Arran Rare Batch 15 Year Bourdeaux cask

This is a revised tasting. Initially, I encountered this special bottling during an event hosted by Australian "The Whisky Company," presented as an "Age of Distinction Isle of Arran virtual tasting." The event featured seven 15 ml portions: Arran 10, 18, 21, 25, this 15-year-old Bordeaux, a 15-year-old Argonne, and a Machrie Moor. Being the fifth pour of the evening, and caught up in the allure of rarity, I suspect I might have been too generous with the small amount I tasted. I enjoyed the Argonne immensely that night and wanted to revisit it, so I found a bottle. The Bordeaux expression didn't impress me as much, but I was keen to give it a proper evaluation, and the chance arose to obtain a 30 ml sample. The significant difference this time: the sample wasn't in a pouch as before. It arrived in a glass bottle. Much better presentation. Nose: Very slick, a bit muted with generic red fruit preserve, a touch of very soft, almost fermented banana, and a hint of cheap plastic cola (the generic kind, not Coca Cola; and flat cola at that). Palate: A drying oak sensation upon entry, very wood-forward rather than smooth or rich, which is the profile I prefer from French oak, akin to a Chardonnay wood finish. Vanilla is delicate and becomes more noticeable with subsequent sips. The signature Arran ginger provides warmth and a subtle kick. Some of the banana notes emerge, along with some walnut-oily characteristics. The texture gains a bit more body but remains encased in dry tannins. The fruity sweetness is subdued. I remember a more pronounced red fruit presence, but I don't detect it now, and it's not as vibrant as I recall from the previous tasting. Dare I say it, I think Arran has produced an average to decent palate. Nothing truly remarkable. At 52.8% ABV, I expected more, wouldn't you agree? Finish: Moderate. A brief moment of soft texture, then immediately into dryness and astringency. The woody notes on the exit are pleasant enough, and there might be a hint of berry sweetness that appears too little, too late. Adding a few drops of water reveals more of the berries, a slight tartness possibly leaning towards cherry, and a buttery oak character emerges. Much improved compared to my previous experience. I now notice the water has made the contents cloudy, resembling scrumpy cider from the old country. Water significantly alters the experience; the tannic dryness is lessened, buttery oak becomes apparent, ginger grows sharper but with less intensity. A malty, yeasty thickness develops. All fruit character vanishes, and mashed banana becomes the primary sweetness. The finish settles into gingery warmth, and that's about it. Overall, I stand by and reinforce my earlier assessment that this spent excessively long in contact with the French oak. The liquid is ultimately unbalanced and unfocused. I'm genuinely uncertain of its intended purpose or direction. Everything seems to be pulling in different directions; nothing coalesces to deliver the excellence I've come to expect from Arran. Arran will always hold a special place in my heart. It was the location of my very first geology field trip 20 years ago, not long after the distillery began operations, likely around the time this spirit was distilled. I've enjoyed all the younger, no-age-statement Arran expressions, but this re-tasting has prompted two significant questions for me: (1) Is a 15 ml sample ever sufficient to truly assess and connect with a whisky, and (2) What impact does bottling a whisky sample in a pouch versus glass have? Please share your thoughts in the comments. Previously rated 4.0/5.0. Now reduced to 3.0/5.0. I considered 2.75, but there's enough intrigue here to make me want to drink it, and nothing is unpleasant, so it earns 3 stars. *** July 7th, 2022 Fifth 15 ml sample of the night (5/7) Nose: Walnut oiliness, banana?, dried fruits, something savory (unsure what, but it's good!). Dark fruits emerge with more time in the glass. Palate: Oak is fantastic, figs and dried fruits, almonds, pastry, vanilla. Wow, the flavors are popping! Finish: Slightly soft and spicy, ginger again (clearly an Arran signature), lingering jamminess and a few tannins. Has it spent TOO long in this cask? Possibly… most likely. The oak is certainly dominant, but I'm not complaining. I'd go as far as to say it lacks balance, but the cask is supremely showcased.

Continuing my brief exploration of Arran is a sample of their single malt. It aged for 15 years in French Oak casks that previously held red wine from the Médoc region in Bordeaux and was bottled at 52.8%. The aroma begins with freeze-dried raspberries, musty grapes, and cigar box, then dark chocolate-covered cherries, espresso, toasted walnuts, and light floral notes of rose petals, followed by salted mango, sautéed apples, and charred pineapple, which transitions to weathered leather and polished oak with a moderate ethanol burn. The taste has a medium mouthfeel, starting with baked strawberries, musty grapes, and cigar box, quickly shifting to a moderate bitter and sour spice that slowly fades to cocoa powder-dusted figs, sour cherries, espresso, toasted walnuts, and light floral notes of rose petals, followed by salted mango, caramelized pears, and dehydrated apricots, transitioning to ginger, cloves, black pepper, weathered leather, and mildly bitter black tea with a moderate ethanol burn. The finish is medium in length with cocoa powder-dusted figs, strawberry pie, toasted marshmallow, black pepper, freshly lit pipe tobacco, and mildly bitter black tea. After 15 years of aging in a wine cask, the wine influence is predictably prominent on the nose, starting with sweet and tart berries, along with earthiness, florals, citrus, and well-aged oak, which carries over to the taste, but the balance is off with a moderate spice and mildly bitter tea that finishes on the sweet side with a combination of tobacco and mild bitter tea. Another delicious dram from Arran with some minor flaws, but overall, I would happily drink a glass of this anytime.

Nose: Red wine cask, oily malt, cherry cola, cranberry juice, linseed oil. A rich and very red-fruit and grape focused aroma, as expected. Palate: A drying start, oaky and tannic like grape and walnut skins and stewed black tea. Olive oil, lemon oil, and a bitter, dusty cocoa emerge as it develops. Dried figs, tobacco, and black pepper appear near the finish. The texture is oily and full. Finish: Medium. The dry palate gradually gains a touch of sweetness as it moves to the finish, but a lingering oaky astringency remains. The nose was superb and promised rich malty and grape flavors, but the palate was excessively tannic for my preference. I feel it was over-oaked and should have been bottled around 10 years old. Adding water slightly diminishes the nose but significantly improves the palate by softening the tannins and introducing some sweetness. However, the bitter, tannic edge is never fully subdued. While other reviews have been more favorable towards this expression, I found it to be just slightly above average. Perhaps I received a subpar sample? My strongest recommendation is to taste this before purchasing a bottle. Tasted from a 15ml sample. Rating: 79/100 (2.75 stars) - "Average".