark chocolate, raisins, strawberries, honey, orange peel, sandalwood, cloves, hints of nutmeg. With water, fresh baked bread, cherries, dark chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Honey, orange peel, sandalwood, cloves, walnuts, dark chocolate, figs, raisins. With water, black tea, walnuts, cherries, dark chocolate. 
Finish: Medium. Dark chocolate, figs, raisins, cloves, nutmeg. 

Comments: 

Well-sherried indeed, quite a luscious and intense dram. The cask influence is strong, but Arran lends itself quite nicely to sherry anyway. Lots of delicious fig notes that make it fairly unusual. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Arran Port Cask Finish

Arran Port Cask Finish 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islands
Copper, hints of rose
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, red grapes, raisins, green tea, lemon zest, sea salt, peaches, hints of caraway seed. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Red grapes, yoghurt, peaches, fresh baked bread, caraway seed, hints of liquorice. 
Finish: Short. Nutmeg, red grapes, raisins, caraway seed. 

Comments: 

Quite sweet and fruity, with a glorious mouth feel. Plenty of grapes and peaches, but the really attractive thing is a subtle note of caraway seed that fades quickly on the palate. Quite lovely..

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Arran 21st Anniversary Limited Edition

Arran 21st Anniversary Limited Edition 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islands 
Amber
52.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Woodsmoke, sea salt, sandalwood, aluminium foil, raisins, hints of photocopy paper. With water, sandalwood, fresh baked bread, barley sugar, semolina pudding. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Fresh baked bread, honey, barley sugar, raisins, black tea, hints of woodsmoke. With water, black tea, semolina pudding, honey, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Long. Sandalwood, sea salt, fresh baked bread, vanilla, semolina pudding. 

Comments: 

Sweet, not a lot of smoke or peat (not that there’s a lot of that in Arran). Quite a lot of cereal as well, especially with a touch of water. It’s all very fragrant with decent complexity. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Arran Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish

Arran Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islands 
Golden, hints of copper
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, raisins, vanilla, honey, hints of black tea. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, tingly, expands slightly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange peel, honey, raisins, fresh baked bread, black tea, hints of hazelnuts. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, coffee, orange peel, honey. 

Comments: 

This is one of the old Arran cask finishes that have been discontinued. It’s quite lovely, smooth and gentle and flavoursome. Lots of fruit and honey, but that makes it a bit generic.

Verdict:

I like this.

Arran 25yo

Arran 25yo

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islands
Dark amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black tea, candied orange peel, nutmeg, manuka honey, chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, slippery, thickens slightly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Fresh baked bread, chocolate, dried apricots, manuka honey, raisins, candied orange peel, hints of cloves. 
Finish: Long. Chocolate, sea salt, candied orange peel, dried apricots, nutmeg. 

Comments: 

Well sherried Arran, sweet with more than a hint of the sea. Lots of cereal notes wreathed through with honey and dried orange peel, this whisky is very sweet. It’s a great official expression. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Machrie Moor Cask Strength

Machrie Moor Cask Strength

Official bottling
Single malt - Islands
Silver gold
56.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, smoked bacon, tobacco leaf, pineapples, white pepper, honey. With water, mint, sandalwood, honey, raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, cool, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Honey, fresh baked bread, peat, tobacco leaf, pineapples, sea salt, hints of buttermilk. With water, smoked bacon, sandalwood, honey, hints of mint. 
Finish: Long. Sea salt, honey, raisins, red grapes, hints of smoked bacon. 

Comments: 

Peated, cask strength Arran - what could go wrong? Well, nothing really did. This is glorious stuff, lots of sweet pineapple, an edge of spice, and heavenly, meaty smoke and peat. It's gentler with water, opens up to minty smoke and woody flavours.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Arran Single Malt Cote-Rotie Finish

Arran Single Malt Cote-Rotie Finish

Official bottling
Single malt - Islands
Amber red
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, fresh baked bread, chocolate, black tea, vanilla, hints of coffee. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, loosens, turns watery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Black tea, fresh baked bread, red wine, raisins, hints of pears. 
Finish: Long. Red grapes, coffee, vanilla, fresh baked bread, black tea. 

Comments: 

Perhaps I didn't do this whisky justice. This was the seventh (I think) dram in a long tasting session with some intense whiskies. This cut through all that though, sweet and winey, with more-ish cereal notes. Very nice indeed.

Verdict:

I like this.

