Arran 10 Years Review

Country: Scotland 

Region: Highland - Island - Arran

Brand: Arran

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 10 Years

ABV: 46 %

Colour: Golden Grain

Nose: There's a clear Pineapple impression right upfront, accompanied by light Sherry, Malt, Straw, Earth, Oak, Cocoa Powder, Butter, Nuts and Lemon. With more time in the glass some additional Fruity tones appear. (Pear, Apple, Berries, Orange, Banana). There is some light Alcohol as well that gives away this Arran's relative youth. 

Note: Immediately after opening the miniature bottle I was unpleasantly welcomed by the Aroma of Cabbage Water that might hint at some Sulphur, but could also be caused by the Peaty Water from Loch Na Davie used in the distillery. These Vegetative tones are very strongly present in the whiskies from the Jura distillery and here they returned in a lighter form. I can't say I like this aspect a lot. However, once the bottle is opened for a while these notes practically disappear so I won't consider them for my rating. My advise however is to open a new bottle a couple of hours before tasting to avoid this little issue.

Palate: Sweet Chewy Malt, Honey and lots of Lemon along with Orange flavoured Chocolate, Pepper, Oak, Vanilla, Nuts, Hay and Cinnamon. 

Finish: Middle Long with Sweet Barley, Orange Peel, Pepper, Nutmeg, Vanilla, Cocoa Powder, light Sherry, light Licorice and Lemon. The finish reminds me a bit of Irish Whiskey every once in a while.

With a bit of Water the Nose gets more Fruity and Malty tones. The Finish becomes quite Spicy. Feel free to experiment with a bit of Water here.

Rating: 84

Nose: 21 - Taste: 21.5 - Finish: 20.5 - Overall: 21

General Remarks: Arran is a very young distillery and only started selling Single Malts in 1995. It's located on the Isle of Arran, off of the Scottish West Coast. The 10 years is the Standard Malt that matures in a combination of Ex-Bourbon and Ex- Sherry Casks. No Colouring is added and the whisky is Non Chill Filtered. Unpeated Barley is used for the 10 Years expression that sells at between 45 and 50 US Dollars.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: The Arran 10 is certainly a complex enough whisky given its relative youth. Nice Malt, Honey and Lemon are strongly present on the Palate and I like the Orange-Chocolate note. Arran is a promising young distillery with distinct Lemon distillery characteristics that could score high in the future. The ABV of 46% and the lack of chill-filtration are certainly additional positive points. A good choice at an acceptable price! 

Jan van den Ende                                                                     May 29, 2013

Glen Keith 1992 Review KIW

Country: Scotland 

Region: Highland - Speyside

Brand: Glen Keith 1992 Single Cask Collection (KIW - Kintra Whisky)

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 19 Years

ABV: 53.8%

Colour: Gold

Nose: Sweet like Fruit-Filled French Flaky Butter Pastry (Papaya, Peach, Pineapple, Nectarine and Apple). Sweet Cereals, Vanilla, Sugared Orange Peels, Grass/Straw, Honey, Oak, a hint of Latte Macchiato, a sprinkle of Pepper and Cinnamon and a touch of Bourbon. Not overly complex - but sufficiently interesting Nose.

Palate: Sweet and Spicy with Pineapple, Plums, Lemon, Pepper, Ginger, light Licorice, Oak, Vanilla, Sweet Grains and Bitter Chocolate.

Finish: Short with Apple, Vanilla, Pepper, Oak, Licorice, Cocoa Powder and Dark Chocolate. 

I added a bit of Water and that reinforces the Fruit, Butter and Honey on the Nose. But Palate and Finish suffer so better sip the Glen Keith neat.

Rating: 84.5

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21

General Remarks: This Glen Keith was distilled in October 1992 and bottled at Cask Strength by Independent Bottler Kintra Whisky (Deventer, the Netherlands) in July 2012. It matured in an Ex-Bourbon Hogshead with Cask # 120587 out of which 156 bottles were reserved by Kintra. The whisky is non-chillfiltered and non-coloured. It costs around 110 US Dollars but I'm not sure if it's still available.

