1996 Arran 23 Yr (PM Spirits)

Smells like an old library. Drinking this evoked a feeling of nostalgia for reading a leather-bound book in a dusty old study, though I've never actually done that. I appreciate this concept...taking a spirit with a very distinct and specific characteristic like Arran, after aging it for 16 years, then transferring it to cognac casks for 7 years in France. The cognac flavor is dominant on the nose and at first taste, with its sweet grape notes and a mild, honeyed, cloying texture. Then, the Arran spirit emerges and takes over through the middle. It's thin, fruity, and covered in cognac sweetness. My only minor criticism is that by combining two very different spirits with distinct roles, they ended up somewhat in between a cognac and a scotch. As a unique bottle I've only encountered once, I truly value it. However, I doubt I would ever purchase another. I'm glad to have experienced this one and hope more distilleries try similar approaches!

This was actually aged in barrels that previously held cognac.