Arran 2006 (for Whisky Shop Zammel)

This Arran 2006 is a 12 years old Private Cask bottling for The Single Malt Whisky Shop in Zammel, Belgium.

It is a sherry hogshead, selected in November 2018 during Lucie Stroesser’s final Arran tasting. She resigned as an Arran ambassador and went back to her homeland France a while ago, but she brought a few cask samples to this tasting.

Arran 12 yo 2006 (53,6%, OB Private Cask for Whisky Shop Zammel, sherry hogshead #800463, 315 btl.)

Nose: a nice mix of red fruit candy (raspberry, strawberry), rhubarb jam and raisins, as well as a light hint of mango. Just a little cellulose varnish. Apple crumble, cinnamon pastry and milk chocolate. Some maple syrup and Brandy de Jerez.

Mouth: red berries again, then chocolate and tobacco leaves. Marmalade, raisins, baked apples and cloves. Touches of aromatic bergamot tea and peppery oak. Cinnamon pastry again.

Finish: quite long, on syrupy fruits balanced by oak spice.

A really good cask, slightly engineered and brandy-like, but finding a good balance of candied fruits and spice. Very good value for money: around € 85. Still a few available, but not much I was told. Check Fisser.be

Score: 87/100