LeeEvolved
Arran Cask Strength 12 Year Batch 3
Single Malt — Islands, Scotland
Reviewed
August 13, 2017 (edited August 14, 2017)
It's been awhile since I reviewed an island region single malt. Thanks to our distillery tour group I was offered up this cask strength from the Isle of Arran. It's the 12 year old version and was generously supplied by my friend Scott. This is the 4th batch of this particular vintage and was released in 2014 and comes in at a whopping 54.1% ABV.
I've let this one sit and given it the occasional swirl for over 30 minutes. I'm trying to let the overwhelming power of the alcohol drift away so I can see if there's something deeper I can detect on the nose. I pick up hints of citrus fruits and a nice, heavy scent of vanilla. Breathing in deeply only results in the agonizing burn of this cask beast.
The palate is refreshing and tangy up front before stepping aside and letting the vanilla and sherry sweetness take over mid sip. Those same flavors hang around through the lengthy and warming finish. There's no peat, no smoke and I don't really pick up anything "islandy". It's a tad oily and there's a very woodsy feel left lingering once the burn finally fades. It's a thoroughly enjoyable malt.
I believe this runs around $60 a bottle and that's a solid deal for what you're getting here. Plenty of flavor, plenty of pop and you'll probably need plenty of aspirin the next morning if you get into a standoff with the bottle. Thanks to Scott for offering this one up as I've never seen it here in Virginia. This would be a wonderful after dinner sipper on a cool, fall evening. It'll warm you quite nicely while easily taking the edge off. 4.25 stars. Cheers.
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goes to show: if we look outside the standards of Talisker and HP, there's other little gems in the Islands
I agree it's not very Island-y but it's great nonetheless. Great flavors
Glad you liked. I myself have yet to sample, though I look forward in doing so.