Considering buying this for my birthday. If you, Ralfy, speak with such enthusiasm about a whisky, it is a glowing recommendation that is entitled to great respect. Cheers!
Great video Ralfy! I started watching your reviews and videos about a year or so ago and I absolutely love them. Changed the whole way I experience malts. I've learned a lot from you and can't wait for the next upload!
Ralfy, you are to the world of whisky what Fred Dibnah was to pulling down chimneys :) Keep up the amazing work and malty moments my good man. Thanks to you I have a blossoming and well-informed love of whisky!
Just starting on my Malt Meanderings, and your videos are fantastic. Learning so much. Just bought a bottle of this based on this review (and a great deal of personal & sentimental attachment to the Isle of Arran.) Managed to find a distributor here in Sydney. What a great drop! Thanks Ralphy!
Splendid review! I love Isle of Arran! The 14 Yr is one of my favorites & I have a 17 Yr, but haven't opened it yet! I'm trying to hold off opening up new entries to my collection & try to finish some of my many opened malts!
I am so bummed that I live in the State of Utah. The only liquor I can get.is sold at State government liquor stores and 90 percent of the whiskies Ralfy reviews, I cannot find here. On top of that. It is illegal to ship in alcohol or even bring it yourself from out of the state. Despite that, I still check out Ralfy's opinion every time I find a whisky he has reviewed. You have provided a wonderful service introducing people like me to the world of whisky. Thanks!
Ralfy, You certainly know your whiskies. I wish I could sample as many drams as you have!! I hope you continue reviewing whiskies (and other spirits) for many years to come.
Five years after this video, here I am tasting this dram and having my mind blown. I'm getting different notes from Ralfy. Nose: creamy citrus, honey with undertones of vanilla and sea air. Taste, very smooth at first, a hint of wood and butterscotch that steadily ramps up and explodes in a grassy ginger fest that keeps releasing spice forever. A minute afterwards, inhaling through the mouth still releases flavour. Coconut, vanilla. Wow, this is such exciting experience. My lips feel like I've put lip balm on them. Water tones it down too much though, so I'll be adding way less than Sir Ralfy did in his review.
I tried the Arran 10. I think its great. I was seriously impressed with the quality of cask influence for ten years old. I tasted a lot of quality bourbon barrel influence.
Love the island and the distillery tour is well worth it. the whisky was delicious but not to expensive. They have also opened a second distillery to produce a more malty whisky.
Ive been watching Ralfy for 7 years re reviewing this vlog I don't remember Ralfy Knocking the bottle off, and more importantly a review with more great information than most Ive seen.
Wow, feel Like I went to a whisky class. "Whisky Barrel Chemical Dance 101" And also two "firsts" as I see it, a bottle drop & Cap Removal. All handled like a true gentleman. Very glad I caught this episode!
I've got two bottles of this in my reserve! Awesome 10YO. Arran definitely puts out cracking whiskies, I know you don't review NAS whiskies, but the Amarone finish is incredible too.
Francis Ducharme The Amarone is approximately 8 years old. When they tell me how old it is I might buy it. I've been bitten too often by NAS whisky and will not buy it again.
Hi Ralfy. I asked you some time ago what you suggested as I was becoming tremendously bored with all of the overly sherry influenced whisky - you said "try Arran". I bought a bottle of the 10yo three days ago. I really do think the 89/100 was right on. What a lovely drop. Young, complex, un-sherried, NCF, Nat colour, 46%abv, age stated (10 years old) - takes a little water to get to the truth. I am still discovering the complexities. I suspect it could take a few more drams. Thanks again for the guidance.
Hello Ralfy. We just picked up a bottle of Chivas12 (replenishing the maltbar you know:) for our "blend section". If my taste buds aren't deceivingly me there's a rather nice little dollop of peat in this whiskey...honestly. NEVER noticed THAT before. if I didnt know better I'd be thinking CR12 has been given a sort of facelift a little botox if you will hehe. interesting. though. cheers. (hope its not a one-off mistake/teaser)
Yesterday I opened a new bottle of arran 10. I am impressed. Very good whisky at a very good price. I don't like the design of new bottle, but who cares about the bottle..
