Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask Arran 1996 (16 year old) 50%
Port Finished Puncheon/ Code: OMC2282/ HL9901
Dist: Jul 1996 Btl: Jun 2013/ Tasted: Sept 2013
An earthy, coastal peat nose with hints of citrus and cinnamon. Quite light on the finish with an intimation of spicy black fruit. With time the fudgy oak notes which begin in the background begin to dominate.
The palate is soft and earthy with toasted caramel and vanilla. Light earthy-peat mingles with some porty dried fruit and soft spices. Still very earthy and bordering on the murky side but some sweet barley attempts to counter. Very dry, slightly hot finish.
Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask Arran 1995 (18 year old) 50%
Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: HL10852/ Dist: Dec 1995 Btl: Aug 2014/ Tasted: Oct 2014
Distinctive aromas of green apple combined with cider apple and fresh herbs. With time hints of toffee and honey appear.
The palate is fuller than the nose suggests with hints of baked apple, toffee and drying tannin and chocolate. Short and masked by the alcohol and tannins. Dilution makes no improvement.
Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask Arran 1996 (19 year old) 50%
Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: OMC2518/ HL11885
Dist: Sept 1996 Btl: Sept 2015/ Tasted: May 2016
Oily and lightly coastal aromas with lemon, lime, barley and hints of asparagus and creamy vanilla. It opens to show some mature baked fruit with a light balsamic edge. With time loads of granulated sugar coated green fruit notes come to the fore.
The palate opens with the creamy oak and baked fruit, followed by hints of malt, treacle and fragrant herbs – camphor, thyme and coriander leaf. Very full and mature. Good length with lingering salt, malt, lemon sherbert and a little bitter oak add the death.
Whisky According to Chris Whiskyman 