Arran 14 Years Old 1999 121.65 A well-oiled Baseball glove (58.3%, SMWS, Refill Sherry Butt, 756 Bottles, 2013)

58.3% ABV, outturn 756 bottles, £46 for 70cl (Arran)

Score: 70/100

What they say:

Cask No. 121.65

There is right at the start a musty note of fermenting grapes which is soon replaced by sweet aromas of fudge, molasses, caramelised Demerara sugar and treacle. In addition some spiciness and the vinous character reminded us of a Muscat wine or Oloroso Dulce Sherry.  The taste split the Panel; some got struck matches followed by cooking Sherry whilst others enjoyed flavours of hazelnuts and roasted chestnuts combined with dried apricots and bitter orange chocolate. With water; lighter fluid and lamp oil moved quickly on to nut oil, stewed red fruits and honey on baked pears.  The taste is salted liquorice, raisins, duck terrine and a hint of turmeric; someone described it as a ‘well-oiled Baseball glove’.

Drinking tip: Watching the ‘World Series’ of the MLB

Date Distilled: 31 July 1999            
Colour: Vin Santo Italian dessert wine              
Age: 14 years             
Flavour: Deep, rich & fruity            
Cask Type: Refill ex-sherry butt            
Whisky Region: Highland Island 

What we say:

From the Isle of Arran distillery (SMWS distillery #121)

Colour:

Orange bronze

Nose:

Caramel and something herbal like Anise, hints of sherry cask and a wet/rotten smell

Taste:

Sweet and syrupy with drying tannin, lots of caramel and muskovado sugar, hints of liquorice

Finish:

Short and sharp with cinnamon spices and lingering orange

Overall:

Interesting and reasonably pleasant, the finish was a little disappointing as this promised big flavours then fizzles out at the end