Oh and have you tried Glanton's? It's a bourbon that apparently should be rather enjoyable, I haven't tried it myself but from what I've seen on the internet it's an interesting one
“A tangible sign of respect” - Very Well Said!!! What producers do or don’t do in producing a whisky, including aging in some cases, can (depending upon casking) have debatable effects in terms of benefit (“this might have been better younger/older”), but there’s no debating that the customer should be told what they’re paying for. The idea that age does or doesn’t matter to a whisky depending upon whether the marketing department wants to simply conceal the age with the use an NAS label is completely ridiculous. For a tangible signs of industry disrespect to consumers, read “NAS whisky - Diageo speaks out” on The Whisky Exchange Whisky and Fine Spirits Blog and “Reviving Diageo’s NAS Debate - Answers From Nick Morgan on Words of Whisky”. Boycott NAS! Those who respect what Ralfy’s doing in standing up for consumer interests need only follow his example to be worthy of the same respect. If you want more, rather than less, information about what you’re drinking and constantly being charged more for, don’t let others fight that battle for you. Boycott NAS! You are not alone! Those interested in Serge Valentin's take on the state of the whisky nation should check out: "So, how was 2014 at Whiskyfun Towers?" on Whiskyfun, where he calls for mandatory age statements and also check out All Things Whisky for NAS debate.
Blimey Ralfy. You are extremely lucky the bottle didn't smash, I was so absorbed listening and watching your review, that when it did happen I jumped out of my skin, thanks for the review, wondering what the next one will be, I reckon it's to do with the bottle, with 3 on the label, though I could be wrong.
Hey lad :) I'm looking forward to trying this! My friend's dad has a bottle, which I reckon we can probably snag one day, heh. Do you have any plans to do a video on "clearer" spirits soon? Tequila, vodka, mezcal, maybe? Whichever you prefer. Personally, I like Stolichnaya vodka as an alternative to a cheap blend. It has a pretty good, oily mouthfeel - particularly for a vodka - and it is not too rough like Russian Standard or a cheap store-branded vodka.
Hi Ralfy, I left a bottle of Macallan 18 yrs in my car during winter for a few hours; in Canada which was -30 degree Celsius for 4-5 hours. The bottle was sealed. Do you think the taste could have been altered? Please Advice! Thanks!
Splendid review and whisky knowledge as always, with a extra titbit (very nearly smashed Arran 10yo). Any plans to review the Tobermory 15 year old soon Ralfy? Many thanks, Josh.
I bought a bottle of this last year, packaging is a little different though. I've not opened it yet -- also got a special bottling of peated Arran. Looking forward to opening both now. BTW - I think you should do a special bloopers video. Ha -- I've seen quite a few of your vids where you've dropped something and then say "won't be a minute".
Billy Hughes I was wondering the same thing. I tasted a bottle of this that a rep had recently and it looked just like the packaging on the one Ralfy is tasting. However, the one I just bought at my bottleshop has copper looking foil over the top with a castle/bridge in sepia tone on the label.
I have this 10 and I also have the 21. In Toronto the 10 is a little cheaper than Glenlivet Founder's Reserve! Imagine that. It's an incredible value here at CAN$55 (US$41, £32).
I see that the Arran is available here in Canada but with a different label and a different box . . . still at 46% in a 700 ml bottle . . . only $60 at the BC liquor store. I must run out and buy one. Nice durable bottle eh!
I have a few years of semi-regular scotch tasting, so I don't feel confident enough to describe the taste notes. Probably would follow the bottle; several fruity notes. I understand that you all came here to see ralfy, but I wanted to throw my 2 cents in from a novice taster. I find a strong similarity with the Dalwhinnie 15 Single Malt: Nose: More pointed with a certain heavyness compared to Dalwhinnie's "crisp-ness". Color: Lighter than Dalwhinnie, but that probably has to do with the the cask time. Viscosity: Slightly more than Dalwhinnie. Paraphrasing ol' ralfy, "it has a 'bourbon-esque' quality to it" Peat: A small amount of peat as opposed to Dalwhinnie's amount of none. I didn't notice this had peat until it reached the bottom of my belly. Then I could feel the smokiness arise from the ashes. Tasting Experiences: Not too complex, it doesn't change much from the initial dram and the follow ups. The smoke adds another level of fullness once a dram is finished. Ridiculously good price point; roughly 2/3 the cost of a Dalwhinnie 15yr in my area. I've made it a habit to start non-malties with a something from Dalwhinnie; as it is a lighter, less intense, spirit. But I think I found a new budget friendly scotch starter kit in Arran! As ralfy inferred, these younger distilleries have to prove themselves. Arran certainly is meeting the call! A note that I thought was interesting. Ol' ralfy gave the Dalwhinnie 15yr a 90/100 single malt mark in 2010. Arran received an 89/100. I certainly agree!
