Despite
still enjoying its relative sprightful youth having only been open since
1995, The Arran Distillery has managed to produce a steady and impressive outturn of whiskies
over the last few years.

Not only have these drams been consistent in delivering and
representing the distillery’s distinct fresh island style, but they’ve all also exuded
their own unique touch of individuality.

From their
standard 10 and 14 year old bottling’s to their single cask offerings and of
course not forgetting their very impressive Cask Finish range, which includes
the amazingly seductively sumptuous Amarone, they really have delivered some
bang on the money bottling’s.

Now wouldn’t
it be a wonderful thing if you could experience 24 of their finest sherried,
bourbon and peated casks, all expertly crafted together into one devilishly delicious
dram? Well thanks to their new Devil’s Punch Bowl offering, you can do exactly
that!

Their latest
bottling which is named after the land mark on the Island of Arran, is a real testimony to
all the work they have been doing at the distillery since it first opened. Limited
to just 6,660 bottles it has to be said that there’s something rather heavenly
about this decadently devilish drop of drammage.

The nose
kicks off with an immense implosion of fruitcake wonderment, dominated by confident
and concentrated waves of sherry soaked cherries and raisins. Followed by a
bubbling hot pan of homemade marmalade, that’s just been taken off the stove to
cool.

An infusion
of wood spice, sweet musk and a hint of something peated yet subtly menthol
make for the next set of nasal niceties, along with harmonious hits of youthful
fresh oak and something more aged in the form of an old dusty book shelf that’s
in dire need of being dusted.

Chocolate
Hobnobs, smoked salted caramels and a jar of peppered plum and apricot jam then
help to add superbly eclectic levels of depth and balance, as does a drop of
vanilla extract and a light dusting of winter spices.

The palate kicks
off with yet more fruitcake based frolics, though this time with some very prominent
citrus peels, jubilant cherries and puff-ettes of peat that bounce, balance and
bond beautifully with all the sheer sherry shenanigans that this dram has to
offer.

A bowl of stewed
prunes, a box of Jaffa Cakes and a handful of Cadbury Chocolate Eclairs make
for the next set of palatable pleasures, along with wondering weaving waves of
wood spice, vanilla infused honey and the final puff from a menthol cigarette.

Those winter
spices make another appearance, along with a complementing kicking pinch of
cayenne pepper, which help to keep this particular drop of Arran firmly on its toes with regards to
delivering depth and balance.

Once this joyous drop of drammage
is ready to make its final approach on the finish, you’re treated to a long
lingering luscious lunge of sweet, spiced and subtle smoky sumptuousness. But it’s not
long before the proceedings gradually mellow out into something more fresh, opulent and
oaky.