Arran 21 Year

Nose: Berries, almond honey-nut cluster muesli, sweet malt, orange liqueur, peach brandy, Turkish delight, the barest hint of sawdusty oak and a zephyr of fortified wine in the background. Palate: Very soft, sweet arrival – a bowl of ripe red berries smothered in raspberry coulis, mascarpone, vanilla custard and honey. A little ginger in sweet syrup in the development together with sweet cinnamon, milk chocolate and unroasted cashew nuts. The texture is almost syrupy. Finish: Medium. Apricots, sultanas and a little mild spice on a sweet caramel base. A soft and easily approachable whisky that will please any palate but for me it lacks character and I don’t think it is good value. It’s very pleasant, for sure, but also limited in range and no better than many whiskies at a third the price. If I were to sum this one up in one word it would be "meh". I don’t mind a straightforward sweet profile focused on fruit, even if it lacks complexity, but to me this was more akin to an easy-drinking 12 year old than a 21 year old. However, I can see why some palates would be very receptive to this subtle dram and rate it more highly. Maybe I'm just jaded and my palate is too old and battered to appreciate the nuances in this sort of whisky. Tasted from a 15ml sample “Good” : 84/100 (3.75 stars)

WS, lekerekedett, vagy inkább elhalványult? Kezdő whiskeysként, ezt még nem tudom értékelni.

Isle of Arran Distillery Virtual Tasting Event – Age of Distinction (The Whisky Company). Third 15 ml sample of the night (3/7) N- refreshing and crisp, nuttiness-almonds, bit of malt, P-dark chocolate, ginger, citrus, dark fruit and hazelnut F- medium. a little bitter, stone fruits, bakery spice, chocolate fullness. Very similar to the 10 and worlds apart from the intense sherry casking of the 18. The 21 gives more depth and complexity, fuller body and interesting soft hazelnut-chocolate notes in nose and palate. Hard to put down and layered with complexity. This 21 is easily recognisable as a progression of age from the 10. Less distinctive as it’s “own expression” compared to the 18. Distiller whisky taste #39

Less warm & sweet. A little more floral and dried fruit. Not my favorite of the lineup as there was a little brinier than I like, though it was still excellent.

Nose: very delicate, light raisins, sherry, but also ginger and orange peel. Palate: sherry and ginger, spicy on the tip of the tongue, raisins, orange. This at the first sip. Then chocolate and cinnamon cookies come out. Again delicate and very liquid, it gives me the idea of being younger than his 21 years. You have to let it breathe in the glass for 5-10 minutes, because vice versa you can feel (maybe it will be this bottle) a slight aftertaste of "corked" which is not pleasant at all. Final: spicy with orange peel and ginger. Good, especially on the nose. But honestly I was expecting so much more! Rating 4.25 _________________________________________________________________________ Naso: delicatissimo, leggera uvetta, sherry, ma anche zenzero e scorze di arancia. Palato: sherry e zenzero, piccante sulla punta della lingua, uvetta, arancia. Questo al primo sorso. Poi vengono fuori biscotti al cioccolato e cannella. Anche qui delicato e molto liquido, mi da l’idea di essere più giovane dei suoi 21 anni. Bisogna farlo respirare nel bicchiere per 5-10 minuti, perché viceversa si avverte (forse sarà questa bottiglia) un leggero retrogusto di “tappato” che non è per niente piacevole. Finale: piccante alle scorze di arancia e zenzero. Buono, soprattutto all’olfatto. Ma onestamente mi aspettavo molto di più ! Voto 4,25

Really excellent. Very smooth and exceptionally well-balanced