Tasting 6 Arrans

Fairly new distillery Arran, or Lochranza as its named, is a new shining star on the scene of scotch single malts. Time to try some of these whiskies from the isle of Arran. Remember, this distillery is only 17 years old.





Arran 10yo 1995-2005 46% OB 10th anniversary.

Golden amber color on this one. What I like about the new distilleries popping up in Scotland these days, are that many of them seems very interested in making good single malt whisky as to being just a workhouse for some blended brand. It smells sweet, cinnamon, caramel, dark chocolate, honey, when given time, about 3-5 minutes of breathing, most of these nice notes disappears and it gets a bit dull. The taste is light, dark chocolate, honey, caramel, pretty rich and intense sweetness. Subtle flavors of hay, pickles and aniseed in the finish.

A worthy celebrator of 10 years: 6


Arran 15yo 1995-2011 52% OB Arran Open Day

A bit like Ardbeg day I presume, just on another Island. Dark amber color. It smells peppery, flinty, moss, wet grass, forest (?). After a while there's more leather, more flinty, even some smoked paprika. The taste is fresh, peaty, meaty, barbecue sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, cheddar. With some added water it turns sweeter, more caramel, oloroso sherry, milk chocolate, strawberries, nougat.

Nice and unusual Arran, Rich, sweet non-coastal: 6


Lochranza 15yo 1996-2011 52.4% Blackadder Raw Caskcask#1599 btl.403/548

I remember another Lochranza from the same series a few years back, tasted in the dirties little pub in danish shipping port town Hirtshals, that one was nothing short of amazing. This one has been matured in a puncheon, which usually holds sherry, or other wine. The color is golden. It smells of flinty and metallic notes, dry hay, wheat, black pepper, briny, seaweed, salty, licorice, peppermint, sweet'n'tangy notes. The taste is honey, toffee, syrup, extremely sweet and fragrant. Also some dill, honey, mustard and onions. This is great stuff. The finish is on cranberries, pears, peaches, all fruity and good.

A mineral fruitbomb of another world: 8.5


Arran 11yo 1999-2011 56.6% ON cask#47

Arran has this series, called the ABC-series(Arran-bourbon-cask), which consists of CS-bottled single casked Arrans from Bourbon cask. They've proven to be quite a hit in Norway. Time to try a few for myself. The color is white wine. It smells peppery, mashed potatoes, caraway seeds, vinegar, brown sauce, plum spirit. The taste is of vanilla, meringue, honey, nessels, onions, caramel, peppery. The finish is raw and austere.

A good cask, but could benefit from later bottling, still a bit raw: 4


Arran 11yo 1999-2011 57.4% OB cask#46

A neighboring cask, or sister cask if you like, at a higher strength. Let's hope for a bit more "funk" from the aromas this time. Same white wine color. It smells of macadamia nuts, almonds, latex, rubbery, bitter leaves, hash browns, smoked ham, curry, garam masala, garlic. The taste is of vanilla, black pepper, honey, toffee, maize, grain, just a bit too sweet and light for me.

Evidently I'm not an ABC-guy: 4.5


Arran 11yo 1999-2010 57.7% OB cask#48

I must tell you that all the ABC-casks in this tasting distilled at the same date. Same golden pale color. It smells of bourbon notes, dry sweet oaky notes, cloves, garlic, sour cream, leather, old fabric, a weird one. It tastes very spirity, some cotton, papery, cardboard. This being the youngest of the ABC bunch seconds my first notion that this whisky maybe needs a couple years more in the cask to fully develop. Can't wait to try the standard 14yo.

Seems even younger than 11yo imho: 3



Next tasting: Mixed session including fantastic Dalwhinnie