I feel ya buddy, my blind face just gets redder. And yet, no one criticises. Everyone knows how tricky it is, even when you’re familiar. You put these whiskies on test, not you. Kudos for the bravery and honesty. Just what whisky deserves 🙌
Well, if sitting in front of a camera with a s***load of whisky and a pink blindfold is bravery, then I'm nothing short of a hero. 😂 Cheers buddy, it is indeed tricky. Part of the fun! 🥃
Very entertaining as usual Geoff! Such a great distillery! For a while there I was 1:1 blending the Sherry Cask with the 10, yielding what is to me the best of both worlds! Cheers!
Arran is probably one of my favorite distilleries. I love their consistency. The 10 will always be part of my personal collection. On a side note: I just got my first Glencadam 10 - now I really understand why it reminded you of Arran 10. It's very nice and lovely specially when it opens up. The Arran 10 though - like you said has definitely more going on in it. Cheers 🥃
Well early Arran 10s were less cask-forward and had a bright freshness that often reminded me of Glencadam 10. The modern ones aren't quite so close. Both still excellent though. The Arran is more complex, but I still love the vibrancy and "straight-forwardness" of the Glencadam 10. Both classics! 🥃
Sorry, I did not catch if you added any water to the cask strength expressions. The 10 YO and the Port Cask are relatively close, but the other two are 55+ ABV (at lease in my market) and I usually find the higher proofs tend to dominate blinds unless they are really unpolished. Thanks. Fun episode. Cheers.
I should have mentioned that I watered all the drams. Slightly more generous with the Sherry and the QC, but not enough to dilute them down to the level of the 10. I think I got swept up by the intensity of the Sherry, which explains why it came out on top. I actually maintain that I prefer the 10. 🥃
A group of friends and I tried the 10 and QC side by side today, blind, and we all preferred the QC. It seemed so well balanced, great abv too. Sweet but not sickly, woody but not musty, beautifully fresh, great mouthfeel and finish
Thank you for the review 🤗 I've only had the Sherry Cask and The heavily peated sherry cask. Between those I like the peated version little better. But as you say, they are really close in their general notes. Imho both these are to me a tad too tame in the flavours even though the ABV is nice. I wish they had cranked the flavours up to 11 on these. If so, they could potentially be my top 10 whiskys Ive had so far. But now they qualify as my top 20.
You gave it a good shot Geoff. I have enjoyed all of those Arrans except maybe Port and that's coz I don't have it. Maybe a flight between two different distilleries but of the same make would allow you to pick out better? Arran is doing right by the consumers to say the least. Let's hope it stays that way or get even better.
Well said, Rohit. I actually prefer doing side-by-sides with whiskies from different brands along a similar theme. Much easier to distinguish. Cheers! 🥃
Always like your blind reviews. I have had all of these Arran's and the Quarter Cask & the Port Cask stand out for me. Have you had the Sauternes Cask? That is my favorite Arran at the moment. Cheers to another great review.
I've tried the Sauternes, but oddly that one didn't blow me away. My buddy loves it, but I didn't connect with the last bottle I had. Maybe I should revisit. Cheers Rob! 🥃
My favorite used to be the Marsala Cask which was sadly discontinued. Recently picked up a Cracker though - a 2012 small batch, lightly peated bourbon cask they've released as an exclusive for a couple of shops in Scotland.
Your videos are bang on time. I literally just spent the evening tasting four of the Talisker range side by side. It was so hard, by the end I felt like a total novice. I may have to try the Arrans next!
I enjoy Arran 10 and Bothy QC, but one of my all time favorites is Arran 18. Glad I picked up a few older bottles from a small shop last year when the 18 was $90 USD!!!
Great vid, it is so difficult with any tasting to recognize which is which. Arran's more so, they have so very slight nuances. I thought you would have notice the alcohol difference of the sherry cask and the quarter cask against the 46% from the 10. Arran has become such a very good and honest malt. The 12 caskstrength and the 14 were great to. Still have a few bottles of them. I think they would be now even better made seeing what the are making nowadays. Thanks for the jokes😂
I had a bottle of the 14 last year and enjoyed it immensely. You were clever to hold on to a few. The CS 12 is also good, although some batches were better than others. Loved the pre-rebranding Arran line! Thanks for watching, Lucien! 🥃
Thanks for your time and effort Geoff, for another interesting (and funny) video, appreciated. Unfortunately, we just have the 10, the Quarter Cask and the 18 available in our market (Mexico). I do prefer the QC over the 10 (haven't tried the 18... yet). I wish we could have access to the Sherry Cask shortly.
Well you're lucky. I absolutely love the 18 and it's nowhere to be found these days in Taiwan. Hope the Sherry Cask makes it your way eventually. Really fun stuff! Thanks for watching, Jorge! 🥃
It's getting a bit heavier with the more recent batches though. I've found the last few bottles are more sherried than they used to be. Great whisky either way, though, as is Glencadam 10. Cheers! 🥃
@@Gwhisky interesting. I have a sealed bottle and another one that has around 1/3 left. They do look similar in color and there wasn’t a huge gap between getting each, so I’m guessing they’re both already their “heavier” version. Still I’ll make sure to compare them when I pour the last dram of the opened bottle. Cheers!!
