Officially launched in 2006, this 10 year old lies at the heart of the Isle of Arran range and exudes all the honeyed richness we have come to associate with the island distillery.
Herbal, biscuity, hedgerow greenness and dried grass, like a long English summer's afternoon.
Sweet. Quite malty, digestive biscuits, followed by green fruits and Cox's apple peel.
Slightly bitter, maltiness.
It’s gentle, yet very specific and unique. Has a similar after-taste feeling of pleasure in a throat to the 12yo whiskeys finished in a cherry cask. Totally worth a try!
A first class smooth malt whisky. Easy to drink and a lovely after glow.
I had never heard of Arran Malt until the early 21st Century when we visited the distillery and purchased the 6 year old version (the only vintage available at the time) . I have been an addict for malt whiskies since I first tasted the MaCallen in Ardeer but as I have grown older I find the softer taste of Arran Malt much more to my taste. It is to me a soft comfortable whisky. Now at 80 I still find it most enjoyable and have converted my children even though it has meant each bottle not lasting as long.
The Arran 10 is matured in a mix of bourbon casks and a small portion of refill sherry casks, with the bourbon influence being dominant both in taste and color. Pineapple, coconut, vanilla, a creamy nuttiness and citrus with a slight whiff of coastal heathery influence that pays tribute to its Island roots. Arran 10 is a beautiful entry dram and offers a respectable quality for a fair price. The previous "Look under the surface" review is correct and this gentleman explains it very well that there are beginners malts and there are these such as Arran 10. Which are not overly complex but offer a bit more as an entry dram to seasoned scotch connoisseurs then your run off the mill 10 to 12 year old that are chill filtered thin and watered down to 40% ABV would. This is not Glenfiddich 12 apple juice the Arran 10 is a robust whisky and even slightly challenges you when you spend time with it. There are not many other scotch that pack so much good flavor in only €30-€40. Bottled at 46% non chillfiltered and non colored Arran did not cut any corners with the Arran 10 and stays true to traditional craftsmanship. Which is impressive for such a young distillery. A minimum of 43% and non chill filtered keeps the body, flavors and aromas in tact much better. Not bothering to artificially color your product for sly marketing purposes but presenting an honest and pure distillery character and product as close to what comes out of the casks as possible shows you care about the substance and traditions, not superficial marketing. This is one of my favorite summer and session drams to start a tasting with or for a slightly uncomplicated fresh but rich and rounded sip. Arran shows that a young distillery established only in 1995 can give ancient giants a run for their money.
Isn't it curious how all these reviewers who say how malt X is not so good and malt Y is so much better, if you look closer they only care about smoothness. Well, if you want smooth, try Jameson or Crown or Dewar's ;) Some people even say that comics are an easier read than Crime and Punishment :D There are beginner's malts and then there are others. That's not to say that "others" are always better. They are just more "difficult", less accessible and take a bit more experience to enjoy. And I don't mean that in a condescending way. 3 years ago I would probably hate Arran. I love it now. It's like a person who doesn't have the most agreeable personality, yet, once you get to know them, you find they have a lot to offer, an interesting person. Vs. someone who is polite and easy going, yet... that's about all. You know, Mark Twain vs. Ned Flanders or something like that ;) I still enjoy Glenlivet and other similar mainstays, but I derive a lot more interest and engagement from malts like Arran 10. No, it's not my favorite. I rarely think in terms of "Malt A is better than Malt B". Instead I contrast their differences and pick a dram based on mood, weather, occasion, company, etc. I have yet to find a bad single malt.
