Arran Isle of Arran OB Single Cask 2003 Bottling

It lacks complexity but was a delicious malt. Arran Isle of Arran OB Single Cask Finished in a Cognac Cask 58.6% one of 485 bottles, bottled in 2003 The aroma features ripe apricot and orange, grape, a moderate grainy note. Upon drinking, it expands from a smooth mouthfeel into a rich, thick sweetness of apricot jam and orange marmalade. The pleasant tannins are reminiscent of citrus peel. Although it lacks complexity, it has a certain richness and is quite pleasant. [Good/Very Good] This is a single cask bottling by Arran from 2003, finished in a Cognac cask. There is no indication of maturation years or vintage, but as it was bottled in 2003, it is likely to be a short maturation. As such, there's no complexity in the aroma, but the fruitiness feels fully matured. The influence of the Cognac cask gives a slight grape note. When drinking, it has a smooth mouthfeel that doesn't emphasize the alcohol content, with a good balance of rich sweetness and a pleasant tannic note reminiscent of citrus peel. It also retains the richness from what seems to be a previously used sherry cask, making it a quite enjoyable Arran. Recently, Arran has released many delicious whiskies that don't require long maturation periods. Even some of the previously unimpressive short-matured bottlings, when tasted now, seem to be quite good.