Price: £98.50
Purchased From: Arran Website
ABV: 55.6%
This is a 2026 limited release Arran from their private cask releases, a 12-year-old with full maturation in a 1st-fill ex-Pedro Ximénez hogshead. Distilled on 04/12/2013 and bottled on 07/05/2026 with a total of 334 bottles produced. These are hand-selected by distillery manager Stewart Bowman and bottled at cask strength.
I’m always hesitant about full maturation in PX casks – I’ve had some releases from other distilleries in the past which have had far too much cask influence, and I usually find it works better as a finishing cask. That said, this is Arran and I love everything they do, so I was willing to take the plunge.
Nose
Straight away I get sulphur, but it’s not overpowering. The alcohol on the nose is also quite prominent. A drop of water and 15-20 minutes in the glass does wonders. It opens up to chocolate orange and dried fruits. There’s also some gentle cinnamon and nutmeg, with a cocoa note underneath.
Taste
Not as viscous as the legs would suggest, but still a good medium, oily mouthfeel. Toffee, fruit cake, cherries. This moves through into a lovely nuttiness – candied almonds and chocolate peanuts. The finish is long with a touch of oak, spiced apple and gentle lemon. Just like the nose, I found water was needed.
Conclusion
I’m glad I ignored my past hesitations about full PX maturation; this is a seriously moreish dram. Although it’s a 1st-fill it’s not overpowered, and there’s some oak influence that balances it out nicely. It did require a good amount of water and time in the glass, but it’s worth it. Having arrived in the UK early this week to find this waiting for me, I’ve already put a decent dent in the bottle – thankfully I have a backup to take home with me.