Arran 100 Proof

This is my first Arran. I haven’t sampled much from this distillery, but right now I find myself starting with the 100 Proof. I like a bit of kick, so I thought a healthy 57% abv. may be right up my alley. Not so.

Nose: Apples, citrus rind, pears, and malt. Lots of barley and some very light vanilla. The strength gives it an alcoholic bite but the nose remains surprisingly fresh. Soapy. Complex? No, but not bad.

Palate: Oily mouthfeel. Loads of barley. Pears are in there, too.

Finish: Vanilla predominates throughout the finish. The barley remains. Sipped neat, there’s some serious tang here, but it’s quickly calmed by a few drops of water. Some pears, bananas, and nuts are here, too. Mostly just barley and vanilla.

I love stronger whiskies. They take the whisky’s base flavours and amplify them, giving added intensity and richness. Sadly, the base flavours here don’t offer much of a foundation. The flavour profile itself is about as standard and unimpressive as it gets. There’s simply not enough going on here. It’s pleasant, yes. But it’s too… average. I’m reminded of an amped-up Glenfiddich 12 year old. Nothing unpleasant, just a bit boring. I’ll skip this next time.

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