Feel like your initial notes lined up with reality... then things seem to breakdown in going back and forth. I have 3 of these + one of the old label Arran 10... i will try these blind see how things go.
Hi Jeff: Great job with the tasting. I could see how you can mix up the 3. I would have replaced the Port for the 18 in the tasting. The Arran 18 would have won the tasting hands down. Cheers John
Thanks John. I might have done that if that bottle wasn't opened over 3 years ago. It's gone a bit flat, and doesn't taste as good as it should anymore. 🥃
I got gifted about 20cl of the sherry cask and Im not a big sherry fan but for me it was on the money so drinkable for a sherry cask, also enjoy the 10 alot not tried the quarter or port
Hi Geoff, ha, blind tasting’s , seems to bring a few surprises. I’ve had the 10, quarter cask and the 14 , like them all but I love the 14, wish Arran would bring it back. Slàinte Geoff
Hey, Geoff! I love all Arran malts I've had so far. My list goes from most to least liked as follows: The new Quarter Cask The old 10 yo The new 10 yo The Bothy Batch 2 Cote Rotie Cask Finish I have quite a few other expressions in the stash waiting their turn to be tasted sonthe list might change. Cheers!
@Nikolay Nikolov: can you please try to describe the difference in smell/taste between the old and new 10? From memory I think I've read that the old 10 didn't have any sherry component(?), and reviews are a bit less keen on it than the new(er) 10, but I'll have to re-check. There's one retailer with the old 10 still available in my country so I'm a little curious... but also wary. I've tried and very much enjoy the Sherry Cask and the new 10, although they're both on the bright, fruity, "spotless" side rather than anything dirty/grubby/funky that I also often like--cf. Springbank, Benromach, etc. Geoff: I second those who request more "blind" tastings/comparisons. They're very interesting to watch. I know it's very difficult for the person doing the tasting (you), but it strips away any preconceptions and one is left with just: what *does* this smell/taste of.👍 I guess one thing one loses is the depth of appreciation (background) one gathers from repeated tastings over time, which helps build an understanding of a malt.
@@jbar6284 The old 10 yo Arran was more spirit forward and less cask influenced. Sherry casks were less evident and the whisky had a little fresher and fruitier profile. The new one is little more complex with chocolate and spicy notes from the casks. Sherry influence is also more pronounced albeit still subtle and far from dominant.
That was fun! I'm still too green in Arrans. I've only tried their 10 yo and had the Quarter Cask on my short list. Maybe I should change it to the Sherry one?... The 10 yo was impressive and it's close to Glencadam 10 on my favorite whiskies list.
I had Arran 10 and sauternes . Also got bottle of Sherry one, but I didn't tried it yet. Found 10 more complex than sauturn, but it was also great dram. Hope we can soon try stuff from lagg distillery :)
Yeah I didn't mind the Sauternes, but it wasn't as "interesting" as most of the other Arrans. Sadly I didn't have it around for this side-by-side. I'm also excited for the Lagg stuff! 🥃
I love when reviewers do blind flights. Keep it up! Sometimes moods can change your daily preference. If you did this blind 20 times though over 20 sessions I think you'd end up back with your original preference rankings.
Great entertainment tonight, Geoff. Loved it. I have the port cask finish, but now I'm tempted to try the 10yr old. Last week I bought the KaVaLan King Car. I haven't opened it yet - I'm waiting for my son's next visit. Have you tried it? Can you tell me what to expect? Slainte!
Hey Victor. I've not had the King Car in years. Probably about 7 or 8 years. Kavalan being a younger distillery would be putting out something quite different today than what it had out back then, so I hesitate to say too much. I was good! Hah. Enjoy, buddy! 🥃
Hah I brought it out to include it, but it's not a recent batch and it's been open for over 3 years, so it's actually gone a bit flat. Wouldn't have been a fair comparison. 🥃
I have done that flight blind a couple of times. My order of preference is. #1 Quarter Cask #2 Bodega, #3 (Amarone but you did not include that one) #4 Port / 10 #5 Sauternes (but that one you didn't have either). You did well ☺
@@Gwhisky Amarone is not sweet. There can be some residual sugar but that’s for all wines. It is bold opulent though. Try it. I have the old bottling though.
Blinds tend to remind me that I don’t know Jack. Assuming you’ve not added any water. I think the Quarter and Sherry need a little. Like em both around 50%.
You seem to have a very similar taste to mine. Arran and Bruichladdich are my fauvourite brands. There is another right up there; Penderyn and then especially the Madeira version. Maybe you should try it, if you haven't already.
Must make my gf test me blind on the 10 and sherry cask. Have you tried three ships btw? It is awesome... reminds my of the springbank 10 funk and man it is an easy zipper.