Hi Ralfy. Hope all is well. What is your opinion of Arran’s Robert Burns single malt against the ten year old? I’ve not tried either and am torn between which one to go for first. x
Ralphy, it's a damned travesty that I can't get my hands on this locally in the states. And shipping is just to damned expensive! Do you think Arran is on its way to becoming more popular and more widely available?
Good review Ralfy.. never heard of this malt before and you've introduced me to one im keen to keep my eye out for. Thanks! By the way just one quick question.. What's that bottle on the shelf behind you with the 3 on the label?
anyone know what the new Teacher's is like? 'more peated' apparently. seen a label on the bottles in Tesco today, not sure I want to chance it again. last bottle i had.. wasn't great
leplusfortaumonde Wine drinkers swirl the glass to get some of the alcohol to evaporate, so it releases some of the nose for the user to enjoy. Whisky, at a high alcohol content, will readily evaporate without any swirling. Indeed, if you swirl it, you get too much evaporation...which can result in burning your sense of smell with too much alcohol.
how about a review of some of the own brand supermarket stuff Ralfy? for example: I've heard that ALDI's Highland Black 8 yr old has done extremely well when put to the test. they also do clontarf single malt which i think is okay us mere mortals who like a regular tipple cant afford to be forkin out 40 quid too often ya see!
get953 Not even close. Vodka is made from potatoes. Single Malt Scotch Whiskey is made from Malted barley. Think beer that's been distilled up to 60% ABV then aged in oak casks.
Saddendude Vodka is most frequently made from wheat or corn but it's made from all kinds of grain, including barley. The main difference between vodka and unaged whisky is that vodka is distilled to a higher proof and heavily charcoal filtered.
get953 It's basically distilled beer. Similar process. To make beer, you make a "mash" of your grains, in this case barley, and you boil it and add some hops and such and you get "wort". The wort is then cooled, introduced to yeast, and then allowed to ferment for a few weeks. The end product is beer. For whisky (scotch in this case) it is done the same way, except the mash only contains the malted barley, no hops. After allowing this malted barley wort to ferment for a bit, it is distilled in pot stills. The difference between what makes spirits characteristically different is what goes into the mash. For vodka it can be all sorts of grain, or potatoes. Rum I believe is distilled fermenting molasses.
excuse me, but what is a "malt mention"? do people send you bottles to review or do they simply mention your blog somewhere? more over, what are malt/blend /etc marks? is that simply to repeat that you talked about a malt, or is there an actual difference in your rating? Thanks very much and keep up the good work! Thanks to your videos I hope to learn to appreciate good whisky :)
Sorry for letting you wait for quite a long time! A malt mention is the opening phrase Ralfy says/reads in every review. Basically is a sentence with all word starting with M and Malt related, usually funny, sometimes nonsense. People write them in the comments and Ralfy reads it for you in a future video.
Rally, Do you ever use miniature bottles, instead of getting a full bottle each time as some other reviewers do? It would certainly be more economical.
If the spirit bas to mature three years to become a whisky, does it mean that a 10 years old whisky is actually a 3+10 year spirit ? Or are the initial 3 years counted in the age statement ?
T0bi1983 well off course they do, I knew. Just saying it doen't make much sense to me... They count the duration of the pregnancy to age their babies !!! ;)
10 year aged means, that it has aged for 10 years in wooden casks... Whats the problem?:) It would be strange if the first 3 years wouldnt count. For what reason? The Whisky is not "aged" in bottles oder metal barrels...Oo
T0bi1983 +ralfystuff said in his review that by law the spirit has to mature at least 3 years and a day to be called "single malt scotch whisky" therefore it's not whisky that is maturing for the first 3 years... Just playing with words but it seems quite logical... :-)
If a 3 yo is blnded w/a 10yo its still a 3yo. if a 3yo is blnded w/a 30 yo its still a 3yo. The age stmnt reflex the lowest age in the blend per SWA regulations. hope that helps.
I wish that instead of age statements, we could get detailed information on every cask that went into the vat, including their age and %abv, and what percentage of the resulting spirit each cask makes up.
