Arran Port Cask Finish Single Malt

Ran into this one locally and couldn't resist, as I really enjoy both of the other barrel-finished Arrans. On the nose blackberry preserves, apricot, ginger, fresh roasted coffee beans, tobacco. The palate is reminiscent of the Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban, but the flavors are somewhat more pronounced. The dark port fruit overlays the tropical fruit of the Arran malt. The ginger sneaks in there especially on the finish. A little bit of dark chocolate. Now for a ported scotch death match. Arran Port Cask Finish vs. Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban. The nose on the Arran is sharper and brighter than the QR. The QR smells older, which I'm guessing because it is. It's also got the floral note that I associate with Glenmo. I'd give the edge to the QR on the nose. The palate of the QR comes across as more sour in comparison to the Arran. There's more wood with a somewhat more tannic and bitter finish. The palate of the Arran is brighter, fruitier, and overall a bit more flavorful. I'm sure the bump in proof helps here. There is perhaps a better balance of the fruit and oak in the QR, but I prefer the palate of the Arran. The finish of the Arran shows some spicy ginger, which I enjoy in Arran's malt, and the flavor lingers a little more. Overall, the Arran comes out on top, but there's a significant difference in price around here. I bought the QR for $39 and the Arran for $72. And for that difference, I'd say that I'd be more likely to repeat the QR than buy the Arran again. Also, I think this is my least favorite of the Arran finishes, so I'd be more inclined to buy the Sauternes or Amarone again.

The nose starts with powdered sugar dusted strawberries, caramelized mango and dehydrated apricots then light florals and mild sea salt followed by cherries jubilee, pineapple and lemon zest that transitions to mild baking spices and light oak with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a medium mouthfeel starting with creamy tropical fruits before a moderate spice that slowly fades to powdered sugar dusted raspberries and dehydrated apricots then light florals and seaside rocky minerality followed by black cherry jam, pineapple and lemon zest that transitions to mild baking spices and light oak with medium ethanol burn. The finish is medium length starting with sweet creamy tropical fruits that fade to red berries, a mild peppery spice and mild baking spices. Overall, this is another delicious offering by Arran that the port influence isn’t overpowering which allows for a balance of tropical fruits and red berries along with some mild spices that suffers on the palate and finish with a higher spice than I prefer. After trying Arran’s Sauternes finish, I was excited to see how the Port finish turned out, but this unfortunately didn’t turn out as well. At a price of around $80, it’s a well-priced single malt that would be better suited for palates that enjoy a higher spice than mine and I am very grateful to @soonershrink for the generous sample to be able to try.

N: Berries abound with a jammy juiciness. Creme brûlée and dark fruits, pepper and cocoa all layer on top of that fantastic Arran malt staple. P: Creamy, ginger, pepper, bitter cocoa, hazelnut and cherries. A single drop of water reveals a light orange and some of the honey tones found in other Arran expressions. F: Medium-short. Drying with buttery toasted pastry, jams and bitter dark chocolate. This is the last of the cask tastings in my flight tonight. All of them fantastic. And, unsurprisingly, all different. Yet, the core Arran spirit profile can be found unifying all three cask finishes. Where the Sauternes is spring time, bright and delicately refined; the Amarone is autumn with flavours that go from deep to fleeting with a full and exciting profile. The Port cask though. is winter. Richer, darker and more powerful than its brethren. The port cask reminds me of Ron Burgundy: “I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany”, thats where this port cask finish will be at home, in a deep Chesterfield armchair surrounded by musty books and decadence. For anyone who wants to make whisky and do no wrong, Arran is not a bad place to copy. Distiller whisky taste #49

Nose: Rich oaky sweetness. A gentleman's study where more than a little port has spilled onto the furniture over the years. Leather chairs, tobacco, walnut oil, vanilla, orange, raspberry, black cherry, caramel After the first sip, the palate contributes aromas and the nose reveals fruit compote, sherry, espresso and oak. With time the nose gains a more delicate fragrant note. Wonderful. Palate: A rich, mildly warm , restrained sweet arrival of impeccable breeding. A little ginger, dried fruits, orange oil, raisins, sultanas, muscatels. Berries of every type, milk chocolate, baked apples with cinnamon. The texture is awesome - just to the softly silken and syrupy side of oily (drool). Finish: Medium/long. Sweet initially with fruity notes, but sliding gracefully into a demi-sec chocolate and grape finish. Masterful, with a drying late finish. Another cracking good cask finish from Arran. I don't know what else I can add, it's all in the tasting notes. Very good whisky indeed (tasted from a 30ml sample). "Very Good" : 86/100 (4 stars)

Nose - Pomelo, red berries, dark caramel, orange, raisins Taste - Nice ginger spice, flamed orange zest, dark apple/pear juice, bit tannic/dry, light raisin sweet, light citrus pith bitter Finish - Lingering tingle, very drying, almost starchy like eating an unripe plantain, light raisin sweetness with apple/pear undertones Score - 75/100 Final Thoughts - This was sadly a bit disappointing. It had a nice interesting nose but fell a tiny bit flat on the palate. The nose presented a nice balanced Scotch with nice balance of citrus and sweet, but once it hit the palate, it was a bit hot and very tannic. The taste was pleasant, but the tannic nature of it was very distracting and it had this sort of distracting citrus pith bitterness. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - No Would I buy a bottle? - No

Olfato: malte, adocicado, vínico, condimentado, ameixas frescas, leve amadeirado, amanteigado, baunilha, frutas vermelhas, frutos secos, tâmaras, cítrico, leves avelãs e um pouco de percepção de álcool. Paladar: boa correspondência com o olfato, com muita picância, frutado cítrico puxando para laranjas, calor do álcool (que não desagrada), adocicado, amadeirado, baunilha e suave defumado. Finalização: média para longa, com predominância do dulçor, calor do álcool e amadeirado. Leve defumado e amanteigado. Impressões gerais: bom whisky, aromas complexos e com ótimas notas no paladar. Whisky sem filtragem gelada e sem corantes, com boa oleosidade. Recomendado para degustação pura ou com gelo.