I've tasted the quartercask ens the heavily peated pinot noir cask (limited release for the Netherlands). I realy would like to try some older bottles(18,21,25) just to see how they are. They make a great product.🥃🥃
Nice review, dude. My wife recently killed my 10yr so I have to restock. She says it's the best she's ever tasted (and that lush has sampled a fare amount : ) My store also has a discontinued Bothy for $61. I might have to grab it too. (I think I asked you about it a ways back. You liked?) Cheer G!
@@jackthepickledhound Same, which I purchased a cpl hours ago along w another 10 yr : ) According to a few reviews of earlier and later batches, 3 is touted as the best. Geoff, thoughts? 😁
nice tasting Geoff! im a huge arran fan myself, might be even my favorite distillary right now :) From these i def like the quarter cask the most ;) im btw considering of getting my hands on the 21 year old 😇 did you have the chane to try it? ill def let you know what i think about it ;)
Sadly I've not tried anything over the 18 from the modern line. I hear the 21 is fantastic, but I've also heard that some people prefer the 18. I'm very curious about it myself. 🥃
I've only tried the Quarter Cask. I've opened it and had a neck pour, that's it. It didn't register one way or the other and immediately went to the 'getting acquainted' category. I'll need to get a mite further down the bottle. Nothing to compare, though. I did check to see what the state stocked and found it curious that the 10 is not among them. They have the Quarter Cask, the Sherry Bodega, and a Sauternes finished expression and something called 'Barrel Reserve' that comes in at 43% (others all over 50%) and sells for ~$55 US (while all others sell between $80 - $85).
Well if you like the QC I would definitely recommend exploring Arran further. Shame they don't stock the 10, but really any Arran is going to be quality. I even like the Barrel Reserve at 43%. Very fresh and clean. 🥃
Woah I have all the three except for the Port and I've thought their Sherry is the easiest one of them to pick out! But who knows I've never tried the same distillery blind test. By the way I went to a local liquor shop today and the owner told me Auchentoshan Sauvignon Blanc is a good summer pour when served cold. It's getting hot super early this year and some single malt peeps like me don't really love drinking bourbon highballs and what not even in sizzling summer, and I realized I'd like to know some decent single malts for a summer pour! So what about a list video for a summer dram (preferably designed to be served cold)? Only some Glen Grants or Dalwhinnie come to my mind but you should know a lot more! Cheers!
Nice to see your sleep mask make another appearance! I'm not too proud to say that I actually lol'd at the first dad joke. Wasn't expecting that today! You did very well on the blind...you should do this professionally...jk. I also have trouble telling the differences among the same distillery. Just goes to show sometimes the small differences cost mucho bucks! Nice job
5 Dram Arran tasting tomorrow at SMWS Glasgow with the distillery manager for the latest distillery takeover series. Possibly more than just the core range on offer and any info on new releases I'll pass it on... 🥃👍
@Gwhisky TASTING 1) Arran 10yr 2) Sauternes 3) SMWS 131.104 (8yr) let the fun a shine 4) Arran 18yr 5)20yr Distillery exclusive (sherry)1998 6) Lagg, heavily peated 3yr...wonderful🥃👍 INFO... Stock of the arran 18yr finishes in 3yrs around 2026! The 14yr will be reintroduced around 2027 according to current stock (same cask configuration)
Sir Cumference 🤣 Arran is awesome and I'd be hard pressed to pick between the Bothy and the 10 however I saw a UK exclusive cask strength single sherry cask 10 year old which could be very interesting. Now if they did that in a single ex-bourbon barrel I think that would be an absolute banger! Cheers Geoff 🥃
I wanted to, but sadly the 18 is too old. It's been open for over three years and has gone a bit flat. Wouldn't have been fair to include it, unfortunately. 🥃
I've got the 10 and Sherry Cask open at the minute and prefer the 10. If you take the Sherry Cask down to a similar ABV I think it becomes even more obvious
Yeah. I did water the sherry, but I didn't bring it down to the 10. I think I might have been swept up by the intensity of the Sherry. Like you, I still prefer the 10, despite what the video implies. Cheers! 🥃
Really not getting on with my first Arran 10. Weird. It's lovely but maybe I'm not a sweet fruity guy... I'll stick with my Springbank and Ledaig 10s I guess
It's way too light compared to those two. It has a permanent spot in my shelf because living in Brazil we get a lot of really warm days throughout the year and these lighter, brighter whiskies like Arran 10 and Glencadam 10 are really the only thing you will want to pour when it's 29C at night. If you live somewhere that gets really warm some time during the year, hold on to the 10 until you get one of those days, you'll be glad you did.
Geoff, you did the Arran comparison test all wrong! It is imperative you cleanse your palate with a good mouthful of water after each sampling. Why don't you re-do this test the way I suggest and note the difference.
hello! first i really like the channel. Last but not least, please make a revil in the tamnavulin sherry cask. you will be surprised. Oh! My fuck... english was made in Brasil. 😅
You should have taken a mouthwash of water 'before' sampling each of the four Arrans. You might have been more assured with your comments. Try the blind tasting again.
