Arran The Devil's Punch Bowl Chapter III The Fiendish Finale

This is now a famous, distinctive bottle from this distillery. It was a limited release of 6660 bottles, with the whisky sourced from 21 different casks: 7 Sherry Butts, 7 French Oak Casks, and 7 ex-bourbon Barrels. This is the third bottling in the series, subtitled "The Fiendish Finale." Its name comes from a mountain region on the island, and it also refers to the blending of 21 casks for this exceptional dram. Bottled at 53.4% ABV with a tawny hue. On the nose, it's flawless. Notes of oranges, sherry, tangerine, peaches, and brown sugar. Milk chocolate emerges after a few minutes, with a very wine-like quality. Banana, milk powder, cream, and vanilla follow. Tropical aromas become more prominent. After the initial taste, notes of orange caramel, "Palo Santo," hazelnut, and orange leaf appear. Subsequent sips enhanced the aroma further, revealing herbal notes, red fruits, and coconut. It's truly impactful. I adored it. On the palate, it was delightful. It begins with milk chocolate, hazelnut, and almonds, much like a certain white chocolate bar. Peaches and tropical flavors follow, including coconut, with an ashy and salty character. Excellent. The finish was superb, with hints of peat. Pepper, ginger, oranges, and tobacco are present, alongside chili, earthy, and ashy notes. A mild spiciness, delivered exceptionally well. Overall, this is an outstanding drink. It's highly complex, offering numerous layers of flavors and aromas. The bottle is lovely, presented in an amazing case containing a superb spirit – exactly my kind of drink. I rate it 94 out of 100.

Nose: notes of lemon meringue, butterscotch, honey, and toasted coconut. Palate: honeycomb, a hint of peach, vanilla, and crème brûlée. Finish: extended, smooth, and sweet without being excessive. This is one of the rare high-priced, no-age-statement whiskies that offers good value.