This cask strength peated expression of the Arran Single Malt perfectly captures the rugged beauty and lore of the landscape.

Full disclosure: I have purchased bottles of both whiskies for this review and shared them with other members of my whisky group. The holiday’s over; the brief plunge into Arran’s pseudo-reality well and truly in the rearview mirror. No partnership, joint venture, agency, or employment relationship is created as a result of your use of the Service. We may terminate or temporarily suspend your account to protect you, ourselves or our partners from (suspected) identity theft or other (suspected) fraudulent (e.Palate: A robust dram with the typical orchard fruits of Arran coming to the fore over a layer of toasted brioche and red berries. As expected, it is impeccably distilled but the smokey peatiness adds a new level - I almost said thrill - to a superb product. I wouldn’t spend hours dissecting the flavours and aromas, but I’d certainly pour it for friends who are not into whisky to familiarise them with the spirit.

Despite the fact that there are hardly any reviews of this whisky on YouTube or the Internet, both expressions are widely available here in Israel.It is interesting that the two releases share identical packaging and artwork with one minor exception. Since 2019, all peated production of whisky on the island is being done by our sister distillery at Lagg. Though an Island whisky, it’s actually more Highland in style - although their Machie Moor range does provide peated expressions. The limited edition batches of Arran's peated Machrie Moor single malt have proved very popular indeed.

To diversify their range and to offer something to the peat-heads, Arran also distils peated malt and sells it under the Machrie Moor name. Opened as recently as 1995, Arran is a relatively new distillery located on the island of the same name, just off the west coast of Scotland. On the nose it is much less pleasing and less elegant than the 10-year-old Machrie Moor with 46% (there are really very few parallels), but on the palate there is still a surprise or increase.Nose: Rich sweet spiced notes from a well matured Arran Single Malt, backed with the strength of peat smoke and ripe citrus fruits. It gives us a good impression of the peaty expressions Arran hope to produce at Lagg in the coming years and if they are anyhting like the Machrie Moo then they are on the right path.