Category Archives: Arran

Leave the fools behind – April 2nd at The Daily Pint in Santa Monica will be great!

 

…I only wish I could be there!  

Here’s the skinny on a great whisky event with Louisa Young of Isle of Arran and James Wills of Kilchoman distilleries, happening on April 2nd, at The Daily Pint in Santa Monica, CA:

This is something special! 

 Arran-+-Kilchoman-Info2

KILCHOMAN & ARRAN Educational Party
Thursday April 2nd, 2015 @ 7pm – 10pm
The Daily Pint in Santa Monica

Southern California Whisky Club will be having not ONE but TWO representatives from TWO different distilleries in Scotland hanging out with us on Thursday April 2, 2015. We will be welcoming James Wills from Kilchoman Distillery and Louisa Young from Arran Distillery for a get together at the Daily Pint.

This is not a formal tasting, but a casual event where the goal is maximize the one-on-one time that our members get to spend with both James and Louisa.

Included in the event will be a flight of 6 whiskies as well as 2 different scotch cocktails: A Kil-Roy (barrel aged Rob Roy made with Kilchoman) and an Arran Punch.

Let’s loosen the collars, hang out as a club and welcome these two into sunny California.

Pre registration is $20 (includes tip) or $30 at the door (doesn’t include tip).

Get your tickets HERE!

Single Cask Nation hits Los Angeles and one of its destinations: Temple Menorah in Redondo Beach, CA

 

Do you live in California and in or near the Los Angeles area?

Well, then you need to come out to Temple Menorah in Redondo Beach to see us!

Not Jewish?  Don’t worry — it’s all about the whisky.  Come ye Gentile, Come ye Jew, Come ye all lovers of great whisky!!

(See below for details on date, time, cost, how to get tickets, contact info, etc…)

Jason Johnstone-Yellin and I will be there pouring all six of the Single Cask Nation whiskies (see the image below).

SINGLE-CASK-NATION-DALMORE-LAPHROAIG-ARRAN-KILCHOMAN-GLEN-MORAY-BENRIACH

Whisky details:

  • Arran 12yo Pinot Noir Cask – 8yrs first fill bourbon, 4 years pinot noir, Single Cask, Cask Strength – Double Bronze medal winner (World of Whiskies tasting panel, International Whisky Competition)
  • BenRiach 17yo (peated) – 2nd fill bourbon barrel, Single Cask, Cask Strength – Gold medal winner (International Whisky Competition)
  • Dalmore 12yo – 12yrs refill hogshead, 10mos PX sherry hogshead, Single Cask, Cask Strength
  • Glen Moray 12yo – first fill bourbon barrel, Single Cask, Cask Strength
  • Kilchoman 4yo – first fill bourbon barrel, Single Cask, Cask Strength
  • Laphroaig 6yo – refill bourbon hogshead, Single Cask, Cask Strength

Details on the events (click the image to view/download a PDF of the event flyer):

Date: Sunday, June 30th
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Address: 1101 Camino Real, Redondo Beach, CA
Modest cost for the event: $40
Contact for tickets: Lee Zaro or Aaron Krouse, whiskytribe@gmail.com 
What else comes with the tasting event other than fantastic Scotch whisky from Single Cask Nation: Hors d’oeuvres, fun, education, raffles for Single Cask Nation membership (and more).  Not party hats, sorry.

 

SCN_Whisky_Tasting

Special thanks to LZ and AK for setting up this great event and thanks, too, to Temple Menorah for having us!

Arran Premium Sherry Single Cask bottled for San Francisco’s “The Whisky Shop”

 

ARRAN-WHISKY-SHOP-0Islands region — 54.9% ABV – Single Cask # 96/1517 – $100, bottled for, and sold exclusively through, San Fransico’s “The Whisky Shop”

This sample was sort of an out of the blue one for me.  The good folks at ImpEx sent me the sample suggesting that I might be interested in reviewing it.

I knew that Arran had a line of “Premium” Sherry and Bourbon casks but this is the first I saw where they bottled one for a specific store.  This practice may be new, it may not be new.  Here we have it though, a single premium sherry cask for The Whisky Shop in San Francisco.

I’ve heard of The Whisky Shop but have never shopped there before.

ARRAN-WHISKY-SHOPLike Binny’s, Julio’s and a few others, The Whisky Shop has a reputation for being experts in all things whisk(e)y.

I am curious to taste this one, for sure.  Thanks to the good folks at ImpEx for sending me a sample!

Color – Muscato wine (I only mention the color as it seems light for a 16yo sherry single cask)

On the nose –  Obviously sherried but no *heavy* sherry notes, I wonder if this is a 2nd fill cask.  Either way, it’s smelling quite nice.

Let’s run down the list of scent, shall we?

ARRAN-WHISKY-SHOP1Candied bacon and the smell of the taste of iodized salt.  Cola with a side of Black pu’er tea.  I need to point out something I’m not getting, something I normally get with Arran malts: Apples.  No sign of that apple sweetness.

Fried dates; more gristle, less dates.

ARRAN-WHISKY-SHOP2Wait a second!!  Wait a *BIG* second!  Apple cider vinegar becomes very evident.  I am rewarded for my patience.