Arran The Bothy Quarter Cask Batch 1

Arran The Bothy Quarter Cask Batch 1

Official bottling
Single malt - Islands
Golden
55.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, roses, caramel, raspberries, pink lady apples, hints of candy floss. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, slippery, slightly oily. 
Tasting:  Sour. Raspberries, plums, pink lady apples, roses, candy floss, hints of jasmine. 
Finish: Short. Jasmine, pink lady apples, raisins, plums. 

Comments: 

Floral and fruity, intensely appley. On the tongue it was like drinking Appletiser, but boozy and with heavy rose notes. Gorgeous tart notes from other fruit, and light, floral finish. Very nice indeed. Quite an amazing whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Arran Amarone Cask Finish

Arran Amarone Cask Finish

Official bottling
Single malt - Islands
Copper rose
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberries, raisins, milk chocolate, tobacco leaf, hints of smoke, hints of leather.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, chewy, thickens.
Tasting: Sweet sour . Raisins, strawberries, tobacco leaf, liquorice, milk chocolate, red grapes, hints of leather.
Finish: Medium. Milk chocolate, raisins, tobacco leaf, hints of grapefruit.

Comments:

Sweet, thick and unctuous, with a gorgeous rosy colour. Slightly smoky as well, which is a bit of a sting in the tail. Can't escape those grapey, winey notes, but it's loaded with chocolate and raisins, surprisingly without even a hint of vanilla. Another dessert whisky, but this one is more for grown-ups.

Verdict:

I like this.

Arran Sauternes Cask Finish

Arran Sauternes Cask Finish

Official bottling
Single malt - Islands
Golden yellow
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberries, honey, cream, peaches, white grapes, hints of cloves.
Mouthfeel: Light body, turns watery, airy, slippery.
Tasting: Sweet sour . Strawberries, honey, cream, white grapes, white wine, hints of white chocolate.
Finish: Short. White grapes, ginseng, cream, white chocolate.

Comments:

Hmm. Sauternes casks clearly impart some of the same character that madeira casks do, this reminds me of Penderyn finished in madeira casks. Very creamy, grapey, winey and chocolatey - white chocolate, that is. Spicy, fragrant and sweet, this is liquid, alcoholic pudding. Dessert wine finish gets you dessert whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Arran 12 yo 1996/2008

Arran 12 yo 1996/2008

Single Malts of Scotland, Specialty Drinks Ltd
Single malt - Islands
Straw
57.4% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Raisins, smoke, oats, roast pork, dried apples, glace cherries.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, warm.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Raisins, smoke, roast pork, dried apples, orange peel, hints of lemons.
Finish: Medium. Oats, raisins, dried apples, hints of apples.

Comments:

Meaty and sweet, smoky and rich. This is a great winter whisky, reminds me of cold windy days, and the rivers of fire flowing through my chest as I drink it. As a winter warmer, there's nothing better.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 121.22 (Arran 11 yo 1996/2008)

SMWS 121.22 (Arran 11 yo 1996/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Islands
Dark amber
58% ABV
Dram

Nose: Caramel, butterscotch, raisins, smoke, redcurrants, leather, molasses, hints of rum, hints of palm sugar.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, slippery.
Tasting: Sweet. Redcurrants, raisins, molasses, palm sugar, chillies, smoke, butterscotch.
Finish: Long. Chillies, leather, caramel, redcurrants.

Comments:

Sweet, smoky and spicy. Loaded with fruit and sweet things, including the caramelly sweetness that one only finds in palm sugar. Excellent whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Arran Marsala Cask Finish NAS

Arran Marsala Cask Finish NAS

Official bottling
Single malt - Islands
Dark bronze
58.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Oranges, vanilla, honey, red grapes, barley sugar, peanuts, hints of leather.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, watery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Red grapes, honey, peanuts, oranges, leather, hints of grass.
Finish: Medium. Oranges, honey, red grapes, leather.

Comments:

Sweet, leathery and nutty. There is some complexity in the spirit - leather (not quite peat) and some grass. I think the Marsala cask finish has obscured some of the detail. There are some very pleasant sweet notes.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 121.28 (Arran 11 yo 1998/2009)

SMWS 121.28 (Arran 11 yo 1998/2009)

2009, SMWS
Single malt - Islands
Peach flesh
53.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, cream, peaches, raisins, cough mixture, tobacco leaf, hints of green apples.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, turns watery, loosens.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Tobacco leaf, green apples, cough mixture, peaches, cream, sea salt, hints of potatoes. With water, sweeter, cherries, peaches, raisins.
Finish: Medium. Tobacco leaf, lavender, raisins.

Comments:

Very herbal, like taking snuff. It's hardly smoky, and not and all peaty, but the tobacco influence is very strong, underpinning all the other sweeter, more perfumed notes. An unusually gentle Arran.

Verdict:

I like this.