***** I'd like complete product disclosure too, but folks currently accepting less product information with the spread of NAS aren't going to generate competition among producers to provide more product information, much less complete disclosure. Age statements aren’t an end in themselves, but the trend of information reduction first has to be reversed.
I know that you don't have favorites, but what are the whisky's that you keep in your rotation? What are your reliable standbys (as I call them)? Or are you too busy trying new ones for reviews that you don't get to enjoy regulars.
15:15 "Alcohol can taste very very nice, so long as it isn't methanol, which is toxic". It's toxic alright, but there isn't any difference in smell or taste - which is why it's a good thing whisky is produced by big companies and risks like these are avoided. So please be careful with anything homemad, as there is a lot of misinformation about this.
Ah, one of my favourite things to do from time to time for many years now... find a ralfy video of a single malt I have at home and sniff, swirl and taste along. :)
This is a great bang for your buck single malt. Thanks for the amazing review as usual. Ralfy, I know you know a million times more about whisky then I do... but why do you get on such a soap box about strolling the whisky in the glass as opposed to an occasional swirl... what is a little extra aeration going to do? I am truly asking for your knowledge.......if I am missing something. Slainte!
. . . I notice people rush whisky too much and swirling always seems to take place with this situation. Much subtlety is lost in smell and taste from a whisky drunk too quickly after swirling to aggressively.
when you knocked over that bottle my heart stopped! lol
Brilliant. Simple and uncomplicated with no intent to confuse the consumer.
Considering buying this for my birthday. If you, Ralfy, speak with such enthusiasm about a whisky, it is a glowing recommendation that is entitled to great respect. Cheers!
Great video Ralfy! I started watching your reviews and videos about a year or so ago and I absolutely love them. Changed the whole way I experience malts. I've learned a lot from you and can't wait for the next upload!
Ralfy, you are to the world of whisky what Fred Dibnah was to pulling down chimneys :) Keep up the amazing work and malty moments my good man. Thanks to you I have a blossoming and well-informed love of whisky!
Bought a bottle of Arran 10 year old last week. Still an 89 malt mark as far as i'm concerned. Great dram and fantastic value.
Just starting on my Malt Meanderings, and your videos are fantastic. Learning so much. Just bought a bottle of this based on this review (and a great deal of personal & sentimental attachment to the Isle of Arran.) Managed to find a distributor here in Sydney. What a great drop! Thanks Ralphy!
Splendid review! I love Isle of Arran! The 14 Yr is one of my favorites & I have a 17 Yr, but haven't opened it yet!
I'm trying to hold off opening up new entries to my collection & try to finish some of my many opened malts!
Excellent detailed explanation, thank you Ralfy!
This will be my next purchase for sure. Thank you for this interesting review followed by a splendid lesson about casks!
Keep up the interesting and affordable malts and blends. It is a great way to gain new ideas.
I am so bummed that I live in the State of Utah. The only liquor I can get.is sold at State government liquor stores and 90 percent of the whiskies Ralfy reviews, I cannot find here. On top of that. It is illegal to ship in alcohol or even bring it yourself from out of the state. Despite that, I still check out Ralfy's opinion every time I find a whisky he has reviewed. You have provided a wonderful service introducing people like me to the world of whisky. Thanks!
Ralfy, You certainly know your whiskies. I wish I could sample as many drams as you have!! I hope you continue reviewing whiskies (and other spirits) for many years to come.
I learn something new with every video. Thanks Ralfy.
Five years after this video, here I am tasting this dram and having my mind blown. I'm getting different notes from Ralfy. Nose: creamy citrus, honey with undertones of vanilla and sea air. Taste, very smooth at first, a hint of wood and butterscotch that steadily ramps up and explodes in a grassy ginger fest that keeps releasing spice forever. A minute afterwards, inhaling through the mouth still releases flavour. Coconut, vanilla. Wow, this is such exciting experience. My lips feel like I've put lip balm on them.
Water tones it down too much though, so I'll be adding way less than Sir Ralfy did in his review.
Great video. I am definitely getting into whiskies from Arran soon.
I tried the Arran 10. I think its great. I was seriously impressed with the quality of cask influence for ten years old. I tasted a lot of quality bourbon barrel influence.
Love the island and the distillery tour is well worth it. the whisky was delicious but not to expensive. They have also opened a second distillery to produce a more malty whisky.
I'm tasting this whisky right now and it's truly amazing. The legs are stunning!
