Whisky: Arran Small Batch Peated Sherry Cask for The Nectar

Country/Region: Scotland/Islands

ABV: 56.8%

Cask: Sherry Cask

Nose: Wildfire in the apple orchard! Caramel apples and soot appeared amid the tangled aromas of asphalt, hay, and funnel cakes. Fried pastries and dried fruit with hints of leather— strolling through the county fare amidst fruit pies, fried foods, trampled straw, and leather boots.

Palate: Medium-bodied with sharp notes of acrid smoke, fruit, and fried pastries. Fried pop tarts came to mind with a smorgasbord of fairground fried pastries. Hints of chocolate and sʻmores hid behind a slightly acrid smoke which varied between the fresh pavement, diesel generator, and burning rubber on the rally track. Hints of battery acid and copper: the underlying minerality of Arran rose to the surface to tingle the palate. Caramel apples came out more clearly with water, as did the burnt tires of a Tokyo Drift reenactment.

Finish: Lingering notes of acrid smoke and sweet dried fruit.

Score: 5

Mental Image: Drag Race Concession Stand

Notes: What a wild ride— I felt as though this dram drifted on my palate as it veered between caramel apples, burnt rubber tires, and battery acid. To an extent, it reminded me of an older SMWS sherried Bowmore (3.189), which also brought to mind county fairs, fried pastries, and diesel. The Arran was a slightly less coherent affair with more sharp notes sticking out at odd angles. While it was not the most well-integrated malt, it was interesting and certainly the dirtiest Arran I have ever tried. I suspect blind; I would have thought this was somewhere between Laphroaig and Longrow.

Overall, while peated Arran has rarely tickled my fancy, I can see the appeal with this one. Arran might not be where I turn when I am craving some peated malt, but I remain bullish on Lagg distillery and the future of peat on the island.

Image Credit: Whisky Auctioneer