whisky review 374 - Isle of Arran 14yo

mid-aged quality option in a natural presentation and not too expensive either.
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[@michaellynch1589]

Having popped into the distillery yesterday i picked up a full range of minatures for tasting to see if i liked them. I figured id sit and taste the 14 year old but mostly just smelling how unique it is. I couldnt work out the flavours but could identify it like nothing else. Your review was spot on. All the flavours and smells you listed its just pretty incredible.

[@notme123123]

I was just thinking, wouldn't it be a great time for a Ralfy video! And a single malt that I have been considering, too! Thank you, Ralfy!

[@3256ds]

ralfy, another great review, full of info that I wont soon forget! thank you, thank you, thank you........keep up the good works. your friend from the shores of lake Michigan.

[@skalamaz3]

just purchased the 14...it is incredible!

[@sebastiannowakowski5084]

Got to love Arran for making ballsy scotch.... Tried some port cask; it was not my cup of tea but it was of a certain quality, just not my taste. However the 12 year cask strength has been the most interesting tasting this year. I have this bottle of 14 in the mail as I type this along with Laphroaig 18. Cheers Ralfy!

[@knarfzxc]

Sounds like a bloody good start to a day ! A wee recommendation, after making a plain porridge once in the bowl I'll add a wee splash of something Peaty. Also works very well with Barley porridge too.

[@ionz75]

I really love this whisky; it reminds me of a maltier 'Laddie 10.

[@erikkz]

Port Cask means it's probably matured in a cask which contained port before it was used to mature your whisky. Port aromas will have been absorbed by the whisky.

[@dergitarristde]

I am quite enjoying the 10 year old still - the bottle is almost finished sadly. But that only means I'll advance to the 14 year old! Mine came with two glasses which look exactly the same as yours but smaller. The neck is quite a bit narrower than on a glencairn.

[@Malt454]

The glass, which looks sort of like a smaller-sized Glencairn "Canadian", is similar to the glasses offered in the Glenlivet 12 Christmas gift sets - very good glasses for whiskies with a broader, or more aggressive, nose.

[@jfpilon]

i totally agree with you on the importance of marks! thank ralfy for anoter great vlog

[@richardamey3763]

Hello Ralphy, Enjoying your whisky reviews. Thanks for steering me from the 16 YO Arran to the 14 YO. Was wondering if you intend a review of the Arran Bere barley whisky? Not imported into the USA but I managed to snag a bottle and may try for another.

[@Malt454]

I agree. I don't have anything against collectors really, but their interests do run counter to those of whisky drinkers in that collecting tends to drive prices up, and bottles that will never be opened, just passed from collector to collector, aren't really whisky - they're trophies. Ralfy’s good idea for a “family special occasion” bottle, however, being dynamic, is something else entirely.

[@miserablerhurensohn]

I once scratched my name on a capped beer bottle with a rough diamond. About an hour later while watching TV, the bottle warmed up on the kitchen counter and exploded. The whisky bottle glass is most likely thicker and the bottle is not pressurized so there's probably not a problem with that. I would suggest not engraving any pressurized bottles though.

[@MrTjbv]

Ralfy, your thoughts, please, on the use of "spirit stones" for those of us who like their whisky cool, but neat. Thanks!

[@TheElvis115]

Hey Ralfy!!!! Love your reviews!!! Got a question: I bought a bottle of Glen Deveron 20 from the airport duty free. They seem to be promoting this a lot at Heathrow. Was wondering what you thought about this???

[@themaltbar]

Nice one Ralfy! Thanks! Q. Have you had any tastings of the current Black Bottle?? My last bottle nearly 7mo.ago was a down rite Snoozer! A Blend Re-rev maybe?? It really does need it Ralfy. Thanks mate.

