Isle of Arran ex-Bourbon Cask #94

Another single cask offering from the Isle of Arran distillery and from an ex American bourbon cask (the scotch whisky industry would be very different without American casks…). The undiluted nose shows some really good biscuity malt and it’s very clean and vibrant. Some mild citrus (hints of grapefruit and lemon) along with hints of varnish, a little marzipan, a little pear and apricot. Very complex (the word ‘complex’ is the last refuge of the over whelmed so use it sparingly) along with some good wood notes, some time in the glass opens it up a little. Still for 57.3% is quite gentle. With a little water there is the predictable rounding out of the aromas and some sweetening. The undiluted taste is strong (shock) and very malty with really good moments from the cask influence (both from the former contents and the oak). Sweet and then quite dry right afterwards. Very, very good. With water there is a significant departure from the diluted nose and it improves with the addition of water, a little less aggressive but still has lashings of character. The finish is a continuation of the malt, then the bourbon influence and then the dryness along with the biscuits all in that short order. The finish goes on forever with some good interplay between the malt ad the dryness of the oak.

Another cracker from the Isle of Arran distillery.

$85

Score 88 points

Isle of Arran 'McCulloch' 8yo Cask #772

Isle of Arran 8yo McCulloch (49%, OB, C#772 B’ 01/09/2010)

A single cask bottling only available from Chester Whisky located in Chester, Cheshire in the United Kingdom www.chesterwhisky.com  The colour is a deep red tinge with dark brown highlights (WI rarely comments on the colour of whisky however this is quite pleasignt o the eye). The nose is blasts of really good dried fruit (think of prunes, raisins and cherries), sensational oak spice, warm toffee, sherry and yes, Christmas cake (the really good dark kind aggressively introduced to some really good alcohol) and some citrus. There are also some hints of malt and wet cotton, much like some Springbank single malts. The total effect is quite fantastic. The taste is very fruity in a strong fashion along with some really good spice and the malt and wet cotton. Some good dryness and hints of cocoa powder (unsweetened). It’s all very, very good. The fruit, oak spice and the malt (a little shy at this point), all work very well together to produce a phenomenal combination and a sensational dram. The finish is warming, quite dry and now tobacco and leather notes arrive but nicely intertwined with the sweetness from the fruit. It’s quite long and very consistent.

Buy a bottle or two while they are still available…

£45

Score 90 points