Arran 10 Year Old

Description

Arran 10 Year Old: The Island’s Defining Single Malt

The Arran 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky stands as the defining core expression from the Isle of Arran Distillers. Established at Lochranza in 1995, the distillery spearheaded the revival of legal whisky production on the island after a hiatus that lasted over 150 years. This relatively young yet accomplished distillery has quickly built a reputation for producing high-quality, characterful single malts, and the 10 Year Old, first officially launched in 2006, is a testament to that success. It is universally recognised as a benchmark for the house style, showcasing the purity and vibrant qualities unique to its coastal location.

The journey of this exceptional Island whisky begins high in the hills, where the exceptionally soft water of Loch na Davie is drawn. This pure water, combined with unpeated malted barley, creates a clean base spirit. The crucial ten-year maturation process takes place in selected oak, primarily using ex-Bourbon barrels for a sweet, vanilla-rich influence, complemented by a smaller marriage of first-fill and refill Sherry hogsheads to impart depth and rounded fruitiness. This non-chill filtered expression is bottled at 46% ABV, ensuring the retention of natural oils and flavour.

The resulting Arran 10 Year Old is celebrated for its perfectly balanced profile. Its inherent characteristics lean towards a lively marriage of bright citrus notes and honeyed richness, which evolve into layers of vanilla, sweet oak, and a warming hint of cinnamon spice. This combination delivers a smooth, elegant, and complex dram that perfectly encapsulates the unique terroir of ‘Scotland in Miniature.’ It represents an accessible yet high-quality benchmark for any enthusiast seeking a quintessential, non-peated Island single malt.

Arran 10 Year Old Tasting Note

Nose: An immediate burst of bright, candied lemon peel and crisp green apple, underpinned by a welcoming layer of vanilla-rich malt and heather honey. There’s a subtle, clean coastal freshness that lifts the sweetness, suggesting a non-peated Island character.

Palate: Medium-bodied and slightly oily, delivering a focused mix of digestive biscuits, warm cinnamon, and a creamy, bourbon-barrel vanilla influence. The fruit evolves from zesty citrus to sweeter, almost tropical notes of pineapple and tinned peaches, creating excellent balance.

Finish: Long and gently warming, concluding with lingering sweet oak and a delicate, drying spice, reminiscent of hazelnut and ginger. It remains clean, without any harsh edges, inviting the next sip.

Overall: A superb benchmark 10-year-old single malt that perfectly showcases the unadulterated, fruit-forward Arran distillery style. Its complexity, combined with its high ABV and non-chill filtered bottling, makes it outstanding value and a highly versatile dram.