Arran Quarter Cask REVIEW: Is this Arran's BEST NAS?

[@larrainegerelick404]

This is my first bottle of Arran. Kind of “go big or go home” as far as ABV. I like it a lot. It’s sharp but that’s my preference. And the non-chill filtered and natural color are positive qualities. I think next time I’ll add a little water to reduce the sharpness a little.

[@Viciouss72]

Mine is piss yellow colored but the taste is incredible. Definitely strong with the coconut and honey flavour.

[@marsupian]

Mine too. The bottle is almost empty, i'm gonna get 2 additional bottles while they're still affordable and available. Value for quality/price is incredible. Adding water to this whisky is necessary to get all the flavour. To me this is a 90/100.

[@austintierney4828]

theres nothin like a strong bottle of piss

[@KnickKiller]

I just had my second dram of this. I added a teaspoon of water after my second sip. As hot as it is, you can still identify the spice. There’s a nice warmth below the heat and freshness if you can get there. Apples and pears. Very nice. Requires a good pour to truly appreciate. Looking forward to a revisit with this in a couple months.

[@Gwhisky]

I'll revisit this one eventually. I was slightly underwhelmed.

[@KnickKiller]

@@Gwhisky I was left feeling the same. Not bad, but I won’t be getting another bottle.

[@Gwhisky]

@@KnickKiller The older versions were better imo. I still like it, but not quite as much as I once did.

[@KnickKiller]

7 months later and I must say this has opened up into a banger. Halfway through my bottle and loving it.

[@briandrier3864]

Good work. I’ve come to enjoy the arran recently, and I’m very much in agreement on your checklist. My fave, which has climbed into top 5-ish territory, is the machrie moor cask strength. HIGHLY recommended, especially for folks who (like me) are expanding their search for peated whisky beyond Islay...

[@Gwhisky]

Never tried it. Looks interesting!

[@chrisbergin390]

I used to live on arran. I took a bottle of the machrie moor up on a walk up to the standing stones on machrie moor for the full experience. A day i will never forget

[@allanwhittle3041]

Geoff .. Happy New year mate 👍🥃🥃🥃 Thanks for the great reviews during the past year enjoyed em and every success for 2022 .. Top channel !!!!!

[@Gwhisky]

You're the best Allan. 🙏

[@allanwhittle3041]

As usual great review Geoff …👍 I tried this a while ago and didn’t replace , a bit bright /hot and astringent for me

[@Gwhisky]

The old ones are less astringent if you can find them. Cheers Allan! 🥃

[@edgewalker7459]

Good review ,, although I would like to add This whisky becomes a different animal with a drop of water ,, this and Sauternes cask are both fantastic

[@yoursinsincerely39]

Looks like another good one from Arran. Unfortunately, I echo Christopher's woe in that Arran is notoriously difficult to find here. I do find the 10 and 18 online and a couple of their wine finishes. I have not seen the NAS bottlings here. Thank you for the review, sounds delicious!

[@Gwhisky]

I think you'll like it. I recently shot my review or Craigellachie 13 and compared it to this one. They both have a sharp “prickly” quality that works quite well with the character. Btw that Craigellachie has opened up beautifully.

[@yoursinsincerely39]

@@Gwhisky I was hoping that would happen. Craigellachie is one of the most singular Speysiders around. Love that stuff.

[@ianhorjus9507]

Nice review. I have the old bottling of the 10 year old and the current bottling of the Quarter Cask. Really enjoy both, will definitely be on the lookout for an older batch of the Bothy now on your recommendation. Cheers

[@Gwhisky]

I'm sure the availability of those older ones will vary depending on where you live. Good luck finding one! If you do, I think you'll see what I mean in terms of the differences. Cheers!

[@ianhorjus9507]

@@Gwhisky I'm in the UK and actually know someone that lives in the Isle of Arran so hopefully there is a dusty bottle or two on a shelf somewhere 😂

[@bluesmanen1]

Finally this one will arrive in Sweden👍. I haven't tried the old ones.. maybe a good thing 🤔...nothing to compere with. The price here will be 599skr (~€60)

[@Gwhisky]

That's a fantastic price! Enjoy! 🥃

[@bluesmanen1]

@@Gwhisky What's the price by you?

[@Gwhisky]

@@bluesmanen1 I first bought it for about €70. Then it disappeared for a while and it's now back at €120. 😒

[@bluesmanen1]

@@Gwhisky Holy shit😂...quite surpriced🤔

[@bluesmanen1]

@@Gwhisky And I thought whisky was expensive in Sweden🤔. For example Glenallachie 12yo ~€60, Bunnahabhain 18yo ~€150, Edradour 12yo Caledonia ~€70. What's the price for theese 3 by you?