If you can't pick a port cask then whisky isn't for you. The others, ah dunno. Those were not 40% so might also sway it sideways. I love port cask and could pick easy.
Perhaps the relative ABV's of these four Arran's may be the excuse which explains why you were only 25% right. If a stronger ABV gives a more powerful tasting experience then it might win the day in a side by side contest. Please Geoff, I am simply trying to help you explain why you were 75% wrong.
I think that explains much of it. I did in fact water the whiskies, adding more to the likes of the QC and the Sherry Cask, but not enough to dilute them down to the same level as the 10. But yes, I believe I got swept away by the intensity of the Sherry Cask, as I still maintain that the 10 is a better whisky. Appreciate you congratulating me on my 25% success, buddy! 😂
Geoff. Always be positive, your next blind tasting is likely to be significantly better (probability predicts this) and that would redeem you, your audience will take heart and begin to trust your newfound skill.
Hah I didn't include that bottle because it's been open for over 3 years and the whisky's gone a bit flat. It's also an older batch. Wouldn't have been a fair shake. 🥃
Interesting Geoff, but probably more for others than for me. Arran and me (or is it the other way around?) do not really connect... ...and let me be the one to blame myself. So others do not need to. I'll better leave it to that. Slàinte mhath
My guy really just smelt the first whisky and says "Okay, im getting wood."
It's good whiskey tbf
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I feel ya buddy, my blind face just gets redder. And yet, no one criticises. Everyone knows how tricky it is, even when you’re familiar. You put these whiskies on test, not you. Kudos for the bravery and honesty. Just what whisky deserves 🙌
Well, if sitting in front of a camera with a s***load of whisky and a pink blindfold is bravery, then I'm nothing short of a hero. 😂
Cheers buddy, it is indeed tricky. Part of the fun! 🥃
I believe you should do more of this blind side by side tastings, really would like it if you do.
Noted! 🥃
I’ve never had a bad Arran. I agree with your blind ranking.
Very entertaining as usual Geoff! Such a great distillery! For a while there I was 1:1 blending the Sherry Cask with the 10, yielding what is to me the best of both worlds! Cheers!
Great idea. I'll try that this weekend! 🥃
Arran is probably one of my favorite distilleries. I love their consistency. The 10 will always be part of my personal collection. On a side note: I just got my first Glencadam 10 - now I really understand why it reminded you of Arran 10. It's very nice and lovely specially when it opens up. The Arran 10 though - like you said has definitely more going on in it. Cheers 🥃
Well early Arran 10s were less cask-forward and had a bright freshness that often reminded me of Glencadam 10. The modern ones aren't quite so close. Both still excellent though. The Arran is more complex, but I still love the vibrancy and "straight-forwardness" of the Glencadam 10. Both classics! 🥃
Sorry, I did not catch if you added any water to the cask strength expressions. The 10 YO and the Port Cask are relatively close, but the other two are 55+ ABV (at lease in my market) and I usually find the higher proofs tend to dominate blinds unless they are really unpolished. Thanks. Fun episode. Cheers.
I should have mentioned that I watered all the drams. Slightly more generous with the Sherry and the QC, but not enough to dilute them down to the level of the 10. I think I got swept up by the intensity of the Sherry, which explains why it came out on top. I actually maintain that I prefer the 10. 🥃
A group of friends and I tried the 10 and QC side by side today, blind, and we all preferred the QC. It seemed so well balanced, great abv too. Sweet but not sickly, woody but not musty, beautifully fresh, great mouthfeel and finish
Great work Geoff, loved the blind tasting! More of this please! It's nice to see multiple whiskeys compared to/alongside each other once in a while.
Thank you for the review 🤗
I've only had the Sherry Cask and The heavily peated sherry cask. Between those I like the peated version little better. But as you say, they are really close in their general notes.
Imho both these are to me a tad too tame in the flavours even though the ABV is nice. I wish they had cranked the flavours up to 11 on these. If so, they could potentially be my top 10 whiskys Ive had so far. But now they qualify as my top 20.
You gave it a good shot Geoff. I have enjoyed all of those Arrans except maybe Port and that's coz I don't have it. Maybe a flight between two different distilleries but of the same make would allow you to pick out better? Arran is doing right by the consumers to say the least. Let's hope it stays that way or get even better.
Well said, Rohit. I actually prefer doing side-by-sides with whiskies from different brands along a similar theme. Much easier to distinguish. Cheers! 🥃
Always like your blind reviews. I have had all of these Arran's and the Quarter Cask & the Port Cask stand out for me. Have you had the Sauternes Cask? That is my favorite Arran at the moment. Cheers to another great review.
I've tried the Sauternes, but oddly that one didn't blow me away. My buddy loves it, but I didn't connect with the last bottle I had. Maybe I should revisit. Cheers Rob! 🥃
My favorite used to be the Marsala Cask which was sadly discontinued.
Recently picked up a Cracker though - a 2012 small batch, lightly peated bourbon cask they've released as an exclusive for a couple of shops in Scotland.
