Arran 25 Year (Virtual Whisky Tasting - 51.2% ABV)

Nose presents immediate notes of musky red berries, dusky oak cask, sandalwood sawdust, and peach tea. After resting, dark cherries, dark chocolate, and an evolving oloroso sherry aroma emerge. A faint maritime brine appears with more time. Dilution releases fragrant wood notes and significantly enhances the nose. Palate offers a soft, warming introduction of berries, black cherry, and malt, though the flavors are subdued. Development reveals a gentle spiced orange note akin to Amaro Montenegro, tea-cake with sultanas and orange peel, dried dates and figs, and a touch of walnut skin bitterness. The texture is good, improved by water, which also accentuates a peppery flavor and develops a brown sugar and treacle character. Finish is medium, featuring malt extract and a mixed berry muesli bar, trailing to bittersweet cocoa powder and dry sherry notes in the aftertaste. Water extends the duration. A very good whisky, but it lacks a certain "wow" factor and is exorbitantly priced. I could acquire nine bottles of any of Arran's cask-finished expressions for the cost of one of this, and I would find more enjoyment in each of those other bottles. The nose is a textbook example of an old sherry cask, and for me, it's the highlight. It shows progression, evolving with time and dilution (but be cautious not to over-dilute). The palate was good, but less impressive. It also has layers and develops nicely, but an emerging tannic note slightly unbalances it. Fortunately, it recovers its composure in the finish, which is very good. I'm a fan of Arran whiskies, but having sampled some of the older expressions, I believe they reach their peak (as age-stated whiskies, at least) with the 18-year-old. My tasting journal indicates I've rated both the 21 and 25-year-olds lower than the older 14-year expression, The Bothy, and all the cask-finished expressions. This is noteworthy because most of these preferred Arrans are at least 50% abv, suggesting that for my palate, a certain intensity and vibrancy of youth are necessary for this whisky to shine. (And, before anyone points out that this 25-year-old is 51.2% abv, that's an error in the listing. The standard range 25 has always been 46% abv, though some Single Cask 25-year-olds have exceeded 50%. To my knowledge, there has never been an Arran 25 at 51.2% abv). I should also mention that the samples of older age-statement whiskies I recently tried were from a virtual tasting set and came in small plastic bags (see photo) containing meager 15ml portions. 15ml is insufficient to fully appreciate a whisky, and certainly not enough to taste it both neat and with varying dilutions. I strongly dislike these plastic packs and question if they influenced my tasting impressions. I also wonder if they preserve the whisky as well as glass sample bottles. Initially, I considered giving this the same rating as the 21-year-old, but I find it slightly superior, so I'm increasing the rating by one percentage point, just crossing the 4-star threshold. However, I would never consider purchasing a bottle at this price. "Very Good": 85/100 (4 stars)

To conclude my Arran tasting, I'm sampling a single cask, 25-year-old from cask #1996/905, distilled on 05/08/1996 and bottled on 12/10/2021 at 50.2% ABV. Nose: Begins with creamy mango, dusty old leather-bound books, and cigar wrappers, followed by dark chocolate-covered dehydrated figs and toasted macadamia nuts. Then come musty grapes, pineapple, and flambéed bananas, transitioning to black tea leaves and freshly lacquered antique furniture, with a moderate alcohol burn. Palate: Medium mouthfeel, starting with creamy mango, dusty old leather-bound books, and cigar wrappers. Then a mild bitter spice that fades into spicy mocha, figgy pudding, and toasted macadamia nuts. This is followed by musty grapes, pineapple, and fried bananas, transitioning to black tea leaves and freshly lacquered antique furniture, with a moderate alcohol burn. Finish: Medium length, featuring caramelized bananas, creamy mango, charred pineapple, chocolate-covered espresso beans, black pepper, dusty leather-bound books, and polished antique furniture. This is a dram heavily influenced by aged oak, though the tropical and sherry fruits are still noticeable, nearly overshadowed by the old oak. The palate has a mild bitter spice before finishing with an enjoyable blend of tropical fruits, earthiness, and old oak. I find it slightly over-oaked, suggesting it could have benefited from less time in the cask to allow the creamy tropical fruits to be more prominent. However, I can easily see how someone who enjoys a more oak-forward profile with mild pepper and light fruits would love this. Among the small selection of Arrans I tried, my favorite was the 15-year-old Argonne release, but they were all delicious and I'd happily drink any of them again.

My 350th review - I didn't even intend for this to be a significant pour. I suspect this is the correct whisky, but the abv is incorrect for this one. This is the 2020 release and their inaugural standard 25-year expression. I've had this open for a while and am finally getting around to reviewing it. I've also found that Arran needs a few weeks to open up, and I believe it's ready now. Nose: Red berries and a distinct bitter note that reminds me almost of an Irish pot still. Fruity jams that have been exposed to saltwater, with faint hints of pastry and chocolates. Taste: This is just rich jam meets savory steak with fruity chocolate candies. The abv is perfect for this, providing a warming, rich, creamy mouthfeel. I've never encountered a 46% abv whisky this rich and creamy. What's remarkable is that every part of my tongue is activated, and fully so. Just swirling it around, I notice areas I rarely perceive, almost puckering with intense notes ranging from sour to sweet to savory. This is a complete tasting experience. This is absolutely stunning. My only real complaint? Well, the box wouldn't close properly, making it useless; I couldn't even sand it down to fix it. 4.75 stars – it's one of the finest whiskies I've ever had.

Since Arran only began production in 1995, this new release uses its very first casks. The sample tasted (marked as a mystery dram for the Virtual Whisky Festival's Arran session) was cask strength at 51.2%, but the retail version is 46%. Both sherry and bourbon casks were utilized in its aging. The nose is characterized by caramel syrup, brown sugar, and poached pear. On the palate, it's chewy with flavors of dark chocolate, a hint of pear, and a faint cherry note. The medium-length finish tastes of chocolate powder. This is a delightful dram that encourages thoughtful sipping and confidently showcases Arran's best flavor profile. However, I suspect it may lose some of its impact when diluted to its retail strength.

Virtual tasting event from the Isle of Arran Distillery – Age of Distinction (The Whisky Company). Fourth 15 ml sample of the evening (4/7). Nose: A rich, smooth aroma with sweet raisins and figs, and dark cherry notes. Palate: Spicy and brown sugar, orange zest, honey, fruitcake, some stone fruit, and a creamy, nutty quality. Finish: Medium length. Smooth, warming spices, dark chocolate, and a rich, figgy sweetness. Layers of complexity and a finish that continues to develop. The mouthfeel is superb. The color and aroma are entirely from a sherry cask, but the palate reveals more subtlety and interest than the comparable 18-year-old expression. The spicy note, while pleasant, is perhaps the minor flaw here as it might be slightly overpowering. Whisky tasting #40

(Good Spirits Company, Glasgow - Virtual Arran Whisky Tasting, Friday 11th September 2020) Smell: Sweet & fruity, orange & wood Taste: Christmas cake, raisins & dates Finish: Creamy. Dark fruit - plum and cherry. Sours at the very end. Finished in sherry casks. This ranked first out of the six whiskies tasted with 45/101 of the vote for favourite. At the time of the tasting this was not yet available for purchase. Scheduled for release in early 2021.