Arran 1997 24 Year Old Single Cask (Vintage Bottlers)

Review #015 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 51.6% Comments: aged 24 years, single sherry cask maturation Tasted after: Bladnoch Adela 15 Year Appearance (no score): Treacle color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, and it just sits there, legs are very slow to form. Nose: 19/20 One of the most interesting sherry bombs I’ve nosed, full of pineapple and oranges, also some caramel and vanilla here as well. This one definitely excites and gets your mouth watering. Palate: 39/40 Wow, there’s just so much flavor here, where to start? Tart cherries, green apple, pineapple, and kiwis… It’s like taking a bite of fruit salad, but it’s also got the perfect amount of a hot peppery heat to it. Finish: 38/40 Nice long finish, starts with the pepper burn kicking it up a couple notches. After a moment dark chocolate bitterness and red currents make an appearance slowly adds a hint of salt, and ends with your mouth watering for the next sip. With Water: Water wasn’t beneficial here. I found it depletes the pepper burn and without that flavor to balance out the sweetness it’s less remarkable and unique. Total: 96/100 Final thoughts: I can understand why this bottle won silver at the 2023 World Whiskies Awards, it’s truly remarkable and an instant favorite. Price: $275 Would recommend: yes Would buy: yes Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.