Arran Single Cask Nº 1486 for LCBO

By Scotch whisky standards, Isle of Arran Distillers is a young operation: it was founded in 1993, began production in 1995, and it will be a long while before we see a Gordon and MacPhail ‘Generations’ bottling of their whisky. Nonetheless, Arran has released mature whisky since at least 2005 and has competed well in the ‘special’ bottling category with their various wine finishes and Icons of Arran line (including the bizarre choice of Ruaraidh, distillery manager James MacTaggart’s Westie).

The expression currently under consideration is a single cask (Nº 1486) release for the LCBO in Ontario. Distilled in December of 1997 and bottled in August of 2010, it is nearly a teenager, and a composed one at that. It has been matured in a sherry cask (perhaps exclusively so) and bottled at cask strength.

The nose shows malt, burnt caramel, coffee, stone fruit, and green apple. The notes are tightly integrated, much like a Necker cube, where each perspective suppresses alternative views.

The palate again displays malt, caramel, and apples, as well as a touch of salt and raisins. It is fairly rich and round, with a sweet, but not cloying, finish.

This is a good showing for a ‘tween’ malt. Neither complex nor assuming, it makes for an easy, balanced dram.

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