The Arran Smugglers' Series Vol.2 - The High Seas

The Arran Smugglers' Series Vol.2 - The High Seas, NAS, 55,4 %

A year ago I reviewed the first release in this series from Arran; The Arran Smugglers' Series Vol.1 - The Illicit Stills. Time now to have a closer look at volume 2 in the series. The first release had a component of port pipe matured whisky, and included heavily peated Arran spirit. The Arran Smugglers' Series Vol.2 - The High Seas has a component of rum cask matured spirit.

Here's the description given by the distillery:

In this Smugglers’ Series Vol.2 ‘The High Seas’ we pay tribute to the exuberant character of those striving to outwit the Government’s representatives in the pursuit of the production of the famed Arran Waters. This dram is a powerful marriage of whisky matured in the finest rum casks with time-honoured peated spirit and a rich layer of first-fill Bourbon barrel adding sweetness and fruit.

The The Arran Smugglers' Series Vol.2 - The High Seas is already sold out in Norway (NOK 1300), but will be launched in Sweden tomorrow (Feb 3, 2017) at SEK 1252 (2020201). It appears to be sold out in the UK as well (GBP 87).

Nose: Vanilla, caramel, ashes, apples, toasted oak and cinnamon. A touch of perfume.

Taste: A bit on the raw side, but in a good way. This is a feisty one, alright. Peppers, chilli, apples on fire, and the smoking embers and ashes from apples previously set on fire. Milk chocolate and vanilla. Phew! Intense but nice.

Finish: Medium to short finish. Turns quite dry. I'm left with ashes, dark chocolate, cinnamon and oak.

Comments: Intense and fun. Feels a bit young-ish, but that's quite OK.

Score (85/100)

Sláinte! - Thomas