I picked up a bottle of this lovely stuff in Heathrow about a month ago. Fab stuff!
Thanks Ralfy... The best yet.. I feel like I've done a degree course in Cask Maintenance.
Another additional information .thanks to you Ralfy .
Ive been watching Ralfy for 7 years re reviewing this vlog I don't remember Ralfy Knocking the bottle off, and more importantly a review with more great information than most Ive seen.
Wow, feel Like I went to a whisky class.
"Whisky Barrel Chemical Dance 101"
And also two "firsts" as I see it, a bottle drop & Cap Removal.
All handled like a true gentleman.
Very glad I caught this episode!
I've got two bottles of this in my reserve! Awesome 10YO. Arran definitely puts out cracking whiskies, I know you don't review NAS whiskies, but the Amarone finish is incredible too.
Francis Ducharme
+1 on the Amarone, currently one dram i always have around the house
Francis Ducharme The Amarone is approximately 8 years old. When they tell me how old it is I might buy it. I've been bitten too often by NAS whisky and will not buy it again.
Hey, Ralfy, most certainly you've got to give it an extra point for the bottle's strength...
Can't agree more about it
Always enjoy, but this video in particular was very informative. Thank you.
Hi Ralfy. I asked you some time ago what you suggested as I was becoming tremendously bored with all of the overly sherry influenced whisky - you said "try Arran". I bought a bottle of the 10yo three days ago. I really do think the 89/100 was right on. What a lovely drop. Young, complex, un-sherried, NCF, Nat colour, 46%abv,
age stated (10 years old) - takes a little water to get to the truth. I am still discovering the complexities. I suspect it could take a few more drams. Thanks again for the guidance.
Hello Ralfy.
We just picked up a bottle of Chivas12 (replenishing the maltbar you know:) for our "blend section".
If my taste buds aren't deceivingly me there's a rather nice little dollop of peat in this whiskey...honestly.
NEVER noticed THAT before. if I didnt know better I'd be thinking CR12 has been given a sort of facelift a little botox if you will hehe.
interesting. though.
cheers.
(hope its not a one-off mistake/teaser)
Great video Ralfy.
I really enjoy this single malt, I can't wait to try the 12 and other labels they offer, IF I can find them!
Yesterday I opened a new bottle of arran 10. I am impressed. Very good whisky at a very good price. I don't like the design of new bottle, but who cares about the bottle..
I agree with you on the nas thing. One exception for me is when it's done right: well priced entry level stuff like glen grant's major's reserve ...
the blooper is superb... lol...
It's official Ralfy. Your home has a guardian angel, especially after that near disaster.
Thank God the bottle held up. I was afraid we were going to have quiet moment for a fallen whisky.
giddy Ralf! most enjoyable installment.
Good thing Arran chose sturdy bottles!
Love the review as always ralfy. great work
Am I the only one who noticed that you counted to three rather quickly at 6:48?
Oh and have you tried Glanton's? It's a bourbon that apparently should be rather enjoyable, I haven't tried it myself but from what I've seen on the internet it's an interesting one
howaboutthatsuckah You mean Blanton's.
howaboutthatsuckah
Maybe he ate fruit he has an allergy to ?
razumov22 Yes I do hahah, typo
Blanton's, thanks!
One too many malt moments ;)
Thank god that bottle of Arran didn't break!... and you had the stopper on. That was a close call.
Glad I got on the Malt Mention list a few reviews ago..
“A tangible sign of respect” - Very Well Said!!! What producers do or don’t do in producing a whisky, including aging in some cases, can (depending upon casking) have debatable effects in terms of benefit (“this might have been better younger/older”), but there’s no debating that the customer should be told what they’re paying for. The idea that age does or doesn’t matter to a whisky depending upon whether the marketing department wants to simply conceal the age with the use an NAS label is completely ridiculous.
For a tangible signs of industry disrespect to consumers, read “NAS whisky - Diageo speaks out” on The Whisky Exchange Whisky and Fine Spirits Blog and “Reviving Diageo’s NAS Debate - Answers From Nick Morgan on Words of Whisky”. Boycott NAS!
Those who respect what Ralfy’s doing in standing up for consumer interests need only follow his example to be worthy of the same respect. If you want more, rather than less, information about what you’re drinking and constantly being charged more for, don’t let others fight that battle for you. Boycott NAS! You are not alone!
