Arran Machrie Moor Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

"... the spirit itself is nothing short of brilliant." - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible.

Machrie Moor is a reference to an area of Arran island strewn with Bronze Age stone circles and standing stones, once used by a giant to tether its favourite dog (hence the label). The whisky is moderately peated at 20ppm and started as a regular 'limited release' of around 18,000 bottles, but became so popular, the distillery decided to make it a part of the core range. This label has now been superseded by a ten year old and a cask strength version. The style offers a balance between Arran's fruity malt and moderate phenols which are applied in soft brush strokes. More Highland than Island, the middle stage oily-sweetness is followed by a surge of pepper and sooty smoke before turning ashy and medium dry (think high-quality Ardmore). It's pretty close to spot-on in terms of overall balance while packing a decent punch at 46% ABV - and with more peat than the nose suggests. If the intention was to create a compelling alternative to entry-level Islay, then Machrie Moor is a success. Non-chill filtered. 46% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... [5th Edition] A few tired old Bourbon barrels have taken the score down slightly on last year. But the spirit itself is nothing short of brilliant.
91.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2019

Second Edition tasted... Pale straw gold. Opens muted, gradually releasing notes of choc-chip cookie, Fisherman’s friend and dried kelp after several minutes exposure. Unusual palate - think quality Japanese green tea with some sweet spices thrown in... The peaty malt adds depth towards the finish. Weird but wonderful to try Arran in this guise. 46% Alc/Vol. 90 points