Arran 18 Years Old The Single Malts of Scotland Cask 896928 50.5% 1996

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Serge Valentin (87)

I guess it was a sherry puncheon. Colour: dark gold. Nose: no big sherry, but what’s there is appropriately tobacco-ish and leafy/leathery. Funnily enough, there’s the same kind of minerality as in the official 18 in the background. Other than that, we have walnuts in all their forms, as cake, as wine, au naturel, in a chicken soup… No, not in a chicken soup. With water: we recreated the OB! Mouth (neat): oh excellent! There are obvious similarities with the official, with the same beautifully zesty and even tart profile that dominates the sherry. Lemon curd again, pink grapefruits… With water: we recreated the OB again! Finish: perfect, with a little more bitter oranges this time. Balance is perfect. Comments: one more point for the extra-strength. Well deserved!

Words of Whisky (90)

:

Color: Auburn

Nose: Fresh pine needles and tree bark, immediately followed by tropical fruit like peaches and nectarines. It is lovely subtle, but also has a thick sweet and syrupy edge.

Taste: Star anise and cloves, with thick molasses and dried berries. Polished leather, dusty books. The sherry influence is in great balance with the spirit.

Finish: Sweet cherries, pears, apple juice.

Comments
Balance is the keyword here. Everything just seems to work and the flavors and aromas are really well integrated.