Whisky Review – Arran 12 CS, Amarone Cask, Tokaji Aszu Cask.

review-3-4-arran-12-amarone

Arran 12 CS – Batch 5 [Link]

Region: Isle of Arran

ABV: 52.9%

E150: No

Chill-filtered: No

Container: Glencairn Neat with a few drops of distilled water, rested for 30 minutes.
Colour: Gold
Nose:  Caramel, dried fruits, malt, oak, honey, sherry, and perfume/floral notes(if I sniff further away from the glass)
Palate: Very nice in the mouth, bit of salt, very little alcohol burn, chocolate, sweet cake, few more drops of water opens up fruity notes and hints vanilla in the background.
Finish: Long finish, lingers around in the mouth with oak and spiciness.
Score: 82/100

Not too complex, has a nice nose with a lot of malt, good mouth feel, but lacks complexity.

Arran Amarone Cask Finish

Region: Isle of Arran

ABV: 50%

E150: No

Chill-filtered: No

Container: Glencairn Neat with a few drops of distilled water, rested for 30 minutes.

Colour: Redish Copper/Darker Rosé Wine

Nose: Red fruit jam, raisins, hints of oak, honey, chocolate.

Palate: Dark chocolate, cooked fruits, more burn than the 12CS, tiny tiny hint of spice.

Finish: Medium finish, mouth warming, fruit lingers for a bit with a soft oak flavor.

Score: 83/100

Offers a bit more than the 12 CS, there is a surprising amount of alcohol burn compared to even higher proof whiskies. I enjoy the wine influence here in this whisky.

review-5-arran-tokaji-aszu

Arran Tokaji Aszu Wine Cask Finish

Region: Isle of Arran

ABV: 55%

E150: No

Chill-filtered: No

Container: Spiegelau Whisky Sniffer Neat with a few drops of Islay water

Colour: Light Copper

Nose: Hints of sourness, orange/citrus, sweet flower notes, a small hint of grass.

Palate: Smother than the Amarone Cask, red grapes, hints of orange and pear, vanilla, more matured fruits, hints of oak.

Finish: Long and complex, kicks in with a small bit of salt, fruity notes, spice, yeast.

Score: 87/100

This is the most interesting one out of all three, and the most complex, a really special finish, opens up really well with few drops of water, I would buy a bottle if I could get my hand on it. Tried it at Via Allegro with over 1000 whiskies in their collection.

Whisky Review – anCnoc Flaughter

review-2-ancnoc-flaughter

anCnoc Flaughter [Link]

Region: Highland

ABV: 46%

E150: No

Chill-filtered: No

Container: Glencairn Neat

Colour: Pale Straw

Nose: Peat, Smoke, Fruits, Pear, Apple, hints of sweetness.

Palate: Peat, Malt, Oaky, Pear, Decent thickness in the mouth, a bit like a candy, no alcohol burn.

Finish: Peat, Smoky on the exhale, lingers on for some time along with the pear.

Score: 83/100

After doing some research on Reddit and asking for people’s opinion, I landed on this slightly peated dram as my gateway to peat. Peated to only 14.8ppm, initially peat and smoke on the nose, then kicks in the pear notes. I love the fruity pear notes in this whisky along with the peat and smoke, it strikes a really good balance along with a nice long finish. Apparently they used the flaughter to remove the top layer of the peat so it’s not earthy and medicinal. This is excellent for people like me who are used to Speyside and Highland whisky, the peat adds a nice depth to this not overly complex whisky. Looking forward to other anCnoc whiskies, and the world of peat ahead of me.