New Release: Arran 1997 16 Year Old Official for La Maison du Whisky #1997/533

As expected from La Maison. It made a clear impression as the standout among the same series of sherry cask Arrans. Arran ISLE OF ARRAN 1997-2014 16yo Official Bottling for La Maison du Whisky #1997/533 48.8% One of 246 bottles, EX-SHERRY HOGSHEAD The aroma features pleasant sherry, an extremely diverse range of fruits including pear, orange, ripe apricot, candy apple, faint strawberry jam, soft cereal notes, subtle mint and herbs. On the palate, it expands from a smooth mouthfeel with similarly diverse fruits, gentle sweetness, delicate tannins, creamy texture, and mellow barley richness. Very smooth and enjoyable. 【Very Good】 This is an official bottling of Arran recently released for La Maison du Whisky, from a sherry hogshead. When it comes to Arran's sherry casks, we've previously introduced quite a few for exchanges or whisky fairs, and most of them left a good impression with their refined, non-pretentious sherry character, different from other distilleries. This one also fits into that category, with the sherry adding diversity and depth without overpowering. However, this La Maison bottling felt a step above previous releases in terms of diversity, depth, and richness. Compared to the usual reliable, easy-to-enjoy Arran sherry casks, this one made for a more enjoyable nosing and tasting experience. Particularly impressive was the diverse fruitiness in both aroma and flavor. The smoothness, lack of pretension, and pleasant drinkability are consistent with previous releases, making this one of the best sherry Arrans in recent years. Despite Arran's image as a distillery that tends to be high but stable without standout characteristics, this bottling seems to have finally surpassed expectations while maintaining its traditional direction. Regarding the aging period, I believe this bottle has reached its peak maturity. #Isle of Arran (ISLE OF ARRAN)