ARRAN-WHISKY-SHOP3On the mouth –  Fresh apples, bright fruits.  Very forward, sweet and bright.  This is almost like a high-octane dessert wine (ice wine).

Green grape skins and grape flesh (I know, a long-winded way of saying “grapes”).

Very fizzy along the tongue but a wonderful, even mouthfeel all around.

ARRAN-WHISKY-SHOP4Some coastal notes as well.  Really enjoyable.

Finish – Long and filled with that lovely apple cider vinegar I got on the nose.

In sum – In all honestly, to me, this is not something that those that like sherried whiskies would seek out (as a heavily sherried whisky).  However, this is one of the more delicious Arran’s I had (single cask or standard bottling).

Highly recommended, dear people.  This is a perfect after dinner drink.  Serve in place of dessert wine.  The perfect night cap!

Happy 12-12-12!! To celebrate, get 12% off all memberships to Single Cask Nation!

From now through 12-14-12, enjoy 12% off when you purchase ANY membership to Single Cask Nation!
To take advantage of the discount, be sure to enter the following code into your shopping cart at singlecasknation.com: 121212
SINGLE-CASK-NATION-12-12-12Happy 12-12-12!
Click here to learn more about Single Cask Nation and how to become a member (and what you get when becoming a member)

Two new Arran premium single cask for the US market. One ex-sherry, one ex-bourbon

 

Arran Premium Sherry Cask, the first to be reviewed…

So as to keep this post clean and more focused, I will try to do less talking and more reviewing.

There is one thing, however, that I need to point out regarding these two Arrans (as well as say the Devil’s Punch Bowl and more to come):

As you likely know, what’s being reviewed today are really special release whiskies from Arran.  In years past, all of the special releases were reserved for the UK and other countries.  Basically countries that would accept the standard 70cl (700ml) bottle.  The one we here in the US of A will not accept.  Here in the US, the 75cl (750ml) bottle is king.

Arran Premium Bourbon Cask, review # 2!

Something happened, however, just over a year ago.  Arran changed importers.  I’m not really sure who they were with previously but for more than a year now, ImpEx has been importing Arran whiskies.

Disclaimer: It’s no secret that I have a little bit of a relationship with ImpEx.  I announced that here.  I’m not employed by them but I have poured their stuff before at events and I review the whisky samples they send me (like the ones below).  I just wanted to put that out there before I spout on about them more…

ImpEx knows whisky.  What’s more is, I think, they have their finger on the pulse of the US market and what the US market wants.  The world is becoming a much smaller place, what with things like the interwebs and such and because of this (and other factors, to be sure), American whisky drinkers want what the rest of the world gets.  We don’t want to be left out.  I know I sure don’t…

This said, ImpEx seems to have made a point of working with Arran to bring in special casks, limited editions, etc… into the US.  This is not a simple task as it’s likely easier for Arran to work with the 70cl bottle for these smaller runs/limited editions.

So, kudos to ImpEx for fighting for us American Scotch whisky lovers!  Keep up the good work bringing over more limited hooch!

Wow, I carried on way longer than expected.  Let’s review, shall we?

Islands region – 51.1%ABV – SherryCask #1979 – $130 (soon to hit US shelves)

On the nose –  Chocolate covered espresso beans, heavy wood spice (Cocobolo wood to be specific).

Dark, damp wood shavings and a slight touch of gun powder.

This is a funny and insanely delicious smelling big bear of a whisky.

Some heavy cola notes.

On the mouth – Nose to palate, the same story is delivered.  Starting off with the damp, dark wood but right behind it we find the espresso beans and chocolate.

Exotic wood spice becomes quite present.

Drying with leather toward the end as we get to the finish.

Finish – Long, drying with spice and leather strips.

In sum – This 16yo drinks more like a fully realized 25+ year old whisky.  A fine choice of cask.  Well worth your precious time.

Islands region – 52%ABV – SherryCask #2096 – $130 (soon to hit US shelves)

On the nose –  This reeks of what I love about Arran: A forward pungency, bruised apple and a touch of brown spices.

This is a heavy style Ex-Bourbon whisky, not typical of most XB matured whiskies but similar to these XB Arran’s as they get older and older.

There’s something deep, dark and dang in here.  I’m thinking fig cakes and more bruised fruit (in the form of strawberries this time).

Strawberry jam over butter cookies.

On the mouth – A bit shy/elusive upon first sip.  Not as forceful in flavor as the nose suggested.

Actually, very light in flavor.  The nose fooled me.

Initial thoughts: buttered water crackers; baked phyllo dough covered in quite rich butter.

Paraffin wax, light viscosity.  Just a touch of sour apple slices.

Finish – Spice, pepper and milk chocolate, medium finish.

In sum – As Arran single casks go, this one delivers like an SOB on the nose.  A bit disjointed from the palate but the finish helps to turn things around making the over all experience a fun little ride.  I’d say this is an aperitif whisky.  Have it on it’s own so that you’re able to experience all it has to offer.

You may enjoy Guid Scotch Drink’s review of the Arran Premium Bourbon Cask

You may also enjoy Guid Scotch Drink’s review of the Arran Premium Sherry Cask

Special thanks to EK, SF and the rest at ImpEx for the samples!