Those interested in Serge Valentin's take on the state of the whisky nation should check out: "So, how was 2014 at Whiskyfun Towers?" on Whiskyfun, where he calls for mandatory age statements and also check out All Things Whisky for NAS debate.
Blimey Ralfy. You are extremely lucky the bottle didn't smash, I was so absorbed listening and watching your review, that when it did happen I jumped out of my skin, thanks for the review, wondering what the next one will be, I reckon it's to do with the bottle, with 3 on the label, though I could be wrong.
Hey lad :) I'm looking forward to trying this! My friend's dad has a bottle, which I reckon we can probably snag one day, heh. Do you have any plans to do a video on "clearer" spirits soon? Tequila, vodka, mezcal, maybe? Whichever you prefer. Personally, I like Stolichnaya vodka as an alternative to a cheap blend. It has a pretty good, oily mouthfeel - particularly for a vodka - and it is not too rough like Russian Standard or a cheap store-branded vodka.
Love Ralfy...He's fighting off a drunk spell. Buzzed pleasant pontifications, it's the point where friendships are formed.
amazing whisky, really come on in the last few years, less pure fruit basket and more range of flavours
Hi Ralfy, I left a bottle of Macallan 18 yrs in my car during winter for a few hours; in Canada which was -30 degree Celsius for 4-5 hours. The bottle was sealed. Do you think the taste could have been altered? Please Advice! Thanks!
Ralfy that Arran 10 is maybe the best 10 year old ive tasted, nonchill and no caramel, and tastes very mature for the age.
+Dankzzz this one and the laddie ten
Thank you Ralfy!
Nice review, I'd love to hear your opinion of the new tamdhu batch strength. Had a nip of it myself and thought it was lovely.
Splendid review and whisky knowledge as always, with a extra titbit (very nearly smashed Arran 10yo).
Any plans to review the Tobermory 15 year old soon Ralfy?
Many thanks, Josh.
You almost sent The Old Putney flying last episode! Think it's time for a Sherry Cask table for Ralfy!!
Now that was a malt moment!
As usual, very interesting vlog...what do you think about Machrie Moor cask strength, peated Arran Malt ? Thanks.
I bought a bottle of this last year, packaging is a little different though. I've not opened it yet -- also got a special bottling of peated Arran. Looking forward to opening both now.
BTW - I think you should do a special bloopers video. Ha -- I've seen quite a few of your vids where you've dropped something and then say "won't be a minute".
Billy Hughes I was wondering the same thing. I tasted a bottle of this that a rep had recently and it looked just like the packaging on the one Ralfy is tasting. However, the one I just bought at my bottleshop has copper looking foil over the top with a castle/bridge in sepia tone on the label.
I have this 10 and I also have the 21. In Toronto the 10 is a little cheaper than Glenlivet Founder's Reserve! Imagine that. It's an incredible value here at CAN$55 (US$41, £32).
I see that the Arran is available here in Canada but with a different label and a different box . . . still at 46% in a 700 ml bottle . . . only $60 at the BC liquor store. I must run out and buy one. Nice durable bottle eh!
one of favorite !!!!! cracking dram !!!!
Here's to age statements and respect!
I love me some Arran - delicious and affordable!
What would this get now? I would be very interested in your opinion of where Arran is now 2020.
So is, "Malty Millionth Malt Mention" out of the question?
Keep it up young fella - these videos are always great!
Very informative. Thank you good Sir :)
My goodness...Whisky.com is sure ramping up the videos and including whisky cooking segments.. Competition is a wonderful thing.
I have a few years of semi-regular scotch tasting, so I don't feel confident enough to describe the taste notes. Probably would follow the bottle; several fruity notes. I understand that you all came here to see ralfy, but I wanted to throw my 2 cents in from a novice taster. I find a strong similarity with the Dalwhinnie 15 Single Malt:
Nose: More pointed with a certain heavyness compared to Dalwhinnie's "crisp-ness".
Color: Lighter than Dalwhinnie, but that probably has to do with the the cask time.
Viscosity: Slightly more than Dalwhinnie. Paraphrasing ol' ralfy, "it has a 'bourbon-esque' quality to it"
Peat: A small amount of peat as opposed to Dalwhinnie's amount of none. I didn't notice this had peat until it reached the bottom of my belly. Then I could feel the smokiness arise from the ashes.
