[youtube height=”720″ width=”1280″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IVbe_lNhAU&index=4&list=PL36O7QkNnc2MzmBPqoF80uezxARJRVgaJ[/youtube]
Rating
Price:
Circa £30
In a Nutshell:
Not memorable but an OK to slightly good whisky. As in, one you’d happily drink but not one that really sticks with you. It feels like it delivers at its price point.
Maybe it is a little immature? In appearance it could pass for a white wine with legs
‘Lay The Proud Usurpers Low’
Endorsed by the World Robert Burns Federation, the Robert Burns Single Malt is produced by Isle of Arran Distillers who, unsurprisingly, are based on the Isle of Arran (they’re actually the only distillery on the island, and started production as recently as 1995).
The Robert Burns comes in at 43% ABV – it’s about 70% bourbon cask aged, 30% sherry cask aged. This was sent to me as I had plans to do something fun/stupid for Burns Night 2015 (and it doesn’t get any more Robert Burns than this, does it?).
The Arran also make the ‘Robert Burns Blend’ – which I have yet to try. In case you weren’t aware, Robert Burns is one of Scotland’s favourite people – he was a poet and writer, and Burns night is a celebration in his honour with haggis, whisky, music and poetry. All good stuff, right?
We Drink It, Stuff Happens
Nose:
Not particularly distinctive – there’s a bit of a sharp alcoholic over/undertone. You get some spices, maybe more bitter ones, such as cloves, as oppose to cinnamon or allspice. Plus a small amount of the obligatory vanilla – but only a little hint, the sharpness sees to that.
About that sharpness – there’s definitely some here, it has a bit of a bite. You could say it wants to bite your nose, affectionately.
Palette:
As nose suggests – bit of a kick – somewhat sharp and a little bitter – this is not a sweet whisky. There’s a little hint of vanilla, opening up to old leather and a little bit of smoke. It leads quite heavily with the caramel flavours but you also get a bit of a delayed response from the spice/cloves, which mainly wait for the finish to make a proper appearance…
Finish:
The best bit! Medium length – the fire turns to warmth rather quickly and the cloves/spice stick around for quite a while. I swear I catch a little ‘mustiness’ (not a bad thing) and shredded coconut right towards the end.
Verdict
It’s OK! Reasonably priced, a little spicy but not one that I’d go for again. If you have an ‘anti-sweet tooth’ which is combined with a fondness for whiskies, I’d say give it a shot.
It probably won’t disappoint you, though it probably won’t enrapture you either…
More Info
http://www.arranwhisky.com//shop/robert-burns-single-malt-43-70cl