Your videos are bang on time. I literally just spent the evening tasting four of the Talisker range side by side. It was so hard, by the end I felt like a total novice. I may have to try the Arrans next!
Talisker would be especially hard. Really forward "house" style that would muddy the water, as it were. Cheers! 🥃
Gotta love those Arrans man. I have a 19-year-old single cask expression that's exclusive to my country, waiting for a special ocassion.
Sounds epic! 🥃
Agree on the Port Cask, it is simple and lacks any sparkle. The 18 is heads above even the 21 but then Sherry, 10 and Sauternes arey picks.
I love Arran, especially these four. Though I find my favourite changes each time I open a bottle.
I enjoy Arran 10 and Bothy QC, but one of my all time favorites is Arran 18. Glad I picked up a few older bottles from a small shop last year when the 18 was $90 USD!!!
Love the arran 10. I haven’t tried the others here. I miss the 14. That was awesome.
Absolutely. The 14 was incredible stuff! 🥃
Great vid, it is so difficult with any tasting to recognize which is which. Arran's more so, they have so very slight nuances. I thought you would have notice the alcohol difference of the sherry cask and the quarter cask against the 46% from the 10.
Arran has become such a very good and honest malt. The 12 caskstrength and the 14 were great to. Still have a few bottles of them. I think they would be now even better made seeing what the are making nowadays. Thanks for the jokes😂
I had a bottle of the 14 last year and enjoyed it immensely. You were clever to hold on to a few. The CS 12 is also good, although some batches were better than others. Loved the pre-rebranding Arran line!
Thanks for watching, Lucien! 🥃
Arran has delivered 👏
Great tasting Geoff. 🥃 The 10 and Sherry are the two expressions that I enjoy very much.
Thanks for your time and effort Geoff, for another interesting (and funny) video, appreciated.
Unfortunately, we just have the 10, the Quarter Cask and the 18 available in our market (Mexico). I do prefer the QC over the 10 (haven't tried the 18... yet). I wish we could have access to the Sherry Cask shortly.
Well you're lucky. I absolutely love the 18 and it's nowhere to be found these days in Taiwan. Hope the Sherry Cask makes it your way eventually. Really fun stuff! Thanks for watching, Jorge! 🥃
The Arran sherry cask just became my new favorite scotch so good
hahaha... another awesome and useful video. Arran 10 is my go to whisky (along with Glencadam 10) for warm weather. In cool days it feels too light.
It's getting a bit heavier with the more recent batches though. I've found the last few bottles are more sherried than they used to be. Great whisky either way, though, as is Glencadam 10. Cheers! 🥃
@@Gwhisky interesting. I have a sealed bottle and another one that has around 1/3 left. They do look similar in color and there wasn’t a huge gap between getting each, so I’m guessing they’re both already their “heavier” version. Still I’ll make sure to compare them when I pour the last dram of the opened bottle. Cheers!!
Great and quiet honest video !
You must do blind test more often !
Feel like your initial notes lined up with reality... then things seem to breakdown in going back and forth. I have 3 of these + one of the old label Arran 10... i will try these blind see how things go.
Of all the whiskey channels, I like yours the most, I love you from Israel
Very kind words of support. Thank you so much! 🙏
Love this one. Arran is really one of my favorite brands.
Hi Jeff:
Great job with the tasting. I could see how you can mix up the 3. I would have replaced the
Port for the 18 in the tasting. The Arran 18 would have won the tasting hands down.
Cheers
John
Thanks John. I might have done that if that bottle wasn't opened over 3 years ago. It's gone a bit flat, and doesn't taste as good as it should anymore. 🥃
I have them all. They are all great
I got gifted about 20cl of the sherry cask and Im not a big sherry fan but for me it was on the money so drinkable for a sherry cask, also enjoy the 10 alot not tried the quarter or port
Blind tastings - like yourself - are great. Agreed re Arran, always great too. Cheers G🥰
Cheers my friend! Hope all is well! 🥃
@@Gwhisky it is now that I’m currently watching your 7 great warm weather whiskies!
Hi Geoff, ha, blind tasting’s , seems to bring a few surprises. I’ve had the 10, quarter cask and the 14 , like them all but I love the 14, wish Arran would bring it back. Slàinte Geoff
The 14 was incredible. Sorely missed! It would be my favourite as well! 🥃
Hey, Geoff!
I love all Arran malts I've had so far. My list goes from most to least liked as follows:
The new Quarter Cask
The old 10 yo
The new 10 yo
The Bothy Batch 2
Cote Rotie Cask Finish
I have quite a few other expressions in the stash waiting their turn to be tasted sonthe list might change.
Cheers!
@Nikolay Nikolov: can you please try to describe the difference in smell/taste between the old and new 10? From memory I think I've read that the old 10 didn't have any sherry component(?), and reviews are a bit less keen on it than the new(er) 10, but I'll have to re-check. There's one retailer with the old 10 still available in my country so I'm a little curious... but also wary.
I've tried and very much enjoy the Sherry Cask and the new 10, although they're both on the bright, fruity, "spotless" side rather than anything dirty/grubby/funky that I also often like--cf. Springbank, Benromach, etc.
