Arran Single Cask #1995/199 Whisky 23 Year Old · 1995 Vintage

Nose

Apple Danish pastries in a dunnage warehouse. A green herbaceous note like fresh basil flows into the dusty, musty musk that only whisky of advancing years yields. The nose develops to assertive tropical characters—pineapple and guava—under the fruit layer, with a zesty Arran DNA in lemon balm. An impression of beeswax suggests a full palate to come.

Palate

As the nose predicts, round, mouth coating and oily. The character develops into a floral hedgerow of flavour- springtime. There’s a hint of vanilla fudge giving this a chewy feeling. The tang of Arran citrus qualities remains alongside a crack of white pepper – this is still lively for being so mature, no “flatness” at all.

Finish

Fragrant cedarwood sawdust and a move towards the wood influence. Flavours drift back towards red apple as the palate starts to dry slowly. The flavour lasts a LONG time. An extremely classy dram and, as is normal for arran it is showing bags of maturity. Distillery and “aged spirit” flavours are the stars of the show here. The cask is not dominating, only complimenting. Lovely, lovely whisky and a proper example of what we have come to recognise as how ‘Arran in advancing years’ should be.