Arran 12 Year Old Cask Strength Batch 5

Arran 12 YO Cask Strength Batch 5 – 30 cc sample (Master of Malt)

Before December I had only heard of Arran but never tried its whisky. Having received as a gift a SMWS bottling, I opened it on January 3 and was greatly impressed. It was because of this experience that I noticed that the LCBO had a 12YO CS in stock (this batch). I ordered this sample from Master of Malt in order to decide if I want to plunk down $100 for a bottle. According to my reading on the net this is put together from both sherry and bourbon casks.

I had a sample of the Arran 100 proof which I tasted and reviewed, followed by a revisiting of the SMWS bottling to prepare myself for this sample, which I opened and reviewed today, in my usual manner.

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Nose: Sweet apple, slight vegetal note. Maybe a little vanilla. I may be coming down with a cold but that’s all I really get. Inoffensive, but not exciting. 20/25

With water, the fruitiness is more pronounced and the vegetal note fades. Some green apple. A little light syrup. Even more water and more time and the vegetal note reappears slightly, and the green fruits assert themselves more.(21/25)

Taste: sweet arrival, hot from the alcohol. Some vanilla but otherwise not specific flavours come through. No whisky pop rocks here. 19/25

As with the 100 proof, the water makes the mouth-feel creamier, and the development sweeter, but no huge flavours appear. (20/25)

Finish is dry, unremarkable. No change with water 19/25.

Balance: Not much to balance here, but the nose and the palate are in synch. 20/25

The modified Ashok manoeuvre has no effect and it does not change with Trader Joe’s dark chocolate covered cocoa nibs except that the mouth-feel thins a little.

Total score Neat: 78/100
With Water: 80/100

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I actually preferred the Arran 100 Proof over this expression. This one does not excite me. It simply has no complexity or bold flavour to entice me. When I tasted the SMWS bottling and then saw this at the LCBO, those bottles kept calling to me ($100 for a 12YO CS is not bad here).Thanks to Master of Malt and to my brother (who delivered it) for allowing me to try this sample and make the decision to save my money for something else.

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