Arran Barrel Reserve Single Malt (43%)

A 2019 rebranding of Arran’s single malt range saw a new emphasis on cask finishes, with Amarone, Port, Sherry, and Sauterne cask finishes getting permanent places in the portfolio, alongside a 10 year old, the Robert Burns Single Malt, the quarter-cask expression named ‘The Bothy,’ and this American Oak aged edition. Notably light of hue, the label notes that it is of ‘natural colour,’ so no caramel has been added. (Not that this is particularly notable, since single malts as a rule only add caramel to equalize the colour of different cask blends.)

On the nose, this offers first a strong whiff of fresh, uncharred oak, as one might get in a furniture maker’s shop. As the wood subsides, fresh green apple, pear, and light vanilla notes come to the fore, joined quickly by a hint of Maritime air and the vaguest hint of cinnamon. Its palate entry is quite soft and smooth, with fresh apple and lemony citrus preceding a more vanilla-accented mid-palate that also exchanges fresh apple for baked, adding a touch of green melon and dried pear while moving to a lightly charred and still more vanilla-ish finish. This is a simple and straight-forward whisky that revels in its delicacy, well-suited as an aperitif served neat but not really a spirit to stand up to water.

82 ($56)