Robert Burns - whiskey, which was born relatively recently. The first batch of the drink became available to customers in 2001. Named whiskey in honor of the Scottish poet Robert Burns. The portrait and personal autograph of this cultural figure adorns the bottles. And what else is this drink interesting for? What are its gastronomic characteristics? Is produced by Robert Burns Isle of Arran Distillery. Those who know English at least within the school curriculum will understand that the name of the company means Arran Island and, accordingly, a distillery on it. Where are the production facilities of the enterprise located and what is the significance of the terroir for the gastronomic qualities of the drink? Read about this and much more in our article.
Robert Burns and Arran Island
The Scottish poet became famous for his poems. But he earned his daily bread , as is often the case, more prosaically. He served as a distillery inspector. The state tried to establish a uniform quality standard and, of course, to tax profits. Therefore, many handicraft enterprises since 1837 "went into the shadows." Inspect them and arrived on Arran Island Robert Burns. Long before Robert Burns whiskey was born, the man who gave him his name appreciated the quality of the local drink. There is evidence that the poet was extremely mild about the presence of many illegal distilleries on Arran Island. And he dedicated a whiskey to a poem where he called the drink "the spirit of crazy pranks." And although his official duty ordered him to close illegal enterprises, he highly appreciated the experience of local distillation masters. For what more than a hundred years later, the name of the poet was immortalized in the name and design of whiskey.
Why Arran?
A small island just twenty miles long and ten wide is also called "Miniature Scotland." There are landscapes enchanting with their severe beauty, ancient castles and other attractions. But the main advantage of Arran in terms of production of whiskey was its water. The fact is that the island's soil is deposits of sand, gravel, peat, clay and granite. Thus, water undergoes a natural multi-step treatment. No chemistry with silver filters is needed! The quality of whiskey directly depends on the softness of spring water. And so Arran was full of distilleries. The island is even home to several varieties of whiskey. But back to the Robert Burns products. Whiskey under this brand is produced in the north of the island, near the village of Lokranza. And water is taken from the spring of Ison Bjorah. It passes through natural filters and has a faint smother of smoky peat, which gives the drink a unique softness and aroma.
What do we know about the manufacturer
Since 1837 (and not without the efforts of Inspector Robert Burns) not a single distillery has been operating (legally) on Arran Island. But the fame of soft water that passes through natural filters and is saturated with a delicious peaty-smoky smell has not died out. In 1994, the Curry family settled on the northern tip of the island, near the village of Lokranza, at the foot of the castle of the fourteenth century. The farm is located in a convenient and picturesque valley. The hills cover it from the cold winds. But the main asset of the land was the source of Ison Bjorah. The Curry family acquired the rights to produce whiskey and began to produce alcohols. They decided to name the new brand in honor of the poet who lived on the island - Robert Burns. Whiskey from Isle of Arran Distillery appeared in June 1998, but due to bureaucratic delays it became available to customers only since 2001.
Production
The entire process of making the drink takes place at the Curry family distillery. Grain for alcohol production is purchased only from local farmers. I must say that the Lokranza Valley has a surprisingly mild climate. The warm breath of the Gulf Stream is brought here by sea breezes, and from the north the hills protect the valley. Mountain crystal air, very soft tasty water and the unbroken tradition of Scottish scotch tape production make it possible to make a first-class drink. Malt and grain alcohols were first aged in sherry barrels. Now, for the manufacture of Robert Burns whiskey, containers are used where previously sherry or bourbon was kept. Cold filtration is not carried out. The result is a wonderful drink with a mild flavor and a light aroma of peat smoke.
Kinds. Blended Whiskey
With all the variety of volumes and types of packaging, Isle of Arran Distillery produces two types of Robert Burns products. Blended whiskey is produced by blending various malt and grain alcohols. The drink has an amber color. The fragrant bouquet contains notes of baking with almonds and raspberries against the background of the smell of iris and oak haze. On the palate, a sweet apple and licorice are heard. Smoke peat on this background slips a subtle hint. The drink has a soft structure. Scotch tape “Robert Burns Blended” conveys the spirit of Arran Island, recalling the mountains, soft sea breezes and emerald moss, which flows a clean stream. The strength of the drink is 40 degrees. This whiskey is very strong. Pleasantly warms. Good on its own and accompanied by a cigar. He also excels in cocktails. Bartenders recommend cooking Apple Sauer, House Doctor and Black Sabbat with him. This whiskey accentuates the dignity of Irish coffee and hot Scottish punch.
Single Malt
The second type of whiskey - single malt Single Malt. Its strength is slightly higher - 43 percent alcohol. A bottle of Robert Burns (whiskey) 0.7 liter in a gift tube will be a great gift. The bouquet of this strong alcoholic drink is creamy, with sweet notes of fresh fruit, honey and fried pecans. The drink has a smooth, pleasant taste with warming tones of vanilla, chocolate and spices. The finish of the tape is fresh. In the aftertaste, hazelnuts and milk chocolate are felt. The color of the drink is sunny, lighter than that of blended tape. All Isle of Arran Distillery whiskeys are made without the use of dyes. This drink is also good solo or accompanied by a cigar. In cocktails manifests itself more characteristic. But it is drunk, despite the high degree, easily.
Robert Burns (whiskey): price
If you still don’t know if you will like the taste of Robert Burns scotch tape and want to get acquainted with the characteristics of the drink, we recommend that you get a blended look first. It is available in the volume of half a liter and without a gift box. The bottle is very simple. The cover is screwed, metal. But because the price of the drink in such a package is quite affordable - 354 rubles per bottle. A completely different cost from the blended Robert Burns (whiskey, 0.7). The price for a bottle without gift wrapping reaches 1800 rubles. In a tube, this drink can be found for 1585 rubles. Most appreciated is single malt whiskey. The price for a volume of 0.7 liters reaches 3363 rubles. Most of this high cost is achieved through a fanciful bottle, filling the cork with plastic, etc.
Whiskey Robert Burns: reviews
Consumers claim that Scotch tape of this brand is pure pleasure. Both types of whiskey are drunk easily, without causing undesirable effects in the body. The complex aroma blends perfectly with other ingredients in cocktails. The drink opens more fully if you warm the glass a little in the palms of your hands. The taste of both types of whiskey is not at all cocky, but very soft and smooth. The finish of the tape is warm, with hints of vanilla. This is a drink for those who like to smell faint peat and smoke in their whiskey. But the taste of these drinks is rather felt notes of oak barrels in which the spirits were aged. The brand is not too “hyped” yet, and therefore the prices for this whiskey are pleasing with affordability.