Arran 23 Year "Drumadoon Point" Explorers Series Volume 4
Whisky: Arran 23 Year "Drumadoon Point" Explorers Series Volume 4
Country/Region: Scotland/Island
ABV: 49.5%
Cask: Sherry Puncheon
Age: 23 Years (Bottled 2021)
Nose: Rich fruits, citrus, herbal tea and spice, lemon grass, lacquered wood, hints of incense, dried grass, coconut.
Palate: Medium-bodied, oily, dried fruits, citrus, gradually more tropical, pastries, honey, herbal tea and spice, subtle earth and dried grass.
Finish: Long and fairly waxy with fruit preserves, cream, and dry grass.
Score: 8 (86)
Mental Image: Mojitos and Marmalades at the Pancake Bar
Narrative & Notes: Rich sherry-driven dried fruits paraded in with citrusy lemons and oranges while herbal notions of muddle Thai basil and mint followed— mojito night at the local pho shop! Herbal tisanes and teas lingered further in with lemon grass and lacquered wood. Hints of incense arrived sporadically with more dried grass and a touch of coconut. Medium-bodied and oily with a heady cask influence as dried dates flirted with oranges and then more tropical notions of bruised mango. Buttery pastries and pineapple-ginger preserves moved in the direction of honey and herbal tea with a touch of coriander and celery seed. Dusty earth and a bit of dried grass finished things off in the background. The finish was fairly waxy with fruit preserves, cream, and lingering dried grass— a woven palm frond hat.
These Explorers Series releases ramped up in quality with each offering a slightly different variation on what a very mature Arran might look like. This one had the most readily apparent cask influence aside from Volume 3 with its slightly overdone port maturation, but this was more balanced and restrained due to the maturation in puncheons.
The aroma had me a bit skeptical with its herbal introduction, but as more fruits joined the party things came together nicely and on subsequent tastings the fruits always came on much quicker. The palate was more clear, structured, and stable between tastings with a delightful evolution from fruits to pastries, to more fruits and then herbs. It was not quite as earthy or musty as some of my favorite Arran, but the clarity of the flavors and gradual build up a waxy mouthfeel were delightful.
Image Credit: Scotch & Sheen, who also provided the whisky! Check out his wonderful review through the link.
