Arran 12 Year: Man with the Golden Glass

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We find it a little amusing to see one of the most humble men in whisky, posing James Bond-esque on the bottle and box. James is a gem though, and his fame is well deserved. Bottled to mark James' 12th Anniversary at the Arran distillery, "The Man with the Golden Glass" is a limited edition of 12,000 bottles, finished in Palo Cortado sherry casks, hand picked by James in Spain. The whisky is bottled at 51.3%.

Andrew's Tasting Note

Nose: classic early teens Arran; creamy, honeyed and fruity with juicy barley; toasty with brown sugar and Seville oranges; peppery with a touch of under-ripe tropical fruits. 

Palate: big, rich, nutty and very sherried with crisp spices, tart fruits and rough new leather; woah, where did this come from, the palate is far more exotic than the nose; gooseberries, sour melons and grapefruit juice; the spices pick up with more under-ripe tropical fruits; as the palate adjusts the creamy base of vanilla, honey and juicy barley is able to emerge.

Finish: medium in weight, but long in length; lovely, elegant and warming with fading spices, leather and fruit.

Comment: the nose and palate are slightly out of sync, but the palate is brilliant; it also has a maturity beyond its years; it is bright and unapologetic, but far from hot or rough; James MacTaggart is one of my Whisky Heroes; he is a gentleman, and has been a very steady hand over his dozen years at Arran; this is a fine tribute to his growing legend!

Producer Tasting Note

Nose: Bright and mouth-watering; Seville orange marmalade, peaches and mango freshness are followed by the warmth of root ginger and a waft of drying grass and gorse bushes.

Palate: Rich in chocolate orange, quince jelly and the zest of citrus fruits. The subtle tang of yeasty, buttered sourdough and a kick of rock salt come through as the Palo Cortado cask displays its influence.

Finish: Cider apples accentuate Arran house style before the warmth of ginger returns alongside a rich impression of these exceptional sherry casks.

Producer Description

"We are delighted to present a 12 year-old Single Malt bottled in honour of our Master Distiller James MacTaggart. This characterful limited edition of the Arran Single Malt has been specially created by Master Distiller James MacTaggart as a stunning example of a successful partnership between whisky and cask. A selection of Palo Cortado Sherry Casks handpicked in Spain by James add a delightful and warming dimension to another memorable and classic expression of Arran Single Malt. There are 12,000 bottles of this edition available worldwide."

700 ml