Geoff: I second those who request more "blind" tastings/comparisons. They're very interesting to watch. I know it's very difficult for the person doing the tasting (you), but it strips away any preconceptions and one is left with just: what *does* this smell/taste of.👍 I guess one thing one loses is the depth of appreciation (background) one gathers from repeated tastings over time, which helps build an understanding of a malt.
@@jbar6284 The old 10 yo Arran was more spirit forward and less cask influenced. Sherry casks were less evident and the whisky had a little fresher and fruitier profile. The new one is little more complex with chocolate and spicy notes from the casks. Sherry influence is also more pronounced albeit still subtle and far from dominant.
Haven't tried the port yet. But I agree with you on the other 3.....must get myself a new Sherry cask, killed a bottle last week ;)
SO, the old adages hold true, "after second dram, they all taste the same " (of same distillery) ! ! !
Hah unless that's just me. But yeah... this was tough! 🥃
That was fun!
I'm still too green in Arrans. I've only tried their 10 yo and had the Quarter Cask on my short list.
Maybe I should change it to the Sherry one?...
The 10 yo was impressive and it's close to Glencadam 10 on my favorite whiskies list.
I'd recommend the sherry over the Quarter Cask, but they're pretty close. The classic bourbon-matured vs. sherry-matured conundrum. Matter of mood! 🥃
I had Arran 10 and sauternes . Also got bottle of Sherry one, but I didn't tried it yet. Found 10 more complex than sauturn, but it was also great dram. Hope we can soon try stuff from lagg distillery :)
Yeah I didn't mind the Sauternes, but it wasn't as "interesting" as most of the other Arrans. Sadly I didn't have it around for this side-by-side. I'm also excited for the Lagg stuff! 🥃
I love when reviewers do blind flights. Keep it up! Sometimes moods can change your daily preference. If you did this blind 20 times though over 20 sessions I think you'd end up back with your original preference rankings.
Great entertainment tonight, Geoff. Loved it. I have the port cask finish, but now I'm tempted to try the 10yr old. Last week I bought the KaVaLan King Car. I haven't opened it yet - I'm waiting for my son's next visit. Have you tried it? Can you tell me what to expect? Slainte!
Hey Victor. I've not had the King Car in years. Probably about 7 or 8 years. Kavalan being a younger distillery would be putting out something quite different today than what it had out back then, so I hesitate to say too much. I was good! Hah. Enjoy, buddy! 🥃
@@Gwhisky He's in San Francisco right now. The bottle will keep! I'll let you know our reactions when we open it ....
In this case I'd love to see that Arran 18 in your cabinet in the lineup too! Any particular reason you left that one out?
Hah I brought it out to include it, but it's not a recent batch and it's been open for over 3 years, so it's actually gone a bit flat. Wouldn't have been a fair comparison. 🥃
I have done that flight blind a couple of times. My order of preference is. #1 Quarter Cask #2 Bodega, #3 (Amarone but you did not include that one) #4 Port / 10 #5 Sauternes (but that one you didn't have either). You did well ☺
Hah if you call 25% success "doing well." 😂
The Amarone, eh? I've noticed you have something of a sweet tooth... 😉
@@Gwhisky Amarone is not sweet. There can be some residual sugar but that’s for all wines. It is bold opulent though. Try it. I have the old bottling though.
Blinds tend to remind me that I don’t know Jack. Assuming you’ve not added any water. I think the Quarter and Sherry need a little. Like em both around 50%.
I’ve only had the 10 and QC liked the 10 better bc the QC can be a bit sharp and drink a lil hot. Both are good tho.
Fair enough. The 10 definitely has softer edges. It's also more complex imo. 🥃
You seem to have a very similar taste to mine. Arran and Bruichladdich are my fauvourite brands. There is another right up there; Penderyn and then especially the Madeira version.
Maybe you should try it, if you haven't already.
I've got a bottle on the go. Good stuff! 🥃
Thanks for the content. Always instructing, candid and funny ^^ Have you tried the first edition of Arran’s Signature Series ? « Remnant Renegade » ?
Please do Arran Sherry cask vs Arran 18
Must make my gf test me blind on the 10 and sherry cask. Have you tried three ships btw? It is awesome... reminds my of the springbank 10 funk and man it is an easy zipper.
Please try the Arran Remnant Renegade it is awesome! cheers!
I've tasted the quartercask ens the heavily peated pinot noir cask (limited release for the Netherlands). I realy would like to try some older bottles(18,21,25) just to see how they are. They make a great product.🥃🥃
Agree! 🥃
Nice review, dude. My wife recently killed my 10yr so I have to restock. She says it's the best she's ever tasted (and that lush has sampled a fare amount : ) My store also has a discontinued Bothy for $61. I might have to grab it too. (I think I asked you about it a ways back. You liked?) Cheer G!
I have access t o batch 3, still. Which batch do you have access to?