Tasting Experiences: Not too complex, it doesn't change much from the initial dram and the follow ups. The smoke adds another level of fullness once a dram is finished.
Ridiculously good price point; roughly 2/3 the cost of a Dalwhinnie 15yr in my area. I've made it a habit to start non-malties with a something from Dalwhinnie; as it is a lighter, less intense, spirit. But I think I found a new budget friendly scotch starter kit in Arran! As ralfy inferred, these younger distilleries have to prove themselves. Arran certainly is meeting the call!
A note that I thought was interesting. Ol' ralfy gave the Dalwhinnie 15yr a 90/100 single malt mark in 2010. Arran received an 89/100. I certainly agree!
6:44 Pure gloriousness as only Ralfy can!
How do you save a peaty whisky which was leftover halffull for too long?
Phew, that mishap certainly gave me quite the fright as well.
Hi Ralfy. Hope all is well. What is your opinion of Arran’s Robert Burns single malt against the ten year old?
I’ve not tried either and am torn between which one to go for first. x
. . . prefer the standard version myself !
Your lucky we were just getting our torches~!!!
Ralfy is Arran make some marketing of those two eagles that stopped them open for one year?
Ralphy, it's a damned travesty that I can't get my hands on this locally in the states. And shipping is just to damned expensive! Do you think Arran is on its way to becoming more popular and more widely available?
I see that special Joey blend on the shelf behind you Ralfy. What's the story on that bottle?
***** malt-blend selected by myself and for sale at thegoodspiritsco, Glasgow for £35. Great stuff and bike-collectors stuff !
Must be a good one then. I'll check it out Ralfy. Thanks:)
The quality of the bottle glass sometimes is also important, right, Ralfy? ;) Maybe you should add bottles' crash-tests to your reviews... :)
Good review Ralfy.. never heard of this malt before and you've introduced me to one im keen to keep my eye out for. Thanks!
By the way just one quick question.. What's that bottle on the shelf behind you with the 3 on the label?
HillaToppa 90'z Joey Dunlop Foundation malt-blend, good stuff too, on sale only at goodspiritsco in Glasgow.
Thanks for the reply Ralfy. I live in Australia so that probably explains why I've never seen it before.
I did not know that edition existed. What a rider. The stories I've heard. Was lucky enough to see him at the NW200.
Are is this Year - Arran have 20th anniversary? And Ardbeg & Laphroaig - 200th! Cheers Ralfy!
***** yeah. correct))
anyone know what the new Teacher's is like? 'more peated' apparently. seen a label on the bottles in Tesco today, not sure I want to chance it again. last bottle i had.. wasn't great
I need your help!i am between arran 10 deanston virgin oak and tomintoul 10
+TheZlantan1926 . . . Arran 10 for me !
***** thank you!
Bushmills single malt 10 years for a change ?
Ralfy what do you think of the Arran Amarone Cask Finish?
+piston2600 . . . not tried it yet, it's on the list, try Whiskybase for reviews.
Oh ralfy, you are profound. Is it true they lock up the sheep when the bikers come to town? My the scotch is tough.
Why does he not recommend to swirl the whisky around?? Just strolling around the glass. Does it do anything bad to the dram ?
leplusfortaumonde Wine drinkers swirl the glass to get some of the alcohol to evaporate, so it releases some of the nose for the user to enjoy. Whisky, at a high alcohol content, will readily evaporate without any swirling. Indeed, if you swirl it, you get too much evaporation...which can result in burning your sense of smell with too much alcohol.
how about a review of some of the own brand supermarket stuff Ralfy? for example: I've heard that ALDI's Highland Black 8 yr old has done extremely well when put to the test. they also do clontarf single malt which i think is okay
us mere mortals who like a regular tipple cant afford to be forkin out 40 quid too often ya see!
So is it basically vodka that they put into the barrels? What percentage alcohol do they put in?
get953 Not even close. Vodka is made from potatoes. Single Malt Scotch Whiskey is made from Malted barley. Think beer that's been distilled up to 60% ABV then aged in oak casks.
get953 about 65%vol average of malted barley spirit !
