Arran 12, Pinot Noir Cask - ARCHIVED

This cask bottling, distilled in September 1999, spent eight years aging in first fill ex-bourbon before maturing for an additional four years in ex-pinot noir.  It was bottled at cask strength in June of 2012 at 54.8% ABV.  Cask #6 yielded 277 bottles.

Our tasting notes are as follows:

Color: Polished bronze

Nose: Opens with typical Arran pungency: pickled onion crisps (Funyuns), salted licorice, wet boat ropes and guava with baker's chocolate and powdered cocoa, toasted wheat germ and very subtle hints of soft toffee around the edges

Palate: Mouthcoating oily texture, effervescent around the edges, with tirimasu (heavy on the rum with a chocolate dusting), plump golden raisins in maple syrup, Golden Delicious apples with warm honey and a spicy ending (cinnamon and nutmeg)

Finish: Chewy and luxuriant with California raisins, more nutmeg and developing brown sugar and fresh cracked pepper 

On the label: Pungent and oily with wet ropes and cocoa powder, fruit covered in maple syrup and honey, then an endless, spicy finish

Opened in 1995, the only distillery on the beautiful Isle of Arran is a small, independently owned operation that is on its way to producing 400,000 litres of spirit annually.  Distillery manager, James MacTaggart, is dedicated to perfecting his craft and isn't afraid to play around with his core spirit.  He also commutes to Arran from Islay once a week in order to get his work done at the distillery!

Become a member of Single Cask Nation today to gain access to these (and many other) single cask, single malt whiskies. Membership is free and becoming a Single Cask Nation member is as easy as creating an account.