We poured liters and liters of the Arran entry-level bottling at the last Milan Whisky Festival (even in our glasses… ehm…), but we’ve never reviewed it. The distillery is located on Arran island (nomen omen) and it has been distilling single malt since 20 years. During the first years of the new deal, the whisky was promising but not exciting; otherwise, the quality has been increasing since 6/8 years. Let’s taste this 10 years old, unchillfiltered, natural colour and matured in ex-bourbon casks.
N: the first sensation is a rather restrained sweetness, focused on vanilla and yelllow fruits (dried apricot). There’s also a pleasant acidity vaguely reminding lemon or kiwi. But the star is the cereal indeed, because the casks’ influence is not so strong and because a pronounced malty character is a trademark of Arran distillery. Here the malt is rather “green”, you can recognize breakfast cereals in the milk bowl. Here and there we found some suggestions of nuts (bitter almond) and light mineral/salty notes.
P: the palate follows the nose: it’s rather placid, with a thin body and a lukewarm mouthfeel. Some alcoholic notes. The sweetness is totally concentrated on fruit: apricots and apples, but overall the typical tropical Arran notes: pineapple, kiwi and cantaloupe. However, it’s not explosive, but rather “muffled”. Whiffs of “green” malt and a light hint of salt.
A tribute paid to the malt, with some peculiar note giving personality: wonderful entry-level, considering the low price. Of course it’s a relatively simple whisky, to drink with light-heartedness: perfect for those who live light-hearted like us. 83/100.
Recommended soundtrack: Ivan Granatino ft. Franco Ricciardi – ‘A storia ‘e Maria.
