Arran 21 Year "Lochranza Castle" Explorers Series Volume 2
Whisky: Arran 21 Year "Lochranza Castle" Explorers Series Volume 2
Country/Region: Scotland/Islands
ABV: 47.2%
Cask: Sherry Hogsheads, Amontillado Sherry Finish
Age: 21 Years (Bottled 2019)
Nose: Fruity and earthy, garden center, dried fruits, subtle tropical florals, loam and lacquered wood.
Palate: Medium-bodied, vibrant tropical fruits, powdered donuts, coconut, malty pastries, floral spice, lacquered wood, dark chocolate.
Finish: Long with dried fruit, wooden antiques, and a touch of white chocolate.
Score: 7 (84)
Mental Image: Tropical Pancake House c. 1970
Narrative & Notes: It was back to the botanical center with this one as clay pots, dried fruits, and hints of tropical florals danced around woody mulch. Mellow, loamy earth and lacquered wood reminded of 1970s wood paneling and a teak table in a shag carpet lined conversation pit. Medium-bodied and vibrant with loads of dried mango, pineapple, and orchard fruits that slipped in with powder sugar donuts and desiccated coconut. Coffee cakes and a bit of cream arrived with hints of floral spice, annatto perhaps, with lacquered wood and dark chocolate. The finish was long with dried fruit, wooden antiques, and a touch of white chocolate.
I did not post a single Arran Lochranza whisky review in 2024, a stunning turn for one of my first whisky loves. Here I am, back again, deep into the Explorer’s Series that Arran put out a few years back, and finding a lot to love. I was not smitten with Volume 3 Kildonan and Pladda Island, when I tried it several years ago. It was one of the drams that seemed to undo whatever spell I had been under and left me drifting away from the distillery.
This was well-composed with a lovely balance between fruit, earth, florals, and pastries— a reminder of the Arran that I first fell in love with. The flavors were well-balanced, showcasing some of the delicacies of a mature Arran without the sherry or amontillado casks completely taking over.
