Arran 14 Year (2010 Release)

Following the Arran 10, I felt like this was my next logical place to go on my Arran journey. The 10 was a clean, fruity Island malt with a Highland profile. I’m expecting more of the same but with a bit more richness and depth. Let’s check it out. Nose: Green apple, pear, and apricot right off the bat. Gentle honey, vanilla, malt, toffee, and butterscotch roll in behind that. Some toasted and almond and walnut give it a more robust feel. Sugar cookie and ginger snap. Cantaloupe. Oak, cinnamon, and white pepper spice. Plenty oak and some cinnamon Palate: Plush plum with some grape and raisin. More of the green apple, pear, and apricot. Same for the vanilla, toffee, and malt. There is also some orange and lemon citrus. Peach sweet tea. Walnut and toasted almond. A nice honeydew note. Pineapple and coconut. Sugar cookie. Some peanut butter, and it’s worth noting this is a high-viscosity, chewy whisky. Finish: More of the orchard fruit: green apple, pear, and apricot. Sugar cookie, honey, vanilla, toffee, peanut butter. Toasted almond and walnut. Orange and pineapple. Oak. More of the orange and lemon citrus. Cinnamon, white pepper, clove, and nutmeg to boot. Moderate length. This is about what I was expecting—and about the best I could have hoped for. At its core, this reads as a more mature version of the 10-Year in terms of flavor profile, which makes sense because that’s what it is. But the statement stands. This takes the essence of the flagship 10 and makes it more robust and well-rounded. It’s an excellent malt. And for only $80, it’s well worth the price of entry. I had this slated at a 4/5 before factoring VFM, which earned this one an extra quarter star. It’s a damn shame this has been discontinued. It’s excellent stuff. If this sounds remotely appealing, I suggest buying on sight because it will deliver.

Almond, lots of fruit, smooth, apricot,

NOTE: This review was first posted three years ago but has been transferred from another listing. Arran tasting night at The Oak Barrel, Sydney, 12 July 2019. Whisky #3 [The whisky is now discontinued. It was included in the 2019 tasting as a retrospective]. Nose: Clean barley malt and fragrant fruit are the immediate impressions. Peaches, mango, honeydew melon, baked apples, vanilla, ginger syrup and a hint of mint, however the aromas are more rounded than in younger Arran expressions. Here there is a sense that they have been stewed together to create a complex sweet sauce or glaze. There's also a cooked grapey note reminiscent of cognac or armagnac coming from the sherry casks. Palate: A very sweet, creamy arrival followed by a rich, fruity and mouth-filling development. Crème brûlée and malt syrup, stewed fruits (apricots, peaches, nectarines and pears), orange conserve, hazelnut and toasted almonds. The texture is excellently oily and creamy. It's the most obviously rich and fruity Arran palate and if there is a fault it is that it can seem one-note sweet after a while. Fortunately this is ameliorated by a touch of oaky tannin and some warm spice. Finish: Medium/long. Sweet malt, fading to a slightly dry aftertaste with dry sherry and tannic notes, some nutmeg and salt. Arran's 14 year old expression contains all of the elements that are notable in its younger whiskies, but here they are larger, more rounded, sweeter and richer. The characteristic distillery ginger and white pepper spice is much tamed here, and the fruity sweet notes are thick and unctuous. Water broadens the texture even further and is interesting, but not required. The last expression of this I tasted was an older batch and it had a more herbal character. That earlier review is attached below. "Very Good" : 86/100 (4 stars) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Originally reviewed December 2, 2017 Nose: A very fresh cereal aroma with grapefruit, barley sugar and a soft underscore of armagnac. There are light floral touches, but also a lot of herbal and grassy notes - mint, crushed camelia leaves, sencha, freshly chopped ginger. As the nose develops bush orchid, honeydew melon and eucalyptus become apparent. A little oak in the background and a subtle cloud of brine that you don't notice until after the second or third sip. An interestingly different nose - floral, but not at all heavy or sweet - "dry grassy floral" if you will. Palate: A citrus-sweet and slightly spicy arrival develops into a mouth-filling palate that is full of wonderful cereal and light fruit flavours. Milk chocolate, malt and stewed fruits, but there is a light touch overall. Rinsed preserved lemons and hazelnuts. Finish: Medium, and turning satisfyingly salty. Some fruity and nutty flavours linger. This is a very well balanced, creamy malt with a subtle but assured character, and for me the nose is the outstanding part of the performance. Really excellent, it rewards time and patience. Water is not necessary, but a drop or two enhances the neat character. Adding a whole teaspoon changes the character more noticably, but in a good way. The nose becomes rounder and richer and the oak comes forward from it's supporting role in the background. On the palate, adding water softens and enhances both the sweet and spicy flavours and in the finish it redefines the saltiness, turning it salt-sweet and making barley sugar the final flavour. A class act overall, and deserving of a solid 4 stars. This is not a malt to hurry or even an everyday dram - it's one to ponder in the company of good music. "Very Good" : 86/100 (4 stars) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------