Arran Machrie Moor

At an Arran tasting event in Sydney on July 12, 2019. The nose is light and fruity, with tropical juice notes like pineapple and mango, along with grassy cereal aromas and a touch of vanilla toffee. The smoke is mild and fragrant. The initial taste is crisp, sweet, and smoky, featuring citrus fruit, pineapple, and malted barley. More smoke appears as it develops, but it remains delicate and subtle. As the palate opens, some light gingery spice becomes noticeable. There's a hint of vanilla and a savory-sweet note reminiscent of salted caramel milk chocolate. The smoke character is always present but understated. The finish is medium, smoky, and slightly briny, but not dry, leaving a lingering sweet smoke aftertaste. This is a charming and understated smoky single malt, distinguished by its sweet, crisp fruity profile. The peatiness is noticeable but mild and restrained, so those expecting a typical 'peat monster' or a south-east coastal Islay style will be disappointed. The peating level is around 20ppm, using peated malt from the mainland. It's comparable to Glenglassaugh Torfa and Benromach Peated, but those are much stronger drams and lack Arran's fruitiness. It handles water well, becoming sweeter and creamier without any off-notes, though it's also excellent neat. I appreciate this gently peated whisky and have enjoyed several Machrie Moor expressions over the years. While it may not be particularly complex or challenging, not every whisky needs to be, and sometimes a gentle dram is just right. This single malt was released as an annual 'Edition' from 2010-2017; this practice ended with Edition 8 in 2017/18. Since late 2018, Machrie Moor has been part of the core range, with no edition or year displayed on the label, which is also true for the Cask Strength version.

I'm posting this review under the standard Machrie Moor listing, despite my bottle being from the eighth batch (released 2018). I don't see the point in creating a new listing as I likely won't purchase another bottle – not because it's bad, quite the opposite, it's a respectable dram. I just don't feel the need to revisit it. This review is for Batch 8, released in 2018. It's an inexpensive, NAS peated whisky from Arran distillery. Bottled at 46% ABV, I believe I paid about $33 for a bottle from an online UK whisky shop. The appearance is pale yellow, and it's oily in the Glencairn with numerous thick legs and large, heavy droplets. The nose and palate are quite similar: it's a wealth of orchard and tropical fruits, sweet smoke, and young spirit. Some light menthol notes compete with the pepper spice from the oak casks on the latter part of both the nose and palate. The bite from the youthful spirit doesn't carry over to the finish, which is a great characteristic that truly makes the dram so enjoyable overall. It doesn't have a very long finish; it's short, briny, and dry with a hint of lingering smoke if left undisturbed. In summary, this is a fantastic, peated dram for a quick indulgence that's easy on the wallet. The fruits and mild smoke also make it an excellent introduction to peated whisky – I imagine it would be even more approachable for a novice with a little water, but I prefer it as is. 3.75 stars for being a great value, easily accessible, and good quality. It wouldn't hurt to keep a bottle of this on hand at all times, and if I weren't always seeking out new things, I'd probably do just that. Try or buy with confidence. Cheers.

Every Arran I've sampled has been quite good, and this is no different. The nose offers sweet peat and resinous smoke, similar to a Balvenie Week of Peat. It also has malty, rich vanilla, a dusty blanket scent, and weathered oak. With patience, some crisp fruit notes emerge. The palate delivers the familiar Arran malty intensity, with soft, sugary smoke accompanying it. Fruit takes a backseat to an antique shop aroma and earthy peat, along with a good dose of saltiness. The finish features malty smoke with sea salt, drying to the scent of aged leather and wood. This isn't an overpowering Islay profile, leaning more towards Bunnahabhain/Balvenie/BenRiach smokers. Overall, a delightful example. All the Arrans I've tried are very good, though not amazing. As I continue to explore, the consistent quality elevates the entire range.

From the Isle of Arran Distillery virtual tasting event, this is the final pour of the night. The aroma is fresh, crisp, and fruity. The taste is truly tropical with a drying smokiness, notes of fresh grass, and a softening earthiness. It's a very light, clean, and crisp experience. The finish is medium in length, peppery, and zesty.

Day 2: Machrie Moor. Getting a little smokey and salty island vibes. Nose: Light smoke with apples or lemons. Palate: More light smoke with vanilla and tropical fruit. Reminds me of a tropical Dum Dum lollipop, like pineapple/Pina colada. Finish: Long fruitiness transforming into a sea salt finish.

Aroma: sweetness, nail polish remover, pear and honey Taste: mild smoke and sweetness, honey and pineapple Finish: smoke fades into pineapple sweetness near the end, some sharpness. Medium finish A good drink, could use more smoke, but I suppose that's why Lagg exists.