[@texlad04]

Not sure about that glass. Friends and I did a glass-off comparing more than half a dozen glasses. We found that wide glasses were always prone to a higher sensation of alcohol. The BEST glass overall for rarer malts and higher alcohol whiskey in general was the Eisch Jeunesse. Glencairns are probably the best all-rounders, but they don't quite concentrate the elements. The Jeunesse nearly always reduces the alcohol sensation. Any serious enthusiast should own a few.

[@MrShoryuken1]

Hi Ralfy, since Glencairns were only invented in 2001, what was your go to glass prior to this?

[@Malt454]

I think this glass is similar to a "Canadian" in shape, but smaller, much like the glasses offered by Glenlivet in their Christmas sets.

[@MrTjbv]

I thought so--Many thanks!

[@StrafingMoose]

Thanks for the review kind sir. I think this distillery is also making a whisky called The Arran, Port Cask Finish. It's 100% proof, no mention of age. Any thoughts ? What this Port Cask thing ?

[@-LSTR-]

I only had the Arran 1990 Eagel and it was lovely peaty, not too much:)

[@hess6wi]

Judging by the improvement in Arran 10 year, I expect that by 2017-8 the Arran 14 year will be gorgeous.

[@kalm1531]

Thank you for this review

[@LCFojomen]

Hello Ralfy. First, I would like to thank you for doing these videos. It is very usefull for me because i am a beginner with Whisky. I have some questions to ask you. What do you prefer beetween Bourbon and scotch whisky ? and what do you think about the Blanton and woodford bourbons ? Thank you very much. (sorry for my english, I'm french)

[@Tylervrooman]

The Glenlivet sells the 12yo with cups just like that..

[@ouwezeeman1]

1990 is not likely, cause Arran started producing in 1995 ;) Someone reported a '80s bottling in Asia btw... tssk ;) The Eagle was produced in 1999, if I'm not mistaken.

[@PeatSmokey]

Ralfy yep those paint markers are "tops"...& quite permanent! Les Paul (God bless his rested soul) used a gold paint stick when he signed the headstock on my 1988 LP Custom over 15 years ago!! Still as clean & clear as the day he signed it!! ...etchers??...aehh, don't trust em. Unless your an adept etcher, common carelessness rules the roost" Peace on Mr Ralfy!!

[@FMichael1970]

Your electric pencil reminds me of visits to the dentist.

[@Bluemoneystar]

Hi ralfy, maybe it got often questioned. It is your knockabout clothes in your videos or do you wear the hats and the jackets in order to give the videos more scotish flavour, I think?

[@glytch5]

Hey mr Ralf. Help please... off topic question regarding independently bottled whisky. Ellenstown islay 10 cask strength? Is it Ardbeg, coal Ilya? Is it good?

[@DavidUKesb]

Glen Deveron is distilled at MacDuff Distillery.

[@go4sony]

What u take on neat glasses

[@gummybearkiller1]

Hi Ralfy, your three most liked videos was about Johnnie Walker. Any thoughts about that?

[@shuboy05]

What if the distillery name is embossed into the glass?

[@borismorrison]

good call

[@fredswift4855]

With regard to the gift glass in the video, I've always known these as "Canadian Series" Glencairn. This is how they're marketed at the place where I purchase my Glecairns. Can be found at whiskyglass dot ca. I must admit that I've never even thought to try one.

[@-LSTR-]

Now I see my terrible spelling mistakes! Its 1999 obviously and its Eagle:p Anyway, its really good!

[@Malt454]

Blindfold him, but give him the colour (+/- 0)?

[@skalamaz3]

I just bought the 10 year old and tastes nothing like Bruichladdich's Laddie 10. Apples and Oranges. This stuff is spicy (interesting spices to say the least) from the start to the finish. The finish is kind of fruity suppose and long. Couldn't imagine what the 14 tastes like.

[@RainerErnst44]

oh yeah

[@zenmastakilla]

not first

[@JohnnyNorfolk]

Why not just enjoy your whisky rather than messing about having it signed. I enjoy whisky not as a money making business.