Saddendude Vodka is most frequently made from wheat or corn but it's made from all kinds of grain, including barley. The main difference between vodka and unaged whisky is that vodka is distilled to a higher proof and heavily charcoal filtered.
get953 It's basically distilled beer. Similar process. To make beer, you make a "mash" of your grains, in this case barley, and you boil it and add some hops and such and you get "wort". The wort is then cooled, introduced to yeast, and then allowed to ferment for a few weeks. The end product is beer. For whisky (scotch in this case) it is done the same way, except the mash only contains the malted barley, no hops. After allowing this malted barley wort to ferment for a bit, it is distilled in pot stills. The difference between what makes spirits characteristically different is what goes into the mash. For vodka it can be all sorts of grain, or potatoes. Rum I believe is distilled fermenting molasses.
Take a sip of whisky and let the fear pass, good Ralfy! I also got something quite close to a heart attack watching you
excuse me, but what is a "malt mention"? do people send you bottles to review or do they simply mention your blog somewhere? more over, what are malt/blend /etc marks? is that simply to repeat that you talked about a malt, or is there an actual difference in your rating? Thanks very much and keep up the good work! Thanks to your videos I hope to learn to appreciate good whisky :)
Sorry for letting you wait for quite a long time! A malt mention is the opening phrase Ralfy says/reads in every review. Basically is a sentence with all word starting with M and Malt related, usually funny, sometimes nonsense. People write them in the comments and Ralfy reads it for you in a future video.
Rally, Do you ever use miniature bottles, instead of getting a full bottle each time as some other reviewers do? It would certainly be more economical.
. . . it would not be the same !
If the spirit bas to mature three years to become a whisky, does it mean that a 10 years old whisky is actually a 3+10 year spirit ? Or are the initial 3 years counted in the age statement ?
Nicolas Chausson
The initial 3 years are definitely counted.
T0bi1983 well off course they do, I knew. Just saying it doen't make much sense to me... They count the duration of the pregnancy to age their babies !!! ;)
10 year aged means, that it has aged for 10 years in wooden casks... Whats the problem?:) It would be strange if the first 3 years wouldnt count. For what reason? The Whisky is not "aged" in bottles oder metal barrels...Oo
T0bi1983 +ralfystuff said in his review that by law the spirit has to mature at least 3 years and a day to be called "single malt scotch whisky" therefore it's not whisky that is maturing for the first 3 years... Just playing with words but it seems quite logical... :-)
If a 3 yo is blnded w/a 10yo its still a 3yo. if a 3yo is blnded w/a 30 yo its still a 3yo.
The age stmnt reflex the lowest age in the blend per SWA regulations. hope that helps.
I wish that instead of age statements, we could get detailed information on every cask that went into the vat, including their age and %abv, and what percentage of the resulting spirit each cask makes up.
***** for this new version it's:50% refill sherry, 25% 1st fill sherry, 25% 1st fill bourbon
***** I'd like complete product disclosure too, but folks currently accepting less product information with the spread of NAS aren't going to generate competition among producers to provide more product information, much less complete disclosure. Age statements aren’t an end in themselves, but the trend of information reduction first has to be
reversed.
I know that you don't have favorites, but what are the whisky's that you keep in your rotation? What are your reliable standbys (as I call them)? Or are you too busy trying new ones for reviews that you don't get to enjoy regulars.
MM Dizzle For me, I like to always have a peated whisky (Lagavulin) and a sherry finished whisky on hand depending on how I feel.
Maybe i'm wrong but arran 10 is better than the arran 14
Are you a WWE fan by chance?
15:15 "Alcohol can taste very very nice, so long as it isn't methanol, which is toxic". It's toxic alright, but there isn't any difference in smell or taste - which is why it's a good thing whisky is produced by big companies and risks like these are avoided. So please be careful with anything homemad, as there is a lot of misinformation about this.
Almost broke the bottle :)))
Ah, one of my favourite things to do from time to time for many years now... find a ralfy video of a single malt I have at home and sniff, swirl and taste along. :)
This is a great bang for your buck single malt. Thanks for the amazing review as usual. Ralfy, I know you know a million times more about whisky then I do... but why do you get on such a soap box about strolling the whisky in the glass as opposed to an occasional swirl... what is a little extra aeration going to do? I am truly asking for your knowledge.......if I am missing something. Slainte!
. . . I notice people rush whisky too much and swirling always seems to take place with this situation. Much subtlety is lost in smell and taste from a whisky drunk too quickly after swirling to aggressively.
Makes sense.... thanks for the whisky knowledge bombs:)
it's ALRIGHT FOLKS !!!! (thumb up as it's stretchered off)
crisis averted...a look back :)
why so much water?