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) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------