The relatively new Glen Keith distillery is located in Keith (Moray), very close to the very old Strathisla Distillery. The construction of Glen Keith was completed in 1960. The whisky was mostly used in Blends like Chival Regal, Passport and 100 Pipers. That's why you find quite a lot of IB Single-Malt expressions around. The Distillery was mothballed in 1999 but was bought in 2001 by Pernod-Ricard. Since 2012, it is being reconstructed and chances are it will open up in 2013.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good.

Conclusion: Good all round Speysider with Fruit, Honey, Pastry, Vanilla and Spices. Wood and Alcohol are well incorporated. Quite expensive though!

Jan van den Ende                                                                    May 26, 2013

Caol Ila 1982 Archives Review

Country: Scotland 

Region: Islay

Brand: Caol Ila 1982 (Archives)

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age:  30 Years

ABV:  51.2 %

Colour: Pale Straw/Chardonnay

Nose: About a month ago I tasted the Caol Ila 1990 Archives and liked it a lot. At that time I was greeted by Juicy Peat but that's not at all the case here. An array of Fruits is my first impression. I get Pineapple, Mango, Melon, Pear, Red Fruit, Banana and Green Apples. The Nose is almost mellow with the Peat and light Smoke woven in very nicely. But there's more to this Nose. Over time I also get Olive Oil, Lemon-Pepper, Honey, Mineral Tones, lovely French Salted Butter from Normandy, light Iodine, Sour Bread, Malt, Tea, Oak, Vanilla and a sprinkle of Aniseed. Very pleasant, not at all aggressive and with all Aromas nicely integrated. It lacks the raw Power of the 1990 but it's equally good.  

Palate: Fruity with Lemon, Grapefruit, Pineapple, Cherries and other Red Fruits, Banana and Pear. I also get light Smoke, Peat and Iodine, Ashes, Honey, Pepper, Licorice, Salt, Oak and Caramel. I must confess I was ever so slightly disappointed. I had expected a tad more complexity after the very nice Nose. In a blind tasting session I could have very easily identified this as an Islay with Red Wine finishing.  

Finish: Middle-Long and more convincing with Grapefruit, Caramel, light Peat, slightly Bitter Almonds, Red Fruit, Oak, Ashes, Salt and Pepper.  

I added a bit of Water and the Nose gets more Malt, Floral Tones and Honey. Some Peach as well. On the Palate and in the Finish the Fruit and Spices are enhanced. You can play with a couple of drops here. As usual, I prefer to taste it neat.

Rating: 88

Nose: 23 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 22 - Overall: 22

General Remarks: This Caol Ila 1982 is released by Archives. Archives is the relatively young own label of Independent Whisky Bottler Whiskybase.com. This whisky was distilled in 1982 and bottled at Cask Strength in 2012. It matured in an Ex-Bourbon Hogshead with the Cask Number 758 out of which 207 bottles were obtained by Whiskybase. This whisky was not coloured artificially and is un-chillfiltered. It is priced at around 170 US Dollars. 

Caol Ila is Gaelic for Sound of Islay (Islay Strait). From the Still House of the distillery you have a wonderful view on this Strait and the Isle of Jura. Caol Ila was founded in 1846, was rebuilt in 1974 and nowadays forms part of the Diageo Group.

Drinking Experience Neat: Very Good

Conclusion: The extra 8 years in the Ex-Bourbon hogshead have clearly mellowed down the spirit. Gone are the Alcohol and the Raw but Juicy Peat from the 1990. Instead you get lots of (Tropical) Fruit. Very little Oak despite the 30 years. I really loved the Nose and the Salted Butter is amazing! But on the Palate the Fruit gets a bit too dominant as far as I'm concerned. I would have loved to see a bit more Peat and Maritime Notes there for balance. Still, it's a thoroughly enjoyable Single Malt of course. 

Jan van den Ende                                                                     May 22, 2013