Whisky I've Drank: The Arran Aged 18 Years

By Ruben Luyten 
I tried the Arran 16 Years and Arran 17 Years but I never came round publishing my review of the Arran 18 Years, the end product so to speak. This is the general release, not the limited edition that was presented in 2015.
Arran 18 yo
(46%, OB +/- 2017)
Nose: 

bright with plenty of orchard fruits. Orange peel, baked apples, peaches. Vanilla and cinnamon, with hints of toasted oak. Then some underlying mineral notes come to the fore. Wet limestone. Mouth: same feeling of tinned pineapple and peaches on syrup, with gingery oak and a coastal edge. Vanilla custard. Brioche. A little butterscotch. In the end more towards raisins. Finish: long, with milk chocolate, vanilla and some grassy notes.
A sweet, natural Arran with some nice coastal touches. Easy drinking whisky, really good for a core expression. Around € 90.
Score: 86/100

Whisky I've Drank: Machrie Moor Peated Cask Strength - Fourth Edition

By Master Of Malt
The fourth edition of Arran's Machrie Moor Cask Strength boasts a hefty ABV of 58.1% and a robust flavour profile with plenty of peaty goodness. Smashing stuff from Arran - these bottlings are always well-received...

Whisky I've Drank: Machrie Moor- 8th Edition

The Whisky Exchange
Once a year the Isle of Arran distillery releases a limited-edition peated whisky. Named after the ancient peat bog, Machrie Moor, these are an interesting twist on Arran's fragrant, fruity characteristics. This eighth edition features notes of vanilla, spice, peat smoke and tropical fruit.

Whisky I've Drank: The Arran The Bothy Quarter Cask - Batch 3

By Master Of Malt
Batch 3 sees the release of 13,800 bottles from Arran’s ‘The Bothy Quarter Cask’ line. Made in reference to a time when the smaller casks of the 18th and 19th centuries were favoured on the Isle of Arran for logistical reasons, they quickly earned regard for the flavour profile they delivered.
Matured, like its predecessors Batches 1 & 2, in first fill American oak ex-bourbon barrels of various vintages, Batch 3 was finished in American oak quarter casks for at least 18 months. This single malt Scotch whisky was bottled in September 2017, without chill filtration or artificial colouring at a natural cask strength 53.2%.

Whisky I've Drank: The Arran The Port Cask Finish

By MasterOfMalt
Rich and full bodied, Arran seems to suit red wine, and this Port Cask finish is testament to that. Great maturity and at 50% for additional complexity. This expression was released in 2010.

Whisky I've Drank: The Arran Lochranza Reserve

By Jan van den Ende
Country: Scotland
Region: Highlands - Islands
Brand: Arran Lochranza Reserve
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS
ABV: 43%
Chill-Filtration: No
Whisky Review # 610
Buying Advice: 😃 Positive if you're starting to poke your Nose around Single Malt. Good Price/Quality Ratio. 😏 Too simple for Whisky vets.
Colour: 

Pale Straw/White Wine (Natural Colour)
Nose: 

Relatively Young but Fruity and Floral with both Sweet - and Sour Notes. I find Sweet Barley, Butter Kekse, Salted Butter, Vanilla, Toffee, Caramel, Straw, light Honey, Apple, Pear, Banana Ice Cream, Canned Pineapple, Orange, Lime, very light Sherry, light Oak, light Dusty Road, Cinnamon, Ginger and a nice Milk Chocolate note. The Alcohol is present of course but it doesn't spoil the party. On the Nose, the Lochranza Reserve is Light but Clean and Fruity. The Sherry cask influence is minimal.
Palate: 

Despite the good ABV, the Delivery is on the Thin side. On the Palate, the Lochranza Reserve has both Sweet - and Sour Notes. It's a little Edgy and Nervous and its Youth is telling by now. I find Sweet Toasted Cereals, Caramel, Toffee, Green Apple, Orange, Lemon, Gooseberries, slightly Bitter Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger and a few Floral notes I can't quite pin down.
Finish: 

