Arran 16 Year

I received this sample pour from a former colleague. The Arran 16 year old was a widely available malt with nearly 9,000 bottles produced. It's bottled at 46% ABV and has a yellow-gold color with watery, medium-sized legs. I'll call this 'A Tale of Two Drams,' and here's why: Initially, the nose was heavily influenced by ex-bourbon: strong, freshly cut oak with ginger undertones and abrasive alcohol astringency. After a long aeration, I managed to coax out notes of apples, pears, citrusy lime, and faint sherry nuances. Unfortunately, just as it seemed to be revealing itself, more oak cask and ginger emerged, and those notes never fully disappeared. The palate exhibited similar contradictions, alternating between the power of cinnamon and oak barrels, giving way to subtle orchard fruit and vanilla sweetness, only to revert to a biting citrus and ginger sting. The mouthfeel never became soothing or relaxed. I even added a few drops of water to try and calm it on the last bit, but it had no effect. Spicy pepper and apple slices seemed to be the dominant theme. The finish was hot and dry with pepper and woody notes. I did detect a bit more sherry influence as it lingered, but the heat and sherry reminded me of a cheap brandy, which didn't make me want to rate it highly. Overall, I'm undecided on how much to penalize this pour for being so inconsistent. Just when I hoped it would transform into a soothing, fruity dram, it hit me back with heat and pepper. I'm not sure if it needs more time in the cask, more sherry cask blending, or if it should abandon the sherry and focus on a cask-strength, ex-bourbon profile. I suspect any of those options would have resulted in a better dram. This one is somewhat of a mess as presented. 2.5 stars, maybe 2.75. Thanks for the sample, but I would pass on buying a bottle at this point. Cheers.

Friday! Game 4 of the World Series. House to myself (and the dog). I rummage through the stockpile of samples and find a pour provided by a friend. Arran. I have had the 12 Cask Strength and it was quite good. Now I have a 16 year. As Howard Jones says, Things can only get better (with age). At least I think so. Initial whiffs of rubbing alcohol that takes time to dissipate but remains constantly lingering, lightly surrounding the other aromas. Those aromas are fruit, sweet, and spice. Fruit of apples and pears with hints of bananas with a twist of lemon. A simple honey, vanilla sweetness with ginger and sawdust is in balance with the fruits. The ginger/sawdust provides a soft, impactful spice. Though bottled at a nice 46%, the entry is as smooth as satin with a rich and creamy feel. An immediate vanilla and honey sweetness that gives way and is overtaken by a cinnamon and black pepper spice. A nutty pistachio quality develops during the fade towards the finish. A spicy tingle remains for a fair length. When the spice subsides, oak and vanilla remain, and the woody dryness ultimately lingers. For a semi-matured scotch, the complexity is lacking. Simple, straightforward aromas and flavors and, for the maturity, you want more out of the whisky so you dig and search for more, but to no avail. All in all, it’s a pour you can easily drink. But I would look elsewhere to find something better, given the age and price. [82/100][Tasted: 10/25/19]

Sitting in a hotel room wearing gym shorts and enjoying a 16-year-old single malt from a plastic cup while watching TV – a certain kind of class. This was sent by a friend. I decided to bring it on a business trip. It's a bit inconsistent. I enjoy the nose, which has salted caramel and bourbon-like vanilla. However, the palate is varied, showing influences from the islands, Speyside honey, and even sherry notes. It finishes with a lingering, sharp ginger heat, which is somewhat surprising for its age. It's not bad, but I expected more from a 16-year-old from the islands. My recommendation is to skip it and opt for a Talisker 10 for an authentic taste of the islands. Thanks for the pour!

Pale yellow color. Smells strongly of alcohol with light fruity notes. Tastes fruity and slightly woody. Has a sharp acidity but remains fruity. It's warm with a sour, bitter finish.

Incredibly light with a strong butterscotch presence.

-May 10, 2020 Maltzman Manor