Arran 10 Year (2007) Master of Distilling James MacTaggert 10th Anniversary

Review by: zSolaris

Distillery: Lochranza/Arran.

Region: Island.

Age: 10 year. Distilled in 2007 and bottled in 2017.

ABV: 54.2%.

Cask Type: First Fill Bourbon Barrels.

Color: 0.8, Old Gold.

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Nose: Very reminiscent of a fruit salad here, one served with fresh whipped cream. Melon, citrus, and some banana are the standout fruit notes.

Palate: Very much in line with the nose, the flavors here are of a fruit salad and whipped cream. The banana and melon notes are more pronounced than some of the other fruits. You also get something closer to spray bottle whipped cream vs. the freshly made stuff.

Finish: Medium in length. Vanilla and pineapple syrup (specifically the stuff in cans of sliced pineapple) are the major notes. Some candied bananas join in as well.

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Conclusion: I’ve heard good things about the Arran Master of Distilling special release series, I certainly would hope so considering they were bottled to honor their master distiller. After writing out my notes and tasting this one, I made the comment on Discord “man I’m an Arran simp aren’t I…..”. This whisky really encompasses what I love so much about the distillery. Even at a young age, it has loads of fruity notes and a nice depth in flavor that really punches above its class. Really tasty and I’m sad I don’t have a bottle of this one.

Rating: 82.

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Scotch Whisky Review #511, Island Review #83, Whisky Network Review #676

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
• 50-59: Save it for mixing.
• 0-49: Blech.