The eagle has landed: Caskstrength and Carry on! official Arran Whisky

Before I start the blog properly I have to say that if your familiar with Arran whisky or Caskstrength.net, simply go to www.MasterofMalt.com and try to buy a bottle of this before it sells out (this is most definitely a collectors piece or simply a great dram)!

Okay now on with the blog post...

If you do a google search for terms "whisky+blog" the chaps at Caskstrength will undoubtedly rank in the top three.

The duo formally worked in the music industry as A&R men at competing record companies (believe Island and Warner). Both gents, Neil Ridley and Joel Harrison, now make a surprising complimentary tag team writing their anecdotal whisky blog caskstrength.net.

Over the last three years they have shared their thoughts and humour with Scotch enthusiasts ultimately reaching a global fan base, while also expanding themselves beyond the internet to write for print publications. In fact Neil is currently putting the final touches to his piece for the updated version of much read Malt Whisky Year Book.

As time closed in on the blog reaching three years old they decided that it could be "legally" classed as a whisky blog and meant that unlike a lot of bloggers (and writers) they would commemorate this mile stone with a whisky release of their own.

As Joel explains in the video below they managed to aquire an Isle of Arran single malt whisky cask with only 92 bottles worth of whisky left in it. It was bottled & labeled in Scotland and driven down to Master of Malt warehouse No.1 where it went on sale yesterday (28/06/2011).

As they had collected the whisky back in May after the Feis Ile; stopping at Casa del Rook on their way home I had been luck to try some already, but revisited it for tasting notes which will follow shortly.

Update on Thu, June 30, 2011 by Darren

Caskstrength and Carry on! Isle of Arran.

Distilled: 15/12/98

Bottled: 16/05/11

Cask No. 1554 - 1st fill bourbon

ABV: 49.9%vol

Tasting Notes

Nose: The front of the nose has a slight musky element lifting to almond and orange pith. Sweet maple syrup, unexpected struck matches (this isn't a bad thing), cardamon and apple wood develop as this sits in the glass. Liquorice, light paper pulp, burnt vanilla custard follow into the back of the nose and finishes on subdued teriaki sauce & mulled elderberry wine.

Palate: Starts with roast chicken & green vegetables (including rosemary and the trimmings) washing into Nice biscuits. Creme brulee leads to a light coconut, orange zest and a melted vanilla ice cream taste (melted icecream is different from frozen). Has a coating mouthfeel and ends on slight nuttiness.

Finish: Meduim in length with sweetness and an element of homemade summer fruit jam.

This is a tasty and interesting Isle of Arran whisky. Complex and develops in the glass. Obviously with only 92 bottles the cask was a little leaky.