The Official Authorised Edition of the Robert Burns World Federation - Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Island of Arran Distillers.
Billed as the perfect dram to toast the Bard, this single malt is wonderfully aromatic with hints of apple, vanilla and citrus fruits. Light and crisp but ever so smooth and gentle, the whisky dances on the palate.
Colour: Pale straw, almost like a pinot grigio
Nose: Apple, vanilla
Taste: Apple and vanilla, citrus reminiscent of lemon meringue pie with a honeyed sweetness and offering a slight taste of peat on the finish.
Overall: A terrific apertif dram to start the evening. Suitable for both seasoned whisky drinkers and the non-initiated. A great value and affordable enough to be a part of your "house" whisky collection.
Included on the box is an excerpt from Burns' poem A Bottle and Friend, 1787.
"Here's a bottle and an honest friend!
What wad ye wish for mair, man?
Wha kens, before his life may end,
What his share may be o' care, man?
Then catch the moments as they fly,
And use them as ye ought, man:
Believe me, happiness is shy,
And comes not aye when sought, man"
As true today as when it was written.
)
Return to the Robbie Burns Malt after nearly 3 years...
Since the first review I've kept a bottle at home as a "House" whisky; taking great care not to finish the bottle before the annual release in the LCBO each January so that I've got as little a gap as possible in my supply.
Presently, I have both the Jan. 2011 release (most likely bottled in late 2010) and the Jan. 2012 (most likely bottled in late 2011).
I'm presuming that the 2 bottles I have - separated a year from each other - are in fact 2 distinct bottlings. Regrettably there are no distinguishing marks, dates, or any other indicators on the bottle - or the box - to indicate one way or another.
For my purposes I shall assume they were produced, distilled, and bottled at different times. After all, it's kind of a fun exercise to compare each against each other as well as against the original article.
Oh yes, the colour of the liquid is identical.
2011
Nose is fresh, light and contains a good dose of sweet malt aromas alongside vanilla and apple.
Very easy-drinking. Sweet and malty, almost like a pie! A hit of vanilla, a bit of citrus and is that a touch of smoke?
Wonderful vanilla sweetness on the finish and quite dry.
2012
Caramel or burnt sugar on the nose not present in the 2011 bottle.
A richer mouth-feel than the 2011, noticeably fuller bodied. An added bit of complexity with hay or straw-like flavours co-mingling with the profile.
Finishes nearly the same flavour-wise but less dry, perhaps on account of the bigger body in the 2012?
Neither the 2011 nor the 2012 bottle have any trace of peat as originally recorded in 2009.
All in all, I daresay these two are nearly identical save for a few variances in the 2012 bottle. Notably, the richness of the body and the grassy hay/straw notes on the palate serve as the major distinctions between the two. The 2012 is also a touch sweeter on the nose.
I wonder if the 2011 originally held these same qualities but since it's been open for over a year now perhaps some of the nuances have faded?
P.S.
I shall endeavour to come back in 2013 and compare yet again!