OB Icons of Arran - The Rowan Tree 46% - Arran

[Mark C]

Colour: Pale gold – gold.

Nose: This is fairly soft and gentle, taking me a while to get in to. There’s a subtle, musty sweetness and a soapiness. A vegetal note enveloped in brandy snaps. Odd. But I kind of like it. There’s a constant battle between sweet and savoury. When I say ‘battle’ I mean ‘pillow fight’. There’s also something floral, lavender perhaps, now coming through.

Mouth: Creamy, oily and sweet/sugary on the tongue building to a hint of spice and chocolate. Nuts and candied orange peel.

Finish: A bitterness starts the medium-long finish with the sweetness catching up into a dark chocolate finalé with dark sugars and orange.

Hmm, this seems to be one that’s a little hard to decipher at first. Not what I’d call a typical sherried whisky but certainly an interesting dram. This doesn’t have the ‘wow factor’ that Peacock did but that’s not to say it’s not a good whisky. I think it just needs a bit more time and care. I’ll certainly be giving it more time…in my glass.