@@jackthepickledhound Same, which I purchased a cpl hours ago along w another 10 yr : ) According to a few reviews of earlier and later batches, 3 is touted as the best. Geoff, thoughts? 😁
Geoff, I'm planning on conducting this identical blind tasting for my group this summer. I'll let you know how it goes.
Great! Enjoy! 🥃
nice tasting Geoff! im a huge arran fan myself, might be even my favorite distillary right now :) From these i def like the quarter cask the most ;) im btw considering of getting my hands on the 21 year old 😇 did you have the chane to try it? ill def let you know what i think about it ;)
Sadly I've not tried anything over the 18 from the modern line. I hear the 21 is fantastic, but I've also heard that some people prefer the 18. I'm very curious about it myself. 🥃
I've only tried the Quarter Cask. I've opened it and had a neck pour, that's it. It didn't register one way or the other and immediately went to the 'getting acquainted' category. I'll need to get a mite further down the bottle. Nothing to compare, though.
I did check to see what the state stocked and found it curious that the 10 is not among them. They have the Quarter Cask, the Sherry Bodega, and a Sauternes finished expression and something called 'Barrel Reserve' that comes in at 43% (others all over 50%) and sells for ~$55 US (while all others sell between $80 - $85).
Well if you like the QC I would definitely recommend exploring Arran further. Shame they don't stock the 10, but really any Arran is going to be quality. I even like the Barrel Reserve at 43%. Very fresh and clean. 🥃
Woah I have all the three except for the Port and I've thought their Sherry is the easiest one of them to pick out! But who knows I've never tried the same distillery blind test.
By the way I went to a local liquor shop today and the owner told me Auchentoshan Sauvignon Blanc is a good summer pour when served cold. It's getting hot super early this year and some single malt peeps like me don't really love drinking bourbon highballs and what not even in sizzling summer, and I realized I'd like to know some decent single malts for a summer pour! So what about a list video for a summer dram (preferably designed to be served cold)? Only some Glen Grants or Dalwhinnie come to my mind but you should know a lot more! Cheers!
Just released a summer sipper vid! 🥃
You should've used the braille, my friend.😄 Cheers! I really enjoy your reviews. And I love Arran.
😂😂😂
This is the video I’ve been waiting for!
Well, this, and the Penderyn one oof
Also, having the 18 in the back is just blue balling us 😅
Hah that 18 has been open for over 3 years. It's actually gone flat, which is partly why I didn't include it. 🥃
Nice to see your sleep mask make another appearance! I'm not too proud to say that I actually lol'd at the first dad joke. Wasn't expecting that today! You did very well on the blind...you should do this professionally...jk. I also have trouble telling the differences among the same distillery. Just goes to show sometimes the small differences cost mucho bucks! Nice job
Lol could've thrown apple juice in there and I'd have ranked it 86. "Loads of orchard fruits in here, guys." 😂
@@Gwhisky 🤣
Hi Geoff ! My favorite is Port ))) Budmo( Ukrainian cheers ) !
Wow that is a difficult task! But at least its evident that you know what you don’t prefer😂
Lol at least... 😂
Well done
Like the Dad jokes😅
Dude! We didn't even get to see her.
Just picked up the 10yr and 18yr bottles.
I'm looking for a new 18 myself. Hard to come by here. Enjoy! 🥃
that Arran 18 is very elusive... I really want to try this.
The new 18 is significantly lighter than the old one, but still taste epic. Probably like the old a tad more
@@chaisheng0627 Is it anything like the Glendronach 18? That's pretty much the nectar of life.
Is the difference between a 56% Arran and a 46% one murky?
Should be easy to tell. This guy clearly doesn't know what he's talking about.
5 Dram Arran tasting tomorrow at SMWS Glasgow with the distillery manager for the latest distillery takeover series.
Possibly more than just the core range on offer and any info on new releases I'll pass it on... 🥃👍
Sounds incredible! Enjoy yourself, Steven. We're all quite jealous!🥃
@@Gwhisky Thanks and I'll be sure to ask if there's plans to reintroduce the 14 to the core range... missed by all! 😕
@@stevengallery5561 Yes!
@Gwhisky
TASTING
1) Arran 10yr 2) Sauternes 3) SMWS 131.104 (8yr) let the fun a shine 4) Arran 18yr 5)20yr Distillery exclusive (sherry)1998 6) Lagg, heavily peated 3yr...wonderful🥃👍
INFO...
Stock of the arran 18yr finishes in 3yrs around 2026!
The 14yr will be reintroduced around 2027 according to current stock (same cask configuration)
After the conversation with the arran representative, don't expect the Arran 18yr to be around much longer... very low stock!!!!!! 🥃😕
Sir Cumference 🤣
Arran is awesome and I'd be hard pressed to pick between the Bothy and the 10 however I saw a UK exclusive cask strength single sherry cask 10 year old which could be very interesting. Now if they did that in a single ex-bourbon barrel I think that would be an absolute banger! Cheers Geoff 🥃
A CS 10 year old? Sounds incredible! Wouldn't complain if it was sherry, bourbon, or an combination of the two. 🥃
Not had the Port or Sherry...yet😊
Can't recommend the Sherry enough. Of course Port is no slacker either. Cheers! 🥃
the best Arran is the 12 year James Mctaggart edition , followed by the 18.
