ARRAN RARE BATCH 15 YEAR OLD ARGONNE CASK

This is a revised evaluation. My initial experience with this limited release (around 3000 bottles) was at an event hosted by an Australian company, "The Whisky Company," during a "Age of Distinction Isle of Arran virtual tasting." The event featured seven 15 ml samples: Arran 10, 18, 21, 25, 15 Bordeaux, this 15 Argonne, and a Machrie Moor. As the sixth sample of the evening, and influenced by the allure of rarity, I might have been too lenient in my assessment of the small sample I tried. I thoroughly enjoyed the Argonne that night and desired a deeper exploration, prompting me to seek out a bottle. The initial tasting was from a sample presented in a plastic/foil pouch. My subsequent tasting of the Bordeaux 15 led me to question: (1) is 15 ml ever enough volume to truly appreciate and connect with a whisky, and (2) what impact does storing a whisky sample in a pouch versus a glass bottle have? I anticipate resolving these questions shortly. Before opening this bottle, I must commend the packaging. It is arguably the finest whisky packaging I have encountered. The bottle and its presentation align perfectly with the rebranded Arran bottles. A minimalist tube, a sleek, precisely designed bottle, braille, the artistic map of the island with a prominent still and two golden eagles; simply beautiful. The case itself is exceptionally robust, featuring a pleasing tactile outer layer reminiscent of sugar paper and a soft fabric interior lining. The lid functions as an attractive coaster that securely fastens to the case. It's a delight to witness such care and meticulous detail. Nevertheless, let's proceed. The liquid decanted from the bottle is as visually stunning as its presentation. A gorgeous pale copper hue that leaves thick, honey-like trails down the interior of my glass. Nose: Rich with wine-like fruitiness, cooked apples, and fragrant notes reminiscent of jasmine tea or aged cedar mothballs. A delightful citrus aroma, similar to what you'd find in an oil diffuser air freshener. A subtle hint of honeyed malt is also present. It's opulent and full of character; nothing is overpowering, and everything harmonizes. The nose is significantly more impressive than I recalled. It handles an overly enthusiastic sniff admirably, without revealing the relatively high alcohol content (53.5%) in the slightest. Palate: Smooth, subtle, and sophisticated. The initial taste is reserved but gradually asserts its presence. A creamy apple or pear flavor emerges, enveloped by honey and malt. A velvety texture then takes over. The oak's influence is perceived as a delicate, buttery tannin, perfectly contrasted by the subtle warmth of Arran's signature ginger note. The creamy richness likely accounts for the "strawberries and cream hard candies" I detected previously. It's superior to that; it's genuinely supple leather, tropical fruit, and Chardonnay. This is good. It's very good. However, I'm not yet as astounded as I was before. Finish: Extended. A pleasing development of ginger, honeyed malt, and a return of the jasmine tea florals noted on the nose. A subtle conclusion with no disagreeable elements. Adding a few drops of water slightly accentuates the malt character on the nose, introduces a touch more ginger, and enhances the jasmine tea. The palate, with water added, mirrors the nose; honeyed malt becomes dominant, and the ginger turns somewhat assertive. Citrus notes are more pronounced, and some of the creamy, leathery texture is lost. The finish appears unaffected by the addition of water. Firstly, I am convinced that small foil pouches are unsuitable vessels for fine spirits. This is not the same liquid I sampled four months ago, nor was the Bordeaux 15. Whisky deserves to be stored in glass. Believe me, I am a medical professional. I will entertain no further discussion on this topic. Similarly, 15 ml is insufficient for a thorough evaluation. A minimum of 30 ml is required for any serious assessment of a whisky (unless it's of inferior quality, as poor taste is apparent regardless of volume). I am firm in this conviction regarding this sample. Overall, I consider this to be perhaps the most intriguing Arran expression among the twelve I have sampled. Whether it is the finest, it's difficult to say. I believe I need a more substantial pour of the 18, 21, and 25 year olds to make that determination. I will not be purchasing this again, not only due to its scarcity but also because I do not find the price justified. While the Argonne is exceptionally well-crafted, balanced, complex, delicate, and generally wonderful, it does not captivate me. My imagination is not captured, and I am not transported away from my surroundings. I am maintaining my previous high rating for this, similar to my recent assessment of the Lagavulin 12. I previously rated the Argonne at 5.0/5.0. Now, I am adjusting that to a still excellent 4.5/5.0. 
*** July 7th, 2022 Sixth 15 ml sample of the evening (6/7) Nose: A subtle spirit presence, stewed apples, jasmine tea, and woody notes. Palate: Tropical fruit, pear juice, fresh and vibrant, oak reminiscent of wooded Chardonnay, light citrus, and strawberry and cream hard candies. Finish: Long warmth. Oaky, baking spice, refreshing and clean. The harmony in this whisky is superb. The moment it touches your palate, you recognize its rarity and distinction. The oakiness ebbs and flows, allowing each flavor to stand out on its own merits. This dram beautifully highlights the finest aspects of the Arran spirit without overpowering or being overshadowed by the remarkable wood influence. I am extremely disappointed that this is unavailable in Australia, but I managed to acquire one of the approximately 3000 bottles at auction. I suspect it will be a long time before I decide to open it... Whisky tasting #42

