Tag: isle of arran

Arran 18 Year Old 1996 (Carn Mor Celebration of the Cask 2135)

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Arran 18 Year Old 1996 (Carn Mor Celebration of the Cask 2135)

Region: Isle of Arran

ABV: 52.65
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: Sherry Puncheon
Distilled 17/12/1996, Bottled 30/03/2015

 

Colour: Amber

Nose: Rum raisin, raspberry, strawberry, pear, custard, malt, grass, orange peel.

Palate: Orange peel, red berries jam, cherry syrup, floral, oak, pear, red mango, red raspberry, ginger, chocolate, mint.

Finish: Medium+ finish, honey, mineral, cinnamon, pepper.

Score: 89/100

The Arran I’ve had previously are usually rather so-so, exception of the Tokaji Aszu CS release. The IBs aren’t exactly mind blowing either, but this changes my view of Arran. Spent 18 years in a Sherry Puncheon, this dram is packed with complexity. Surprising amount of tropical notes alongside the sherry influence, the Arran spirit really shining through. The palate hits you with waves of red fruits and spice, the tropical fruit from the nose is apparent here as well, pear, red mango, with nice creamy chocolate; carried through into a spicy finish with mineral notes. Fantastic stuff!

Whisky Review – Arran Private Cask 10 Year Old for LCBO

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Arran Private Cask for LCBO 10 Years Old [Link]

 

Region: Island

ABV: 55.4%

E150: No

Chill-filtered: No

Cask type: First fill bourbon cask

Cask No. 2005/800228

Bottle No. 233/236

 

Container: Spiegelau Whisky Snifter with a splash of water, rested for 30 minutes.

Colour: Pale Gold

Nose: Vanilla, caramel, honey, sweet nose, apples, hints of peaches, dried apricot.

Palate: Cereal, sweet malt, honey, apples, hot on the palate needed to dash it with more water. Slight hint of salt, slight spice.

Finish: Medium-long length finish, sweet malty in the mouth, slight oak, spice.

Score: 83/100

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

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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.

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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.