Whisky: Arran 10 Year (2007) Master of Distilling 1st Edition (blind re-review)

Country/Region: Scotland/Islands

ABV: 54.2%

Cask: First Fill Bourbon Barrel

Age: 10 Years (Distilled 2007, Bottled 2017)

Nose: Mellow tropical fruits with an acidic edge, lemon, brown sugar, and herbal undertones; gentle mineral notes of graphite, paper and glue; hints of rolled tobacco and linoleum; an old university library— bit stale and woody at times.

Palate: Medium-bodied, effervescent and crisp, citrus fruits and Korean pears, wood with more subtle pine and spruce toward the end; hints of resin, old books, brown sugar, and citrusy candies.

Finish: Medium length; a bit spirited and peppery with wood, old paper, and citrus candies.

Score: 6 (77)

Mental Image: Hidden Library Lemon Tree

Narrative & Notes: I initially tried this blind as part of an online whisky group mystery advent calendar. The aroma was fruity, yet musty, with old library vibes— the sort of 1970s or 80s library with wood laminated walls and the odd mix of linoleum and well-trodden carpet on the floor, the whole thing in desperate need of renovation. The flavor profile was crisp and effervescent, with big citrus notes and juicy Korean pears. Pine and cedar still hung around, but further in the background with resin and hints of unsmoked tobacco. Candies filtered in and out before a peppery and spirited turn on the finish.

I was not really sure where to go with my guess for this blind sample; the flavors felt familiar, but more than that I was not sure where to place the citrusy profile. I thought perhaps Glen Elgin with a first fill bourbon maturation but decided to go off the beaten path a bit and guessed it was a Glencadam at around a decade old. This had a certain austere quality I associate with that lesser known distillery.

It turns out I have had this before! It was the Arran 10-Year Master of Distilling First Edition. I last reviewed this whisky way back in 2020.  At the time I noted maltier flavors and described the citrus as more of a background note. Otherwise my notes were about the same.

Overall, I scored this a bit higher than the last time I had it and I thought it made for an excellent highball.