You've mentioned that one before. Got me curious. I managed to find a bottle but it was really expensive. Too bad...
I think you're girlfriend did you over there matey ;-) Love the quarter cask.
To your point about the drams blending together, I wonder if you would’ve noticed that 18 YO stand apart if you’d included it too….
I wanted to, but sadly the 18 is too old. It's been open for over three years and has gone a bit flat. Wouldn't have been fair to include it, unfortunately. 🥃
I've got the 10 and Sherry Cask open at the minute and prefer the 10. If you take the Sherry Cask down to a similar ABV I think it becomes even more obvious
Yeah. I did water the sherry, but I didn't bring it down to the 10. I think I might have been swept up by the intensity of the Sherry. Like you, I still prefer the 10, despite what the video implies. Cheers! 🥃
I’m getting wood, lol.
Really not getting on with my first Arran 10. Weird. It's lovely but maybe I'm not a sweet fruity guy... I'll stick with my Springbank and Ledaig 10s I guess
It's way too light compared to those two. It has a permanent spot in my shelf because living in Brazil we get a lot of really warm days throughout the year and these lighter, brighter whiskies like Arran 10 and Glencadam 10 are really the only thing you will want to pour when it's 29C at night. If you live somewhere that gets really warm some time during the year, hold on to the 10 until you get one of those days, you'll be glad you did.
@@canal-do-guga-namurathank you. I may hold on to it. I guess it's the only light one I have
Just shows how hard it is to do side by side….
0:17 did you write that little intro tune? Who came up with it? How did you record it?
I bought it off some online "title-making" website.
@@Gwhisky cool, I hope you named it
8:45 do you think the 18 would have bled?
The 18 might not have. It's been open too long and it's gone a bit flat, though, which is why I didn't include it in the lineup.
@@Gwhisky does that mean it has poor reachability?
Nah it's great. Just that I tucked it away in a corner somewhere and forgot about it for over a year. Wasn't the same when I came back to it.
@@Gwhisky lessons learned young man!
Geoff, you did the Arran comparison test all wrong!
It is imperative you cleanse your palate with a good mouthful of water after each sampling. Why don't you re-do this test the way I suggest and note the difference.
Lol nah I'm good.
Should've been able to at least get the 10yo correct just from lesser amount of alcohol in comparison to the others.
hello! first i really like the channel. Last but not least, please make a revil in the tamnavulin sherry cask. you will be surprised.
Oh! My fuck... english was made in Brasil. 😅
I haven't tried the Tamnavulin yet. I'll keep an eye out for it. Cheers! 🥃
You should have taken a mouthwash of water 'before' sampling each of the four Arrans. You might have been more assured with your comments. Try the blind tasting again.
btw, I just subbed to you, I felt you deserved it after what I've put you through. 🤓
👏
Interesting. The port edition here is like 10x darker than yours.
If you can't pick a port cask then whisky isn't for you. The others, ah dunno. Those were not 40% so might also sway it sideways.
I love port cask and could pick easy.
If you can enjoy whisky, then whisky is 100% for you. 🥃
Perhaps the relative ABV's of these four Arran's may be the excuse which explains why you were only 25% right. If a stronger ABV gives a more powerful tasting experience then it might win the day in a side by side contest. Please Geoff, I am simply trying to help you explain why you were 75% wrong.
I think that explains much of it. I did in fact water the whiskies, adding more to the likes of the QC and the Sherry Cask, but not enough to dilute them down to the same level as the 10. But yes, I believe I got swept away by the intensity of the Sherry Cask, as I still maintain that the 10 is a better whisky.
Appreciate you congratulating me on my 25% success, buddy! 😂
Geoff. Always be positive, your next blind tasting is likely to be significantly better (probability predicts this) and that would redeem you, your audience will take heart and begin to trust your newfound skill.
Is that just me or the 18 y.o. is in the background to the left? Still have mine somewhere in the reserve lol 😂
Mmmmm? What's that gray label??
Hah I didn't include that bottle because it's been open for over 3 years and the whisky's gone a bit flat. It's also an older batch. Wouldn't have been a fair shake. 🥃
@@Gwhisky woops... Means I have to finish mine, less than a third of bottle left... knew could go flat....
make sure she blindfolds you just for blind tasting, don't let her do weird shit to you Jeff😂
Don't worry. That video gets uploaded to a completely different website. 😉😂
Interesting Geoff, but probably more for others than for me. Arran and me (or is it the other way around?) do not really connect...
...and let me be the one to blame myself. So others do not need to.
I'll better leave it to that. Slàinte mhath
Unbelievable, you have a girlfriend! (joke)
Agree, it is. 😂
Out of context, announcing you're "getting wood" might not be appropriate, considering your girlfriend is nearby.
😂😂😂
You are just wrong.. Meh.
Meh.