This is an updated tasting. I first had this limited edition (~3000 bottles) in an event offered by Australian “The Whisky Company” under the guise of “Age of Distinction Isle of Arran virtual tasting”. The tasting had seven 15 ml samples, Arran 10, 18, 21, 25, 15 Bordeaux, this 15 Argonne, and a Machrie Moor. As the sixth sample of the night, and under the romantic notion of something very rare I think I may have been overly generous with the meagre sample I tried. I loved the Argonne on the night and wanted to explore it more, so tracked down a bottle. The original tasting was from a sample contained in a plastic/foil juice bag. My retaste of the Bordeaux 15 had me raise the questions: will 15 ml ever be sufficient to actually taste and emote with a whisky, and (2) what is the effect of juice bagging a whisky sample over glass bottling? I hope to have those resolutely answered shortly. Before I open this bottle I must give credit to the packaging. This is probably the best packaging I have seen for a whisky. The bottle and casing is perfectly in keeping with all the other rebranded Arran’s. A simple tube, a clean precise simple bottle, brail, the stylised map of the island with the large still and two golden eagles; lovely. But this case is rock hard, with a lovely tactile sugar-paper type external covering and internal soft fabric lining. The lid a beautiful coaster that locks tightly into the case. Just lovely to see this care and detail. Anyway, onwards. The liquid coming out of the bottle is as impressive looking as the cask. A beautiful pale copper colour that leaves viscous honey like legs trailing down the inside of my glass. N: Thick with fruity wine, stewed apples, aromatics in the form of jasmine tea or old cedar moth balls. Lovely citrus like you would find in an oil air freshener diffuser. The slightest honeyed malt can be found too. Rich and oozing character nothing is overly dominant, everything balances and works together. The nose is so much better than I remember. It seems to accomodate an overly zealous sniff too without the relatively high ABV (53.5%) becoming even remotely known. P: Soft, delicate, and refined. The first sip is cautious but slowly builds its presence. An initial creamy apple or pear is wrapped with honey and malt. A velvety mouth feel takes over. The oaks presence is found as delicate buttery tannin which is perfectly juxtaposition against the prickle of Arran’s staple ginger note. The creamy richness is probably where i found ‘strawberries and cream hard candies” last time around. It’s better than that its really supple leather, tropical fruit and chardonnay. This is good. Its very good. But I am not yet blown away like I was before. F: Long. A satisfying development of ginger, honeyed malt, and a reappearance of the jasmine tea florals I found on the nose. A delicate end with nothing detracting. A few drops of water and the malt profile of the nose is slightly brought out, a little ginger develops and the jasmine tea strengthens. The palate, with water, follows the nose honeyed malt takes over and the ginger becomes a little aggressive. Citrus is more noticeable and some of the creamy leathery texture is lost. The finish is seemingly unaffected by water. First, I am convinced that little foil juice bags should not be the carriers of precious liquids. This is not the same liquid I drank four months ago. Nor was the Bordeaux 15. Whisky belongs in glass. Trust me, I’m a doctor. I’ll hear no more on the matter. In kind 15 ml is not enough to take anything seriously. A minimum of 30 ml is needed to even approach a whisky (unless it’s at the lower end of the food chain, crap tastes like crap in any volume). I am convinced of as much here. Overall I think this is maybe the most interesting Arran expression of the now twelve I have tried. Is it the best one, tough to say. I think I need a bigger glass pour of the 18, 21, and 25 to make that call. I know I wont buy this again, not only for its rarity, but I don’t think the cost is justified. Whilst the Argonne is very well made, balanced, nuanced, delicate, and all around wonderful stuff I am not captivated by it. My imagination is not snared and I am not transported away from the world around. I am standing by this for my highest ratings now from where I said it on the Lagavulin 12 recently. Previously I rated the Argonne at 5.0/5.0. Now, I temper that, and bring it back to a still very good 4.5/5.0. 
*** 7th July 2022 Sixth 15 ml sample of the night (6/7) N: a little bit of spirit, stewed apples, jasmine tea, woody notes. P: tropical fruit, pear juice, fresh and vibrant, oak comes across like a wooded chardonnay, light citrus, strawberry and cream hard candies. F: long warmth. oaky, baking spice, refreshing and clean. The balance on this whisky is sublime. The second it hits your mouth you know it’s something rarified and special. The oakiness comes and goes to let all the flavours shine on their own merits. This dram showcases the best of the arran spirit without overshadowing or being overshadowed by the incredible wood. Absolutely raging that this isn’t available in Australia.... but I was able to land one of the ~3000 bottles in auction. I suspect a long time will pass before I open it though... Distiller whisky taste #42