I tasted Arran’s Robert Burns Single Malt for the first time this year on the 25th of January – Burns Night. It was bought especially for the occasion.
I had intended to wait a little longer before writing a review for this bottle of whisky. I suppose I had it in my head that it would be more topical if the review appeared in the days leading up to the next Burns Night (which is a few months away yet). But, on thinking about it a little more, I realised that it may not necessarily be so easy to track down a bottle on short notice… So, if anyone decides that they would actually be interested in finding a bottle for themselves for the next Burns Night, being on the lookout for a bottle a few months ahead of time might not be the worst idea.
Burns Night is celebrated annually on the anniversary of Robert Burns’ birthday: the 25th of January. The tradition was started by nine of Burns’ close friends who gathered together to remember and celebrate him after he had passed away. The first ever Burns Night was held in 1801 (on the anniversary of his death, rather than his birthday, but this was modified in the years that followed). Over the past 200 and something years, traditions have been added and amended. As a result, there are a number of ways to celebrate Burns Night, but the essential sentiment behind them is to pay tribute to the life and works of Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet.
Typical celebrations involve the eating of traditional Scottish food (think haggis, neeps and tatties), and the reading of some of Burns’ poetry – most notable, perhaps, would be his famous poem, “Address to a Haggis,” ideally read to some haggis before eating it. Another key celebratory act, of course, is drinking some Scotch. For those particularly interested in all things whisky on the night, Burns’ poem, “John Barleycorn,” would be worth a read. This adaptation of a traditional British folk song by Burns tells the story of barley’s journey from grain to spirit, with the titular character, John Barleycorn, appearing as the personification of barley.
Burns himself is still widely influential; he wrote his first poem at the age of 15, and in his short life (he died at the age of 37) he wrote over 500 poems and songs. Even if you don’t think you know any works by Robert Burns, you probably do: “Auld Lang Syne,” for example, was one of the many songs he wrote. Impressively, “Auld Lang Syne” is recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as one of the top three most popular songs in the entire English language (the other two being “Happy Birthday,” and “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow”). There are also references to various works by Burns in a number of other books you may know, like J.D. Salinger’s “Catcher in the Rye,” or John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men.” He’s also cited by Bob Dylan as one of the greatest influences on his own songwriting. Today Burns Night is celebrated all over the world, not just in Scotland.
Arran has two Robert Burns releases – one is a blended whisky, and one is a single malt whisky. The Robert Burns Blended Whisky apparently contains a portion of the Single Malt, but it’s the Single Malt that I’ll be looking at here.
Robert Burns Single Malt is obviously named in honour of the poet, and this bottling is even officially endorsed by the World Burns Federation. Arran lays claim to the right to use the name of Robert Burns (in addition to his image, and his signature – renditions of both appear on the label) for its whisky by virtue of the fact that it is the distillery closest to the town where Burns was born, Alloway in Ayrshire. Even though Alloway is on the Scottish mainland, and Arran is an island, it still manages to be the closest distillery to his home town, and it is said Burns would have been able to see the Isle of Arran from Alloway (weather permitting).
I’ve heard a number of people regard this bottle of whisky with some scepticism; it strikes many as a mere marketing gimmick. I must say, I don’t particularly like the label, mostly because the image of the face of Robert Burns is awkwardly cut off at the top and bottom. But it’s the contents of the bottle that really count. This is a no-age-statement release that’s naturally coloured and bottled at 43% ABV. It’s matured in ex-bourbon casks as well as a smaller proportion of ex-sherry casks.
Arran Robert Burns Single Malt – Review
Colour: Rich auburn.
On the nose: Quite fresh and fruity. Some apples and pears, and a hint of citrus. Honey, and vanilla. A slight digestive biscuit note. There’s a bit of dryness lurking behind a great deal of aromatic and spicy sweetness.
In the mouth: Ripe orchard fruits, some apples and strawberries. Some quite distinct, creamy coconut notes that were quite hard for me to get beyond. Fairly oily in texture, with a lingering taste of vanilla and some oak spiciness. There’s quite a dry finish to this whisky. I discovered the emptied glass had a leathery, almost meaty, aroma to it.
Conclusions:
A little gimmicky, perhaps, but still a pretty decent and pretty affordable bottle. Honestly, I was slightly surprised, as I didn’t have particularly high expectations since the connection with Robert Burns as a marketing tool made me a little dubious. That being said, I found this whisky for $34. It’s certainly the most affordable bottle from Arran that I’ve been able to find (in my area that’s a similar price to a bottle of Ardbeg’s Wee Beastie, and half the price of an Arran 10-year-old).
For those who are more serious whisky enthusiasts, the Robert Burns Single Malt likely won’t become a permanent presence in their collection. Apart from the initial surprise of actually being quite nice, it’s not a whisky that really pushes any boundaries – while its flavour profile is pleasant, it’s not particularly exciting. However, if you do decide you’d like to celebrate Burns Night, then I think it’d certainly add a nice touch to the celebrations!
