Arran 1996 25 Years Single Malt Whisky

Whiskyspace Notes 2241

Jul 3, 2026, 12:01:21

Had a dram tonight – lovely pale gold like white wine, first sniff gave a very pleasant small salty touch with hints of chalk and fresh croissants. On the palate ripe apples, very ripe pears and a touch of citrus, plus a lovely thyme honey aftertaste that lingers surprisingly long. A whisper of fresh Armagnac and cedar shavings pops up, balanced by a doughy, shortbread feel and a hint of popcorn. Bottled at 43% ABV from a single hogshead, no unnecessary wood or wine in the way – totally impeccable, perfect apéritif. So good! 😊

Whiskyspace Notes 2152

Jun 27, 2026, 22:34:46

Took a sip and thought, blimey, this starts well! The colour’s like pale white wine, but the nose hits you with ripe apples and pears – proper orchard vibes. Then there’s a whisper of oranges, some honey, and a saline kick that’s oddly refreshing, like a sea breeze. The palate’s smooth, no rough edges – just shortbread, dough, and a touch of preserved peaches. Cedar shavings and crayon wax give it a quirky, almost playful depth. At 43% it’s lively but not harsh, better balanced than I’d expect. The finish lingers surprisingly long, with thyme honey and a faint gristiness. Reminds me of breakfast in the Landes – fresh croissants and a café crème. No unnecessary wood chatter here, just clean, juicy fruit. Perfect apéritif, really. 🍏🍊

Whiskyspace Notes 1964

Jun 24, 2026, 12:52:13

Oh, this one’s a proper stunner right from the start—just the right kick of 43% to wake you up, but not enough to knock you over. That first sip? Pure sunshine and oranges, like you’ve just stepped into a sunny French market, but with a whisper of dough rising in the background—almost like you’re in a bakery before the oven’s even warmed up. The nose? Cornflakes and crayons—kids’ breakfast meets a crayon box, but somehow it’s adult in the best way. Then these notes of apples and pears, so ripe they’re almost like preserved peaches, but with a little chalky freshness that makes you think of a clean slate or a bit of popcorn butter. Mouth’s where it gets proper good—thyme honey in the aftertaste? Absolute magic. That’s the kind of finish that makes you lean back and think, "Right, that’s a proper whisky." No false notes, no overpowering oak or winey mess—just pure, clean, ripe age doing its thing. Little bottlings, big whiskies—this one’s got that "I’m a tiny bottle but I’ve got the whole world in here" vibe. And that citrus? Like a proper apéritif, the kind that makes you want to sit down with a glass and just soak it in. Thinking of Jean Marie—someone who’d know a good thing when they taste it. Totally impeccable. Proper little gem.

Whiskyspace Notes 1911

Jun 24, 2026, 02:19:25

Right, poured myself a dram of this one tonight. Colour's like pale white wine, quite light. First thing that hits me is fresh croissants and shortbread - like walking past a French bakery in the morning. Then there's ripe apples and oranges coming through, with a bit of cornflakes and popcorn somehow. Little touch of salt that's really pleasant, and something that reminds me of crayons oddly enough. Touches of cedar shavings in there too, very subtle. The aftertaste though... absolutely gorgeous notes of thyme honey, just lingers on and on. Surprisingly long for a 43% actually. There's a hint of fresh armagnac sneaking in, and preserved peaches. No false notes anywhere, everything just works together. Definitely better at 43 than it would've been at higher strength I reckon. This is one of those little bottlings that proves big whiskies don't need to be cask strength. So good! 😊

Whiskyspace Notes 1891

Jun 24, 2026, 00:16:26

This one’s a right belter – starts with a proper nose of cornflakes and fresh croissants, which is dead lovely. The oranges and preserved peaches come through loud and clear, with a cheeky hint of honey and grist. There’s a nice ripe feel to it, like biting into very ripe pears with some ripe apples dancing about. The mouth is so good – not too heavy, that small salty touch works wonders, and the crayon note’s oddly charming, like licking a wax crayon as a kid. It’s bottled at 43%, which honestly suits it better than pushing it higher – smooth, no rough edges. The finish is surprisingly long, lingering like a good apéritif should, with a touch of dryness that’s not a false note. Thinking of Jean Marie, this feels like it’s made for sharing with mates. Little bottlings, big whiskies indeed – no unnecessary wood or wine getting in the way. Just spot on.