Arran 10 Single Malt Review

We went through two bottles of this before we finally put pen to paper, that’s how moreish this single malt is. The Arran 10 is quite a full bodied scotch, despite being on the lower end age-wise of whiskies. It’s a perfect whisky to get anyone started on whiskies, in fact we’ve recommended this to several Irish whiskey enthusiasts and they’re now converted to the ways of scotch.

What you will first notice with this whisky is that the nose is like finding a freshly baked lemon or orange cake and all you want to do is dive in. Sticking with the cake analogy, that moment when you add the vanilla extract while mixing the batter and the aromas hit you is also there. It’s like pudding in a glass before you start.

The first sip then takes you by surprise. There’s quite a spice or peppery-ness that hits you but this is a nice contrast. The spice element might be a factor of less time maturing in the barrel compared to other whiskies but again younger does not always mean poorer as we’ve highlighted in a few reviews.

There’s still a zesty-ness the further you taste the Arran 10. You get a bit of caramel and vanilla which may be a reflection of the oak barrels presumably used. It doesn’t say on their website which barrels they use but our assumption would be maybe a combination of ex-bourbon and perhaps ex-Sherry as you definitely pick up that sweetness in the nose and taste.

The finish retains some of the spice and you’re also left with vanilla and oak from the barrel. It stays with you as well which all adds to the experience as some single malts die out too quickly, this is not one of them

Overall, it’s easy to recommend the Arran 10. At the price its usually sold at, it’s fantastic value compared to other whiskies. If you’re a seasoned scotch drinker, this one is full of flavour and an easy drinker, for those getting into single malts this is a perfect starting point.