Arran 14 Year Old
Released in late 2010, this Arran 14 Year Old is intended to be the standard issue bottling, taking over from the 12yo that appeared in late 2008. As has always been the case with Arran’s malt, this has been neither coloured nor chill-filtered and has been bottled at a sensible drinking strength of 46%, for which the management deserve maximum kudos.
This distillery on the Isle of Arran, the only one on the isle, opened in 1995. Arran actually has a warm micro-climate for Scotland which speeds the maturation. This 14 year old bottling is aged in ex-bourbon for the first 12 years and then the final two years in fresh bourbon casks and fresh sherry casks. This sees no peated malt.
It is a perfectly balanced marriage of both first fill Sherry and Bourbon casks and is a highly rewarding Single Malt with depth of character and zest. It captures perfectly all the fresh character of the Arran 10 year-old with an added layer of intensity and fruitiness.