Arran 1996 17 Year Old Official Bottling Campbelltown Loch & Barcauil #1996/537 42%

A surprisingly matured aroma that remains intriguing even upon re-tasting. Arran ISLE OF ARRAN 1996-2014 17yo OB for Campbelltown Loch & Barcauil #1996/537 42% One of 74 bottles, Bourbon Barrel The nose is floral and unexpectedly estery, with notes of orange, persimmon, cream, a gentle graininess, and a diverse fruit cake. The palate begins with a soft mouthfeel, expanding into a mixed fruit cake similar to the aroma, with a gentle sweetness, subtle grainy umami, and an elegant, clean finish. [Good/Very Good] Bottled in 2014 by Campbelltown Loch & Barcauil, this Arran 1996 is a 17-year-old whisky with an ABV of 42%, significantly lower than typical. This reduction in strength brought forth a distinctive fruity estery character, reminiscent of loquat, which is often found in long-aged, lower-strength bottles from distilleries like Duncan Taylor. This characteristic was particularly impressive. As I felt upon release, this impression remained the same during my second tasting. The grainy note is remarkably gentle, with creaminess and an image of eating a rolled cake filled with many fruits and whipped cream. While not possessing a thick body, it lacks the dryness or lack of depth often associated with lower-strength malts. Upon re-tasting, it remains an intriguing and fascinating aroma. Despite being delicious, Arran single casks often share similar aromas. However, even after tasting many bottles, I have yet to encounter one as similar to this bottle. It's impressive that such a carefully selected cask was chosen before Arran became widely popular. Following this release, it wasn't long before Arran single casks experienced a surge in releases. Like the Teeling, this release seems to have been a precursor to the boom.