Isle of Arran 1996/2017 Caora N°2
Style Single Malt Scotch Country Scotland Region Highland Distillery Isle of Arran Bottler Caora Distillation Date August 1996 Bottling Date July 2017 Age 20 years Maturation Bourbon Hogshead Cask 916 Alcohol 51.4%vol Volume 50cl Outturn 239 Bottles Isle of Arran 20 yo 1996/2017 (51.4%, Caora, bourbon hogshead, Caora N°2, cask #916, 239 bottles)
The Caora labels can't really be called 'baroque', can they? Colour: straw. Nose: it's far more austere, without actually being austere (I understand what I mean), leaning more towards fresh or dried herbs, hay, barley, wheat bran... We quite like that as well. With water: a nice freshness reminiscent of Rosebank. Mouth (neat): there's a greater presence of citrus on the palate, approaching the 2001 by the Flying Belgians (S., usually it's the Dutchmen that are flying). With water: ah, also very good, but without the immaculate and evident side of the Belgian Arran. Finish: long, between green pepper, apple peel, and lemon liqueur. Comments: nothing to criticise, it's very, very good.
88 points.