Whisky: Arran 20 Year (1996), Douglas Laing Cask DL11492 for K&L

Country/Region: Scotland/Islands

ABV: 52.7%

Cask: Bourbon Barrel

Age: 20 Years (Distilled Aug. 1996, Bottled Nov. 2016)

Nose: Big and fruity, melon, pineapple, subtle earth and dried grass, hints of coconut and tobacco.

Palate: Medium-bodied, juicy, berries, melon, salt, li hing, dusty earth, peppery and a bit spirited at the end.

Finish: Long and slightly drying with plenty of juicy fruits and a touch of chalky earth.

Score: 7 (84)

Mental Image: Fancy Wedding Fruit Appetizer

Narrative & Notes: Big melon and kiwi notes took me straight to a banquet melon bowl with cantaloupe, honey dew, kiwi, and chopped pineapple ready for the crowd. A touch of earth and dried grass set the scene at an outdoor venue with woven palm fronds, sand, and hints of coconut and tobacco. Medium-bodied and juicy like a melted fruit popsicle in the summer with strawberry, plum, melon, and pineapple with a touch of salted pickled plum powder dusted over it. Fruits ran riot with only hints of dusty earth, dried palm fronds, and peppery spirit. The finish was long and slightly drying with plenty of juicy fruits and a touch of chalky earth.

This was an absolute fruit party with almost none of the malty, buttery pastries that typical balance the fruitier side of Arran. Earth and grass appeared with hints of the sea, so it was not devoid of the distillery’s typical character, but the fruit was turned up to full volume. It was a bit raw and spirited sometimes and not terribly complex, but the juiciness of the whisky featured excellent clarity of flavor and several different variations on what sorts of fruits made up the fruit bowl.

Overall, good— right on the edge of greatness, crossing over sometimes in the right moment.

Image Credit: Whiskybase