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Isle Of Arran Smugglers Series Concludes With Third Whisky In A Hollow Book

The Isle of Arran distillery in Scotland, among various whiskies it has produced, has generated something of a cult following for its well thought out Smugglers Series. The last couple of years have seen two offerings in this line, and now the third and final release, The Exciseman, is set to debut next month.

Isle of Arran Smugglers Series Vol. 3 The Exciseman is enclosed, like previous expressions before it, in a box designed to look like a hollowed out book one would smuggle whisky in. It is a non-age statement release, bottled at 56.8% ABV, that “pays 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.” It was aged in Madeira casks, which reportedly similar to those used by “Arran’s illicit distillers, who often stored and transported locally produced whisky in old Madeira casks brought over from the continent by their smuggling counterparts.”

Plans call for this whisky to cost around £93, or close to $120 USD. There was no immediate word of how many bottles would be released globally, but given the first two releases were each 8,700 bottles, it is reasonable to assume such will be the case for Vol. 3 as well. You’ll find official tasting notes for this Scotch below from Isle of Arran.

  • Nose: The rich honeyed character is immediate on the nose, luxuriously decadent. The fresh coastal character is also evident. Apples, vanilla and a touch of spice are also subtly present with a hint of toasted oak.
  • Palate: It coats the tongue and the notes of apple and vanilla are in abundance. No hint of dryness on the palate, it grows in sweet intensity and provides a rounded mouthfeel. The addition of water opens up the complexity beautifully and reveals a lighter sweetness of candied lemon.
  • Finish: Long, luxurious and yet delightfully fresh. The notes of apple and citrus give a lightness of character whilst the body remains solidly complex and robust. A typical Arran with an added layer of sweetness.
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