Light, Short and Bitter-Sweet with some Sour - and Mineral notes and a few Bitter Tannins towards the end. I find Soft Cereals, Vanilla, Caramel, Toffee, Milk Chocolate, light Honey, Sour Apples, Gooseberries, Citrus, Cinnamon, Oak, light Pepper, Nutmeg, Ginger, Menthol and a hint of Salted Licorice.
I added a little Water and on the Nose Creamy Cereals, Vanilla, Green Apples and Floral tones flourish. On the Palate and in the Finish it becomes too Thin. So better sip it neat.
Rating: 81.5
Nose: 21 - Taste: 20 - Finish: 20 - Overall: 20.5
General Remarks:
Arran Distillery was founded by Harold Currie in 1993 and started production in 1995. Business is going so well that the owners (Isle of Arran Distillers) are in the process of building another distillery (Lagg) on the Southern part of Arran. Production of this new distillery could start in 2018. Exciting times on the island that I will visit coming May 2017. The Arran core range now consists of the 10, 12 CS, 14 and 18 Years alongside the NAS Expressions Robert Burns and Lochranza Reserve that I'm reviewing today.
Lochranza Reserve was of course named after the village where the distillery is located. It was launched in 2014 to replace the Arran Original. The Spirit for the Lochranza Reserve matures in Ex-Bourbon casks. Around 6-9 months before bottling, around 15% of the batch is transferred to First Fill Ex-Sherry casks. Right before bottling the 15% from the Sherry casks is married with the 85% that remained in the Ex-Bourbon casks. The Lochranza is of course a NAS Single Malt but I would estimate that the Whisky is bottled somewhere between 5 and 7 years. The Lochranza Reserve is not expensive with prices usually in the 35 to 40 US Dollar range (April 2017).
Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good
Conclusion: 

The Short Finish of part of the Spirit in Ex-Sherry casks works out well in my opinion. It just gives an extra Fruity kick. Too much Sherry would almost certainly overwhelm the light and young Arran Spirit. As it stands, the Arran Lochranza is a light, Fruity and Floral Whisky, especially on the Nose. On the Palate and in the Finish however this Malt has a very young feel to it and it lacks Depth and Complexity. A good Whisky for beginning Single Malt drinkers but too young and not quite interesting enough for Whisky "veterans". The Price Vs. Quality ratio is good and will attract many consumers. Although even they might consider spending a few bucks more on the Arran 10 Years I reviewed earlier. I like the Arran concept and I'm a big fan of their Arran 18 Years. I just don't think the Lochranza is their finest hour!

Whisky I've Drank: Dewar's Aged 18 Years The Vintage

By Greg GreatDrams
One of the biggest names in the Scotch industry, Dewar’s have been in the game for decades, and with the Dewar’s 18 Year Old, you can see exactly why.
Humble Beginnings
The brand was first founded by John Dewar, in a little grocery store on Perth High Street.
This was not unheard of, as many blends started out life in the same way, and they soon boomed in popularity, and the name Dewar was known across Scotland. The brand passed on to John Dewar Jr. in 1880, and he brought his brother, a maverick and socialite, Tommy on board as partner.
Tommy transformed the brand, selling it up and down the UK as well as across the globe.
Growing the family name
Dewar’s have not remained as a single brand, but instead, they have come to incorporate several well known Scotch whisky brands.
These include Royal Brackla, Aultmore, Aberfeldy, The Deveron and Craigellachie.
Core ranges from each of these were all originally released as part of the “Last Great Malts” series, though now are characters, award-winners and brands in their own right. They did impressively well and were received with high praise.
Today Dewar’s is owned by Bacardi. Their Aberfeldy distillery is open to the public and has won many awards as a tourist attraction.
The Dewar’s core range is made up of Dewar’s White Label, Dewar’s 12 Year Old, Dewar’s 15 Year Old and Dewar’s 18 Year Old.
The Dewar’s 18 Year Old
This award winning malt has been double aged, meaning it was first aged for 18 years in oak casks, before being mixed together to be “married” for a time for extra smoothness.
It is a brilliant example of the quality and skill at Dewar’s, particularly Master Blender Stephanie MacLeod.
The nose opens with lots of honey and almonds. It is sweet and rich from the very beginning.
The almond is thick and sugary, with a nutty tone that adds a bit of depth. This ties in well with the oak notes of the barrel, which are chewy and soft.
There are delicate floral and herby notes coming through as well.
The palate is bountiful and brimming with orchard flavours. Oak wood, juicy apples, pears and dew covered grass all fill the mouth.
There is also a lovely, thick cereal note that comes through, with wheat and oats standing out. These are wonderfully subtle but flavoursome, especially against the tang of the fruit,
It has a gentle waft of peat smoke throughout that certainly does not overwhelm but gently warms and piques your interest ever so slightly.
The almonds become more like vanilla, with a smooth texture and sweetness to it.
The finish is bold, with lots of oak and a little hint of vanilla and malted cereals.
This is an excellent malt that simply cannot be ignored. If you’ve never tried Dewar’s before, then definitely reach for an 18 Year Old. You will not be disappointed.

