We’re nearing the end of the Master of Malt series of single casks and vattings. The latter are in the That Boutique-y Whisky Company series. It’s a good thing that we’re nearing the end too, before I start to look like a Master of Malt suck-up.

This Arran is another single cask. Isle of Arran Distillers is on the Isle of Arran and started business only in 1995, which makes this one of the oldest possible Arrans. I ‘predict’ that somewhere this year a very special 18 year old official bottling will be released.

Sniff:

Arran 16 by Master of Malt

Standard is my first impression. Wood, dry, barley, slightly apple-y. All this makes it very Arran. When I smell it for a bit longer I get gin, new make spirit and some alcohol. Maybe even some cheese and ‘multi purpose’ cleaning stuff.

Sip:
Sharp with barley and fruit. Apple, cherries, peach. A hint of pepper and maybe even some mole? A little bitter towards the end.

Swallow:
The finish is reasonably long and milky. There’s barley too but mostly I get slightly sour milk. And apple, of course.

Weird. There are some good and some bad things to this whisky. The typical Arran flavours of barley and apple are things I enjoy, but the cheesiness on the nose and sour mik in the finish I don’t really find enjoyable. That’s probably why I’m not such a big fan of this one.

Arran 16 at 55.4%,  bottled and sold by Master of Malt in their webshop. Samples available for £ 4.52. The whole bottle costs £ 53.95.

Official sample provided by Master of Malt.