Skip to content
  • Home
  • Whisky Top 10
  • Tasting Notes
  • About Thijs
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Whisky Top 10
  • Tasting Notes
  • About Thijs
  • Contact
logo
Arran The Illicit Stills Smugglers Series (2015)

Arran ‘The Illicit Stills’ (Smugglers’ Series, 2015)

2 May 2016 0 comments Article Arran, Islands, Scotland, Tasting Notes

After their Devil’s Punch Bowl-releases, Arran introduced a new series last year: the Smuggler’ Series. I won’t tire you with all the marketing blabla, but needless to say the first release in the new series, The Illicit Stills, has turned into quite a collectors item.

The Illicit Stills is a vatting of ex-bourbon casks and port pipes. I believe some (not all) of those casks contained heavily peated spirit. In total 8,700 bottles were released. The reviews have been mixed. Not everybody was pleased with the result. Since I read some of the reviews I couldn’t help being influenced, so I was skeptical when I poured this in my glass.

Arran ‘The Illicit Stills’ (56,4%, OB, Smugglers’ Series, 2015)

Nose: Creamy. Pretty citric with lemon zest and lime. The peat is subtle, but definitely there. A briny or salty sea breeze. It also has a sweeter element with sweet butter, vanilla and apricots.
Taste: A spicy arrival (chili peppers and ginger mainly) and fairly peaty. A tad rubber-ish, but nothing bothersome. I don’t find much port influence. Some canned peaches provide a bit of sweetness.
Finish: Medium in length. Plenty of peat and a bit of citrus.

Rating: 88

I’m convinced. I enjoyed this a lot and wouldn’t mind owning a bottle. But that’s the problem with these limited editions, if you don’t snap one up right away, you’re too late. I’d now be paying almost double the original retail price, and 200 euro this isn’t worth.

Thijs Klaverstijn Kingairloch 3
Thijs Klaverstijn

Thijs is a spirits writer and accredited liquorist from The Netherlands. He runs the blog Words of Whisky and contributes to a number of Dutch and international publications.

Tags: arran, islands, NAS, smugglers' series, the illicit stills

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Tumblr

Most popular posts

  • whiskydudes fettercairn miltonduff girvan Girvan 2006, Miltonduff 2009 & Fettercairn 2008 (Whiskydudes)
  • Glendronach cask (flickr ti yab) GlenDronach Is A Lot Older Than The Label Says
  • tamdhu 12yo Tamdhu 12 Years (2020)
  • old rhosdhu loch lomond 1990 29yo whiskynerds Old Rhosdhu 1990 29 Years (WhiskyNerds)
  • glenlivet 12yo illicit still Glenlivet 12 Years Illicit Still (2020)

Recent blog posts

  • Upcoming: Blind Tasting Competition
  • Sexism & Misogyny in our Whisky Community
  • Monologue: Waterford’s Mark Reynier on Biodynamics & Terroir
  • Why The Whiskybase Gathering Should Be On Your Bucket List
  • Visiting Ballindalloch Distillery: Tradition & Patience in Speyside

Copyright Words of Whisky 2021