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Editor’s note-the Arran whiskies reviewed below are young and still progressing on their path to maturity. Their scores reflect this. However, I should also note that they are maturing well for their age, and I anticipate that they will evolve into very nice whiskies within five years or so.
81
The Arran Malt, 10 year old, 46%, $45
A fruity-sweet whisky (but still quite light and lively), with notes of orange marmalade, lemon meringue pie, and apricot. There’s also an underlying vanilla maltiness that is balanced nicely by oak spice on the finish. A respectable effort for a 10 year old and versatile enough to drink any time of the day (but I would prefer it before dinner).
(1st Quarter 2007 Issue-Vol. 16#1)
80
The Arran Malt, Limited Edition (58.4%)
Reddish amber color. Aromas of honey drenched fruit, toffee, and fudge. Medium to heavy in body. Rich and sweet in flavor (toffee, fudge, caramel), with interwoven notes of rich, ripe fruit. Lingering toffee sweetness on the finish.
Style: Highland (Isle of Arran) single malt Scotch whisky. Price: approx. $70. Available nationwide (imported by Vin DiVino, 773/334-6700).
This Limited Edition "The Arran Malt" is a single cask release, bottled uncut. It was distilled in 1997, aged in a sherry hogshead, and bottled in 2002, so it’s only five years old. However, it’s the richest and fullest, and it tastes the oldest of the three Arran malts reviewed in this issue. (Maybe it’s just the sherry masking its youth?) I enjoyed this one the most, even if some of the distillery character is masked by the sherry notes.
(3rd Quarter 2003 Issue-Vol. 12#3)
80
Arran Single Island Malt, Non-chill-filtered (46%)
Style: Highland (Isle of Arran) single malt scotch
Color: Straw Gold
Aroma: Youthful. Pears in syrup, honeysuckle, and vanilla with a hint of caramel and citrus.
Palate: Vibrant, somewhat youthful flavors that echo its aroma, finishing slightly sweet and a little fiery (because of its age).
General Comments: The lack of chill-filtering certainly makes this whisky more flavorful and dynamic than its filtered brethren. It also tastes a little more mature. This shows how a whisky can be affected by chill-filtering. I expect this whisky to continue improving with additional aging.
Price: low $40s. Available nationwide (imported by Vin DiVino, 773/334-6700).
(4th Quarter 2003 Issue-Vol. 12#4)
78
The Arran Malt (43%)
Bright gold color. Sweet pear, caramel apples, vanilla, and fudge on the nose. Light to medium in body. On the palate, there is more fruit (pear, citrus) and sweet malt (vanilla, caramel, and toffee), with a gently sweet finish.
Style: Highland (Isle of Arran) single malt Scotch whisky. Price: high $30s. Available nationwide (imported by Vin DiVino, 773/334-6700).
Again there is no age statement, and this one is still on the youthful side, but it is richer (some sherry cask aging in the mix?) and expresses more flavors-and deeper flavors-than the one mentioned above. It is still quite young, but it tastes more mature than its age (which is probably six years at the most). There’s not much Island character here.
(3rd Quarter 2003 Issue-Vol. 12#3)
75
Arran Burns Single Malt (40%)
Pale gold color. Aromas of sweet pear, lemon, green apples, and vanilla. Light in body. Flavors are very youthful and similar to its aroma. Youthful finish.
Style: Highland (Isle of Arran) single malt Scotch whisky. Price: high $30s. Available nationwide (imported by Vin DiVino, 773/334-6700).
This Robert Burns World Federation Arran Single Island Malt is the Calvados or Poire Williams of the whisky world. There’s no age statement on this whisky, but it has the classic aromas and flavors of sweet pears prominent in very young distilled spirits. The vanilla notes, along with its pale color, suggest a used bourbon cask. I suppose one could treat it as an aperitif, and possibly chill it down or serve it on the rocks.
(3rd Quarter 2003 Issue-Vol. 12#3
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