Nose: Rich fruit and wine scents, complemented by fine wood notes like cedar and sandalwood. It presents a stewed apple, pear, and cranberry compote. Hints of honey, orange blossom water, and a subtle, almost ash-like quality, likely from lightly toasted wine casks. The aroma is deeply inviting, drawing you in repeatedly. It bears a resemblance to Highland Park, which is a positive. Adding water intensifies the honey and orange notes, making the comparison stronger. A superb aroma. Palate: A full yet smooth entry, with delicate sweet ginger spice and fragrant herbs mingling with honey and fruit. The mouthfeel is substantial, creamy, and very pleasing. It evolves into porridge with salt, cream, and fresh berries, leading to mellow drying tannins near the end. Wine characteristics are present, adding both sweet and slightly bitter undertones. Diluting it brings out a luxurious quality, making it incredibly appealing. An excellent palate. Finish: Extended. Subtle, gentle spice, honey, sweet citrus, and a mild rosehip tea flavor. A faint citrus note lingers. Water enhances the finish, making it feel longer and more fluid. This is a second tasting, courtesy of a friend. My initial experience six months ago was with a small sample in a plastic container, which is a poor way to handle fine spirits. My prior comments remain largely the same but are now more enthusiastic. This current sample, provided in a proper glass vial, is noticeably better in all aspects. The finish, in particular, is significantly improved, resolving my main prior concern and allowing for an upward score revision. This time, the spirit seems fresher, more vibrant, richer, and creamier. At its full 53.5% strength, it shows no harshness. While water wasn't strictly necessary, splitting the generous sample allowed for a comparative tasting, and both neat and diluted versions were delightful. As it rests, the whisky increasingly mirrors Highland Park, approaching the quality of HP18 year old, which informed the current score. "Excellent": 88/100 (4.5 stars) ------------------------------------------------------------- Prior review, posted October 21, 2022 Nose: Fruity malt, white wine, tropical notes, aromatic woods (cedar, sandalwood, teak), orange flowers, Cointreau, and pear liqueur. A luxuriously appealing aroma. Palate: A sweet, smooth arrival echoes the pear from the nose, set against a backdrop of malty cereal. Some tannins emerge but are well-integrated, balanced by citrus, dried tropical fruits, and sweet herbal tea. The texture is full, coating the mouth, and satisfying. Finish: Medium to long. Baking spices appear late on the palate and carry into the finish, alongside fresh and dried fruit flavors and a hint of honeyed leather. The citrus and tea notes from the palate become somewhat dominant in the aftertaste, resulting in a final sourness. A very enjoyable single malt. I'm pleased I tasted it after the Arran Bordeaux Oak expression, as this is clearly the better dram. The aroma alone is worthy of top marks, featuring light fruit and malt notes enriched by excellent cask influences. The palate is nearly as good, initially well-balanced, playing light fruit against darker dried fruits, oak, and malt. However, a flaw appears in the late finish, where it seems to lose composure, with a sour, woody, citric note becoming overly prominent. Tasted from a small sample. "Good": 84/100 (3.75 stars)

This particular bottling was aged in French oak from the Argonne Forest, previously holding wine from a traditional winemaker near Ay for 15 years, then bottled at 53.5%. The aroma presents a blend of creamy mango, pineapple, and cedar, followed by honeysuckle, rose hips, and chamomile tea. Mandarin orange, lychee, and caramelized peaches then emerge, leading to cloves, candied ginger, and polished leather, with no ethanol sting. The palate has a medium body, beginning with creamy mango, pineapple, and cedar. Honeysuckle, rose hips, and chamomile tea follow, then orange blossom, lychee, and passion fruit. This transitions to sandalwood incense, candied ginger, and polished leather, with minimal ethanol burn. The finish is of medium length, featuring persimmons, honeysuckle, sandalwood incense, candied ginger, cloves, and polished mahogany. An exceptionally distinctive and masterfully balanced dram. It started a bit reserved, but with some patience, the subtle notes gradually surface, revealing a fruit-forward mix of tropical fruits with light cedar, florals, light citrus, and polished oak. It drinks much older than its 15 years would suggest. My thanks to a friend for bringing this to my attention; I likely wouldn't have ordered a sample without reading their fantastic review first.

Nose: Cedar & sandalwood, floral, perfumed, white wine, pears, citrus. Palate: Orange, sweet summer fruit, grainy. Warm and rich. Finish: A medium-long finish with warming, light baking spices, sweet/candied orange. Wood, leather, and cigars contribute to a funky aftertaste. This is a very fruity and woody dram, with notes of honey and leather in the aftertaste, but it's primarily about the rich fruit. A decadent dram. It finished first out of the six samples, with 32% of the vote for favorite of the night. 86% of those present enjoyed the whisky.