... I don't think you could call it getting bombed, though ;-)
As I mentioned a few days ago, last weekend saw yet another meeting of whisky.pl people gathered round a few Campbeltown and Arran malts. As it turned out we did have a bottle of Arran no age sherry cask, Johanna! I was responsible for only a part of the shopping (the thing being so complicated logistically, not to mention the need to fool the Polish customs monitoring incoming foreign mail), so I didn't know exactly what the Arran in question was. Anyway, the complete lineup (and tasting order) was as follows:
1) Glen Scotia 14yo OB - as a warm-up, and to prepare our palates for "proper" whiskies; 2) Arran no age sherry cask - being more widely known, and providing a basis for the tasitng of its unchillfiltered, more difficult o get hold of, sister; 3) Arran no age un-chillfiltered - an experiment as no-one had had it before; 4) Springbank 15yo OB - to see if it tasted as good as the 15yo for a few years ago; 5) Longrow 13yo cask strength, sherry cask - finally, as we expected it to be more assertive than Springbank; no-one had had that one either.Impressions? Perfect tasting order. All whiskies were rated from good to absolutely fabulous - in the order of tasting, more or less. Although Glen Scotia 14yo turned out to be almost undrinkable after the Springbank had been had.
The two Arrans tasted head-to-head were an interesting experience. The unchillfiltered one was discernibly older (both are no age), rounder, smoother, fabulously drinkable. And definitely more sherried than the one labelled as "sherry cask", but sherried in a nice, subtle way. Plus all the sea, peat and fruit notes, beautifully creamy. Someone remarked that the unchillfiltered Arran was by far superior to many whiskies with respectable age statements, and what wonders we should expect when an Arran gets a proper age statement.
Springbank 15yo: fantastic, complex nose, layer after layer of flavours on the palate - salty, fruity, sherried, nutty, a bit toffeeish, oaky. Didn't trace any coconut, but then, I'd had a few solid drams before we got through to the Springbank. The highlight of the evening.
Longrow 13yo sherry cask: powerful, complex, full of intertwining aromas and flavours. The sherry was not so obvious, hidden under a few layers of peaty, earthy and piny aromas. Huge finish.
Sorry for the notes being so concise. The meetings usually provide an occasion for the malt lovers from all over Poland to meet and have a friendly chat, and (dare I say it?) the whiskies, however great, merely provide a background for the fantastic, friendly atmosphere. To cut a long story short, I didn't make any proper tasting notes...
Cheers, Rajmund