Arran Brodick Bay 20 Year

In June 2018, Arran released a collection named "The Explorer Series." The labels of this new range display various scenes from the Isle of Arran, showcasing its natural beauty and popular locations. Brodick Bay is the inaugural release, a 20-year-old single malt that matured in bourbon and sherry casks before being finished in an oloroso sherry butt. Bottled at 49.8% ABV, it has a honey color. This is a limited edition of 9,000 bottles. On the nose, it is perfect right from the moment of opening. An exceptional honey aroma. Coffee beans, hazelnut, homemade toffee. Rich sweet bee honey. There's a subtle red fruitiness and Vanilla biscuits. After the first sip, a floral aroma emerges, complementing everything else. The other aromas remain, with many additions. Sawdust, freshly baked Brownies. Cherry syrup just appeared. The toffee is outstanding here. Even some citrus notes are rising. After a few sips, all the tropical and red fresh fruits dominate everything else. This is a fantastic aroma. On the palate, it is very pleasant. Immediate melting marshmallows, vanilla, salt, pepper, some very agreeable spiciness, and the characteristic Arran pineapple. A second sip brought a maritime sensation, like sea water; I've never experienced that with an Arran before. The tropical fruits become noticeable after a few seconds. Coconut. After a couple of sips, it tastes like the milk left at the bottom of a cereal bowl, with lots of spices. Very milky. Cherry syrup. The finish isn't as impressive, but it still scores well. Hay, ginger, very dry. A pineapple core (the part you shouldn't eat); It lasts a very long time. A second taste revealed sawdust, similar to licking a new white wood stave. Cotton candy has appeared. Overall, this is a superb dram. A robust, elegant, tropical single malt. It captures the best of the Arran profile and successfully conveys the salty coastal scenery depicted on the label. A magnificent whiskey, my rating for it is 91 out of 100. Cheers!

Nose - Ripe pears, oranges, creamy caramel, buttery toffee, hint of salt (with water) Same with a bit more salt Taste - Ripe pears, creamy caramel, salt, raisins, buttery toffee, honey, oranges (with water) Adds a layer of fruity spice, but somewhat compromises the pleasant creamy/buttery mouthfeel Finish - Gentle warming heat, still buttery cream, rich fruity caramel, baked pears, raisins, orange zest (with water) Same Score - 92/100 Final Thoughts - This was a very well-crafted sherried Arran. It had a great mouthfeel and lovely poached/baked pear notes that were prominent, yet nicely complemented by creamy/buttery caramel/toffee. It had a superb mouthfeel and wasn't excessively sweet. Nice hints of raisin and orange that perfectly balanced everything. Quite an enjoyable pour and something I could see myself enjoying throughout the year. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Yes Would I buy a bottle? - Yes NOTE - All reviews are done without factoring in price.

A decent drink. Not very complex, though. Solid.

Wonderful aroma, satisfying end.