Arran Amarone Cask Finish

Isle of Arran adds the finishes to its 10 yo malt, so 'young'?,...not especially so. I've tasted a really juicy great batch of Arran Amarone Finish, and I've also tasted a really not good batch of Arran Amarone Finish. As I recall with the lesser batch, the dryness was excessive, and the wine flavours were not really enjoyable. You could get either one when you buy a bottle...but the lesser batch was distributed in Canada, and probably about 1 1/2 to 2 years ago. Still, before considering the next purchase I always wonder about the quality control of a given distillery when I have had whiskies with the same name with radically different characteristics and quality. The better of the two Arran Amarone's I have had I would have rated around 88, the lesser, more like 70.

Cheers Victor for clarifying that. There's no indication on the bottle of its age so I was just guessing to be honest.

This was one I bought about 3 months ago and whilst I cannot compare I'd say this is one of the better bottles based on your comments - maybe we were lucky in the UK and the lesser batch only went to Canada. But it's interesting, (and annoying) that there can be so much quality variation on supposedly the same release. I do like dry whiskies though and I'd say it is my favourite characteristic of this one.

@Nemesis101, cheers to you, too! If you like dry and spicy, some day you should try some of the better rye whiskeys. I have lists of my desert island US ryes and Canadian ryes for reference. Just stay clear of the 40% abv offerings in the marketplace. They are just too dilute, and I am also convinced that now that demand for rye whiskey has increased that the best barrels are being "up-sold" into the more premium products.

...oops, I meant 40% abv US ryes. Almost all Canadian whiskies are sold at 40% abv. Those on the list are quite good despite that characteristic.

@Victor - Thanks for the tip. I've been looking to expand my horizons beyond Scotch Single Malts so I think I might try a Rye Whisky or two. I did try a couple of Single Barrel Bourbons earlier this year, (Blantons Gold and Rock Hill Farms) and thought they were excellent. I need to try a few more from both the US and Canada. It sounds like both countries produce some very good and underrated whiskies.

I am Speyside guy. I went to my local liquor store and I was about to check out with a bottle of Champagne and a bottle of Macallan Gold. The gentleman was really friendly and very knowledgable and he mentioned about the Arran and how good it is. I was just there to pick up a champagne and not even thinking of scotch. He made the suggestion after I paid for my purchase and I said to myself..why not.

I open the bottle last night and I'm quite disappointed but to be fair maybe my palette is not use to a non sherry cask or my palette is off last night.

I will try it again and hopefully it's not a mistake leaving my favourite scotch The Macallan, have all of them in my bar but I want to try something different......will see.