Arran The Robert Burns Single Malt

The aroma is quite typical of scotch, with malted grain and some floral, honeyed fruit, but there's a significant meatiness that approaches a sulfurous smell. A lot is happening in the nose, yet it's quite unbalanced, with a prominent stinky feet aroma overshadowing the pleasant, traditional highland notes. The taste is a bit sharp with questionable balance, but it's superior to the nose. There's not a great deal on the palate, and the finish is weak. That stinky feet scent comes through as hot dog water. None of the notes here are good, though the floral hints and a touch of lemon zest are acceptable. The remainder is decidedly subpar. Some sea-spray flavors emerge more on the palate than in the aroma. The complexity is truly lacking. The grain isn't coming through much either. It's simply a very standard scotch profile, but not a very good one. It's somewhat drinkable, but genuinely not enjoyable. One might be convinced this is a poor 12-year-old, but it doesn't seem older than 10, and in reality, it tastes even younger. There's sufficient sweetness to carry it, but it's quite a bland sweetness. There's some spice, but it lacks distinct character (perhaps white pepper?). Similar to Glenmorangie The Original, this has serious drawbacks, yet I can't bring myself to dislike it. It's not as good as Glenmorangie The Original, but it's perhaps passable. There's a nice touch of toastiness with even a hint of peanut on the finish. It possesses that sweet, light flavor with fruit and vanilla characteristic of bourbon barrel-aged scotch, along with a hit of cinnamon for spice and some smoke. It's difficult to rate it better than a 12 or worse than an 8. That's a wide range, but I believe 9 to 11 is most probable. Second tasting. The aroma is more potent with more activity than that of Arran 10, but the balance is off with clear sulfur (though nowhere near Clan MacGregor levels). There's a fair amount of cherry in the nose, somewhat like a moderately young brandy, perhaps akin to Symbole National, though not as rich (but still somewhat similar). The palate is fruity and the sulfur isn't too objectionable. There's definitely some activity here, and it's moderately rich. It's richer and more complex than the 10 is, though not by a huge margin. It isn't very engaging, but it does have some of that apricot in it, which is quite appealing. For a fairly inexpensive Scotch, this is actually not a bad option. I'm increasing the rating to at least a 12. Oh, the long finish does have some sulfur, so I don't think I can go above a 12.

I'm reaching a point where I'm considering stopping my whisky purchases. I do love it, but I'm seeing price gouging, not just inflation. The cost hikes in the past year are shocking. A year ago, Legent cost me $35; now it's $50. Glenlivet Caribbean was $35 a few months back, and it's also $50 now. I saw Knob 12, which I picked up for $60 maybe six months ago, is now $72. These aren't slight cost-of-living adjustments; this is outright theft. It makes me angry at these distillers. Regardless of how good your product is, it's not so exceptional that I'll allow you to exploit me. With about 60 bottles in my collection and being 43, I'm calculating how to make my current stash last a lifetime. Then I recall that excellent, affordable whisky still exists. Take this bottle, for instance. It's from Arran. When available, it was priced around $33. Unfortunately, I bought this one on clearance, and it hasn't appeared in local shops since. I waited too long to open it. Had I tasted it sooner, I'd have realized this is possibly the finest whisky under $35 I've ever encountered. The nose has a pleasant, rounded sherry influence, not overly intricate but fruity. The palate presents strawberries and cream, and the finish lingers sufficiently to evoke a delightful dessert. The best part? It provides immense pleasure without emptying my wallet. So, perhaps I'm not abandoning whisky purchases; I'm merely adjusting my outlook. Maybe complexity isn't everything. Maybe age statements are overvalued. What I'm saying is, I'm going to focus on finding the best budget-friendly bourbons, ryes, and Scotches, and Irish whiskies. (I've excluded Japanese whisky because, frankly, 'budget' and 'Japanese' are contradictory terms). And that's it. This might be my briefest review, but it's also a declaration of principles. If you see reviews of complex, pricey spirits from me going forward, it's probably because I already own them. My excessive spending is over.

I had overlooked this for a considerable time as I didn't realize it was an Arran product. It was consistently under $40, so I assumed it wasn't worth my attention. I saw it on sale at Twin Liquors for $33, so I purchased the bottle and, upon reading it was Arran, that was all the confirmation I needed. I appreciate everything from Arran and will always buy what's available. This performs significantly above its price category. The aroma is rich fruit with a nice, heavy malt and seasoned wood. It's not bright or thin despite its likely youth; it's full and rounded. The palate has creamy malt and dried apricots simmered with some baking spices. Red grapefruit sprinkled with sugar and barrel tannins lead to a finish that leaves the palate slightly dry with a malt/oak/fruit pit residue. It's a little sharp on the initial taste but not excessively so. It has more of a blended malt character with the notes integrated rather than overly complex. Tremendous value; I would consider this easily one of the best malts under $40, and I will certainly buy it again. I would, of course, prefer the 10-year-old and other Arran offerings to this, but the price point is the key factor here... 87/100... You also get the bonus of the Robert Burns story/heritage to contemplate.

A delightful small bottle of quality spirit that isn't too expensive and performs well. It's not exceptional, but I've casually savored a small glass each evening for the past few weeks, enjoying every one. Fruity aroma with hints of fresh apple and apricots, also slightly sweet but predominantly fruity. Light body. Beautiful light brown color, very clear liquid. Nice. Thin mouthfeel, quite potent and a little dry, but I rather like that. Licorice root. Prominent wood notes. Honey. It has a slight warmth, especially the first sip. Clear and fresh aftertaste with a hint of anise. Lovely. It possesses a full range of character and meets many expectations. Is it an amazing dram? No, it's not particularly distinctive. But it is very pleasing. I would buy it again.

This young Arran single malt provides excellent value for the experience. From the aroma to the finish, there's a constant presence of summer fruits, especially apples and sultanas. The taste is primarily sweet with a slight lingering tartness. Light, refreshing, and contains no artificial coloring – I believe this tribute to Robert Burns would make the late Scottish bard proud. Cheers! NOSE: Fruit cake, vanilla, crème brûlée, pecan, baked pears, toffee, butterscotch, apple orchard, sultana vineyard PALATE: Sultana, McIntosh apples, malt, rhubarb, fresh cream, coconut FINISH: Oak, raisin, sultana, ripened apple, vanilla, hint of milk chocolate Rating: 85/100 Grade: B Good - not essential, but a nice addition.

I believe this spirit is overlooked. It begins with a sweet vanilla aroma, alongside hints of a seaside fire with salt and smoke. You might be surprised how it evolves with air, becoming lighter yet more fruity with fresh green apple zest. The taste is truly light and sweet with vanilla, some honey, and oaky spice. The brief finish was a letdown, as all the pleasant flavors vanished quickly. For a distillery score, it's about a 3.8 out of 5, or roughly 83 out of 100.