SMWS Code: 121.77
Code Name: “Dunnage warehouse orange boxes”
Distillery: Arran
Age: 19 years
Cask: Refill Hogshead

Appearance: 0.8, Deep Gold

Nose: Combination bourbon cask influence and brine; I get salty peanut brittle, vanilla and caramel, hints of some citrus (orange, tinged with lemon). Quite grainy and malty.

Taste: Thick mouthfeel, vanilla, salted caramel, oak and white pepper, mandarin orange, clove and anise, slightly astringent.

Finish: More brine exerts itself on the finish; lingering vanilla and golden syrup. A hint of chocolate cake. Fairly long.

Notes: As far as bourbon matured scotches go, this is an excellent one. The bourbon influence is clear, with all the hallmarks of a scotch that has had plenty of time to pick up influence from the barrel. I’m not sure if it’s a problem with Arran’s base spirit for me, but this one is just under whelming. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I thought a 19 year old Arran would just be… more.

Score: 84/100