If there is a distillery i love, it is Arran. Their whiskies are very enjoyable, tropical and full of flavor. Having said that, their new marketing is not very good, but before 2019, they released some amazing looking bottles. One of those, was this INCREDIBLE, OUT OF THIS WORLD collection called "The Smuggler Series", which was a trilogy of whiskies. I have long waited to open the one i got, which is the number III called "The Exciseman". Excisemen played a huge role in whisky history, trying to collect taxes and discovering hidden distilleries in the mountains and in the islands. Smugglers had to dodge them with smart tactics, as hidding bottles in fake books... just like this jewel from Arran. The bottle is actually held in a box that is a fake book about whisky. It is just amazing. But, was the whisky any good? Bottled at 56.8%abv, golden color. Matured in ex bourbon and madeira casks. On the nose, it was fantastic. Red fruits, cherries, eggnog, banana, a hawaiian tropic bronzer, rum and raisins ice cream. Dehydrated bananas, coconut, pecans, dulce de leche and caramel ice cream. Just amazing. On the palate it is one of the most delicious drams i have had on 2021, and i had some very good ones. Dulce de leche, sulphur, burnt marshmallows (smores), swiss roll (in spanish is "Brazo Gitano", google it), banana bread. The aftertaste is just the perfect ending to one of my favorite drams from this year. Dulce de leche, red hot chilli peppers (not the band, lol), black pepper. This is a bomb, but a very pleasant one. Overall, i have nothing more to say that this is a wonderfully looking bottle, with a breathtaking "juice" inside. Everyone in the tasting event i held was overwhelmed, even the hardest ones in the crowd. A fantastic single malt, i am not worthy of giving it anything less than a perfect score. 100/100. Slàinte Mhath!
About this bottle
This release from Arran is the third in their Smugglers' Series offerings following Vol. 1's The Illicit Stills and Vol. 2's The High Seas. This series pays honor to the "exuberant character of those striving to outwit the Government’s representatives in the pursuit of the production of the famed Arran Waters." The single malt whisky was aged in former Madeira wine casks and quarter-casks at they would've been easier to transport. The whisky is bottled with no added color, is non chill-filtered, and is bottled at a cask strength of 56.8%. 8700 bottles will be available beginning in mid-July 2017. This bottling concludes the series.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 2 parsed reviews.
Original review of Arran’s, The High Seas placed here.
Tastes like this
Same style and price bracket, best rated first.
