Arran 21 Year “Kildonan and Pladda Island” Explorers Series Vol. 3
Whisky : Arran 21 Year “Kildonan and Pladda Island” Explorers Series Vol. 3
Country/Region : Scotland/Islands
ABV : 50.4%
Cask : Ex-Sherry Butts & Puncheons, Ex-Ruby Port
Age : 21 Years
Nose : Thick and fruity— loaded with dried figs, nectarines, tangerines, and plums. Faint salt, florals, and mustiness popped in the background to give the fruit a jammy quality. Sugars built over time toward grape soda or pop-rocks while creamy notes gave the impression of pudding.
Palate : Medium bodied with rich bold fruity flavors. Sweet and syrupy with strawberry preserves, pomegranate juice, and ruby chocolate. Floral notes built over time toward lavender candy, strawberry fruit leather, and blood orange soda with a slight nuttiness at the end. Hints of minerality, salt, and new leather hang in the background.
Finish : Lingering fruit and ruby chocolate with mild dryness.
Score : 6
Mental Image : Ruby Chocolate Shake
Something Better : Kavalan 10th Anniversary Bordeaux Margaux Cask (similar strawberry, more cream)
Something Similar : Auchentoshan 18Y SMWS 5.70 (similar pomegranate, fruits, fudge, more coffee)
Something Worse : Linkwood 13Y SMWS 39.195 (similar pomegranate/juicy fruit, more licorice/spice)
Notes : This was a perfectly fine and tasty Arran, but it was too sweet for my taste. The intense berry palate had some interesting chocolate and floral notes, but the overall juicy quality was too much for me. If you enjoy heavily sherried Arran, this will likely be right up your ally. I tried this three times and found that a lot of the notes I really enjoy in Arran, its almost earthy quality and tropical fruits, were not really present in this dram. It is probably about time I surrender my fanboy badge for Arran, I am clearly not as much a Stan as I thought I was for the distillery.