Whisky I've Drank: Aberfeldy 18 Years Old

By Ruben Luyten
Aberfeldy 18 Year Old is a relatively new expression, launched mid 2014 as part of the ‘Last Great Malts’ rebranding of the whole Bacardi portfolio. It sits in between the generally available Aberfeldy 12 Years and Aberfeldy 21 Years, but this is (theoretically) only available in travel retail.
Later in 2015 we also saw the launch of Aberfeldy 16 Years and normally a 30 year-old expression should have followed, but I’ve had confirmation that it is on hold.
Aberfeldy 18 yo
(40%, OB 2016)
Nose: 

starts gentle, with shy citrus fruits, lots of yellow apples and some savoury notes. Limoncello. Ginger and nutmeg. Honey and some dark roasted cereals. Mouth: soft, quite thin, but rather oily. Some vanilla, malt and a slightly acrid oak influence. Soft sherry and leathery notes. Then back to burnt sugar and and autumn leafs. Nutmeg. Finish: medium long, with dark chocolate and some rough oak spices.
Not as smooth as I expected, and slightly underpowered. It’s reasonably priced and reasonably fine. Around € 70 (1 litre bottle).
Score: 81/100

Whisky I've Drank: Aberfeldy 16 Years Old

By Mark/ MaltReview
Aberfeldy distillery is the still-beating heart of John Dewar. It was the sole distillery built by the famous Dewar family in 1898, and stands a mere three-miles from his birthplace. You’ll know that name: Dewar’s. It’s a massive brand, a global blended Scotch, and now owned by Bacardi. The business was – and arguably still is – one of the most influential in the whisky trade throughout history. John Dewar, and his two sons – Tommy and John Jr – were whisky godfathers.
But Aberfeldy. That’s home. That’s the core of Dewar’s – the sparkling jewel in the cask-shaped crown of the brand. Built in 1898, today it creates over three million litres of spirit each year. It’s located in Perthshire, five miles east of Loch Tay, and uses water from the Pitilie Burn, which runs next to the distillery.
I have talked a ton about the Last Great Malts series from John Dewar & Sons, where they dusted down their portfolio of whisky distilleries and created some very good single malt ranges. The whisky’s generally tasty. Though some of the older whiskies were simply… well, very expensive. Perhaps it was thought by some greedy board-member that these Last Great Malts could be a way to squeeze the last copper coins from the shaking hands of weeping whisky drinkers. (The Aultmore 25 Years Old was about £300, for heaven’s sake, and I know of a very good indie 33-year-old Aultmore available for less than half the price.) Whisky drinkers clearly thought bugger to that, as we saw prices of the later releases being much cheaper comparatively.
The new Aberfeldy 16 Years Old is probably the best value of them all at £50 a bottle. It’s been finished (moved for a final year from – presumably bourbon/American White Oak) in Oloroso sherry casks, before being bottled at 40% ABV.
Tasting notes:
Colour: deep copper, burnished.
On the nose:

gorgeously honeyed, with exceptionally strong floral notes. Very nice indeed, and very close to the Wemyss Malts single cask I tried a little while ago. So yet again, old-fashioned roses – and intensely so, almost to the point of it being a wax candle interpretation of that scent. Beeswax table polish. Cider – mead, perhaps.
In the mouth: 

plenty of flavour for the ABV. Fresh fruit rather than dried fruits. Almost like a creamy fruit cocktail, from a tin and drenched in syrup. That battles with a strong malted quality – much like malted milk biscuits. Buttered toast. Apricots. Stewed apples. And honey again – a lot more now. Generally this is well-balanced, although there’s just a touch of light bitterness on the finish that stops it being wonderful. It reminds me of the bitterness you sometimes find in orange marmalade. Just a nice jammy, late-summer whisky.
Not as good as the nose would have you think, but still tasty – if a little restrained (something that others in this fine series have been guilty of). A solid whisky, from a good distillery. But – as we’re starting to see after the initial eye-watering price tags that presumably left bottles gathering dust – at £50 a bottle this represents (at last) good value. The Aberfeldy 16 Years Oldwould be a good everyday dram, especially at 40% ABV, for those who aren’t too keen on peated whiskies. It’d make a great gift for those getting into whisky, too. Can’t help but think that at 43% ABV it would have been more of a crowd pleaser.