[@iainj932]

Good review, thanks. Your pronunciation is good - if anything use how you said the "ch" in Machrie when saying Lochranza and you'll sound like a local!

[@Gwhisky]

#validated Cheers!

[@WhiskyLoversSociety]

Great dram. Nice review

[@Gwhisky]

Thanks!

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

If I wanted to buy this whisky, I'd have to special order it; Arran is virtually a Ghost Whisky in the small town I live in, New York City. In fact, I've yet to see any of the new bottles. Regarding NAS whiskies like this, I know it's about the whisky, but I also understand novices are not buying this bottle, it's clearly a malt for malt drinkers, so why not provide an age, or even better, a distillation & bottling date on the back label for the target customers?

[@Gwhisky]

Man. Still blows my mind when you talk about the sad state of whisky in NY. Anyway, yeah, of course in any situation the more info we get the better. On one hand, Arran is more transparent than 90% of the distilleries out there, so I don't want to come down on them. On the other hand, if you're going to be known for transparency, why not go all in? Look how well ppl responded to Ardbeg 5. Smart consumers aren't put off by lower age statements if the whisky is good.

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

@@Gwhisky I'm a big fan of Arran, and I'd love to give them more business, but I hardly ever see it; there are a few bottles 10 and the old cask-finished ones here and there, but that's it. I few months back I was hunting for a bottle of 18 and couldn't find it. And yes, I don't understand why Arran won't go all-in on disclosure. As for NYC, it's a mess. I'd say the Scotch whisky-scene is dead because of the demographics of the city likely are shifting away from traditional Scotch whisky customers, but according to the most recent issue of Market Watch (April/2021), not a single Scotch whisky, blend or malt, made their "Hotest Brands" list which including over 50 other spirits, so it's not just here.

[@Gwhisky]

That sucks man. If it makes you feel any better the 18 (best of their current line, although never had 21) is pretty much sold out everywhere. Haven't seen in in Taiwan in months. Heard that's also true in Japan and Canada.

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

@@Gwhisky Yes it does, and thanks for that info.

[@philc1884]

Nice review, Geoff! I see the Arran Bothy - Quarter cask for $60. I guess it's an old release? Seems like a good gamble. Thoughts? Cheers!

[@Gwhisky]

The Bothy/Quarter Cask is good. Worth trying for sure! 🥃

[@Scotiak]

Good lord man add a bit of water to open it up.

[@leejack218]

would you prefer this or the arran 10?

[@Gwhisky]

Probably the 10.

[@aframs-cctaf-rams-cct6424]

Do you have a favorite bothy batch? Looking to see which one to buy

[@Gwhisky]

Sorry. I did prefer the older style bottle, but I didn't take note of the batches. Probably should have.

[@austintierney4828]

Is it just me or is the new Bothy a bit darker..?

[@Gwhisky]

A bit darker and a bit more "first fill" tasting these days...

[@BG-oj6zt]

Is it better than the sherry cask?

[@Gwhisky]

I've got a side-by-side coming out soon. I think so, though, yes.

[@kuzmanmeramov1729]

All Arran products are Waste of time, MONEY AND EFFORTS

[@kuzmanmeramov1729]

If you are from far away /US , CANADA , AUSTRALIA/ just give it a miss... buy me drink later..

[@ConnahJay]

What bottle would you recommend?

[@kuzmanmeramov1729]

@@ConnahJay Never ever get onto expensive spirits or price hike, there is no limit of human greed, always decanter whisky and let it stay oxidase for a week or two, this way even mediocre spirit climbs up on substantial level.First for me is the price fair or it's been taken advantage on my whisky interest.Most reasonable priced whisk(e)ys are Power's John's Lane 12 for 20 us dollars, Glencadam 10- 30 dollars, REDBREAST 12 Cask strength 40us dollars, Glenallachie 10 Cask strength 55 us, KAVALAN Port SOLIST 100 us dollars. Bourbons are very affordable Bonded Heaven Hill 17 dollars , Wild Turkey 101-18 dollars,Buffalo 19 dollars. That's why I can not fall into speculations with prices recently.... Glenallachie 12 up to 50 per cent, Glencadam 50 %up, Glen Scotia 30,%, Glendronach 30%, Edradour 100,%.

[@mahmoudali1848]

Umm, I'm from Canada and things are different in each province. Just this summer, in 2023, I bought, on sale, both the Bothy and the Sherry Cask (Bodegas) for C$65 each.

[@kuzmanmeramov1729]

@@ConnahJay Arran Bodega is their best spirit, in place i live is 40 dollars