ABV |
56.2% |
---|---|
Aging |
Ex-bourbon for 7 years, finished in quarter casks for another 2 years |
Recipe |
100% Malted Barley |
Distiller | Arran (Lochranza, Scotland) |
A fairly cheap cask strength version of a single malt, going the route of finishing in quarter casks - given the woody influence of smaller casks combined with the ABV (which brings out more of the oak on the nose), you’d expect an oakier Scotch.
Review (2021)
Batch: N/A
Bottling Code: N/A
Bottling Date: 2020
This has a very pleasant oakiness, with nice bourbon notes, apple, fresh peach, vanilla, a nice grassy barley character, and a touch of clove. It doesn’t disappoint on the palate either, with the fruits being very well supported by the oakiness. It’s big at cask strength – medium bodied – but the oak, sweetness, fruit, and grain are just about perfect for this percent of alcohol. So, the balance is there, the flavours are good – and this is pretty great Scotch, especially at this price (if you like higher ABV scotches).
A nice pairing for an amber beer, too.
Highly Recommended (50% of all whiskies I’ve reviewed to date get this recommendation or higher).
Value: Average, against whisky as a whole – Scotch has trouble competing on a value basis. But, at $91, it’s hard to get a better cask strength single malt than this one.