Isle of Arran 1996/2012 (52%, OB, Premium Cask Selection, Bourbon, C# 2086, 186 Bts) 

Another cask for the US market and quite a small one at only 186 bottles from Isle of Arran “Premium Cask Selection” range. On the nose there’s all the Isle of Arran characteristic maltiness followed by some duty malt, a little salt (no not actual salt, just some salty aromas), some very nice fruit plus some very good  leather and tobacco. There are also some enchanting fruity notes in the back ground. All very luscious. The taste is very active with loads of the tobacco and leather and spice and malt and some really excellent crème brûlée along with the dusty malt. A little water tames it somewhat and makes it a little more approachable but it holds together exceedingly well. The finish is once again of the leather and tobacco, maltiness, oak spice and the crème brûlée but now quite dry and exceedingly long and active.

Very well balanced with lots of notes from the cask which compliments the malt, it handles water quite well and perhaps improves it a little. Go find a bottle if you can…you won’t regret it.

$110

Score 90 points