Arran 25 Year Old Release 2020
Nose
The first nosing surprises with an unconventional composition. Fresh leather meets solid peach notes, a combination you don't find in your glass every day. Then the next twist: gummy bears. Yes, floral, fruit jelly-like nuances are indeed reminiscent of childhood. But before you lose yourself in nostalgic memories, nutmeg comes to the fore and directs the orchestra into distinctly spicier realms. The oak is excitingly integrated, not dominant, but as a structuring force in the background. This nose is simply different, it doesn't follow any familiar pattern, it composes its own melody.
Taste
The peach dominance continues on the palate, this time velvety and ripe, as if you had bitten into a fully ripe fruit straight from the tree. Light berry undertones join in, reminiscent of raspberries or red currants, lending the sweet peach a pleasant freshness. The oak is subtle, weaving fine tannins through the fruitiness without ever becoming intrusive. Honey drips through the composition, connecting the individual elements into a harmonious whole. The fruity sweet profile is accentuated by a slightly perfumed note reminiscent of rose petals or jasmine.
Finish
The finish is medium-long and develops from the fruitiness on the palate into an increasingly dry, spicy direction. The oak, which previously acted discreetly in the background, now takes the lead. Spicy oak tannins coat the tongue, accompanied by the characteristic pungency of black pepper. The nutmeg, already present on the nose, returns and gives the finish a warming, multi-layered complexity.
Thoughts
The Arran 25 Years Release 2020 is a whisky that is not satisfied with simple answers. It strives for complexity in every pore. This is both its strength and its slight weakness: in its effort to be as multifaceted as possible, it sometimes loses itself in its delicacy. It lacks the clear, unambiguous direction and statement notes found in some other 25-year-olds.
Support us and purchase on Amazon*Rating: 86/100 - Excellent (Marcel: 86 | Sascha: 86)
Preview Image Source: Whiskybase
FAQ: The Most Common Questions
❓ How has Lochranza Distillery developed since its foundation, and what significance does this 25-year-old whisky have for the distillery?
👉 The Arran Distillery was only founded in 1995, making it one of Scotland's youngest distilleries. The 25-year-old whisky therefore dates back to the very first years of production and represents virtually the entire history of the distillery. This makes it a historically significant bottling that shows how far the distillery has come in terms of quality and the art of maturation. For Arran, this release is a statement that, despite its youth, it is already capable of producing whiskies of exceptional maturity.
❓ What role does storage on an island play in the flavour profile of this whisky?
👉 The cooler Scottish temperatures ensure slower, more even maturation compared to warmer regions. In Arran 25, this is reflected in the fine balance between fruitiness and spice, as well as in the oily, creamy texture. The island storage gives the whisky a certain freshness and liveliness that is still noticeable even after 25 years.