Tasting Notes:

The Arran Smugglers’ Series Volume I

Style: Sweet and Spicy

Nose:

Begins with fragrance of ripe mangosteen, sourness of passion fruit, pears and other tropical fruits. Followed by nose-drying ginger spice. Cutting through it, we have some coconut vanilla ice cream. A hint of dryness, probably some smoke? But definitely a faint hiss of peat at the back end.

Palate:

Delicious sweet and sharp spice on the first touch. A mouthful of vanilla ice cream drizzled with passion fruit sauce. On the side we have some eye-watering mint and ginger spice. The intensity stays high, sharp and at times, incinerating. Tone tunes down after a while and more liquorice and caramel came through. Very soft latte notes towards the end.

Finish:

Fiery spice growling, diluted malt syrup, soft fruity and creamy notes fuse with the peat to produce a round finish. Soft and subtle ending after the spice burns out.

Thoughts:

A quite sweet and quite spicy whisky. I think “ice cream” might be the best word to describe the texture, thickness and sweetness here, such a lovely presentation. You don’t see a lot of whiskies which have this delicate buffering touch at the end of the sweetness! For the spicy part, I enjoy it very much, there is an extra edge and prevent flavours going too dull. But how much spiciness will suffice is a rather subjective thing. Anyways, if you like your whisky sweet and spicy, here is your perfect match!

[56.4%・2015・Non Coloured・Non Chill Filtered・No Age Statement・Cask Strength・Limited Edition・8700 Bottles]

-Esmond