The Arran 12 Year Old Cask Strength (6th Edition) Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml/ 52.4%)

The last known stock in Australia.

The 6th edition of Arran’s super-popular and delicious Cask Strength series. First founded in 1995, the Isle of Arran distillery has quickly established a reputation for creating some fabulous single malt whiskies, and with bottling such as this one, it is easy to see why.

A whisky that is creamy and spicy in equal measure, this dram has been matured in a mixture of first-fill sherry butts, first fill former Bourbon American oak barrels, and refill sherry hogsheads for 12 years. This maturation process has created a deeply flavoursome whisky, with notes of pineapple, bright oak, toasted almonds, coconut, dried fruit and overripe bananas.

Bottled at a hefty 52.4% ABV, this proof allows the natural flavours and mouthfeel of the whisky to take hold. Furthermore, the whisky is presented without either chill filtration or artificial colouration, as close to “straight from the cask” as could be.

Another impressive dram from this young distillery, this whisky was limited to 13,800 bottles worldwide.

Tasting Notes (Master of Malt)

Nose: Pineapple chunks, crystallised ginger and a good core of oak.

Palate: Peppery cedar spices and juicy apricot, with a whiff of grassy malt lasting throughout.

Finish: Fresh fruit sweetness and more pepper.