Tempted By The Devil Once More
The forces of darkness are rejoicing this week as Arran's The Devil's Punch Bowl Chapter 3: Fiendish Finale is released to an unsuspecting public. This release completes the unholy trinity of single malts that began in 2012 with the original Devil's Punch Bowl, followed by Chapter 2 last year, and now culminating in this occult-inspired final chapter. Many strong-willed individuals have already been tempted by the Devil’s dram, and this release will surely make their dark hearts skip a beat—if they beat at all! Those who have resisted drinking with Lucifer so far will be sorely tested, as this whisky is an absolute pleasure to behold.
We had the pleasure of sipping this forbidden whisky, and despite its damning consequences, it is undeniably excellent. Below are the notes taken from our resident whisky guru, who has now been reduced to a gibbering wreck.
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Nose: A definite hit of chocolate and fruit (possibly peaches?), combined with floral notes.
Palate: The mixture of different finishes is evident, taking you on a complex journey. There is an underlying sweetness and vanilla taste throughout, along with Arran's trademark citrus flavour. Floral notes yield to a spicy chocolate hit that tingles the taste buds nicely, with a hint of cinnamon—very enjoyable!
Finish: The finish is long, allowing you to process the sensory overload of your first sip. Soon, you will crave the lingering embrace of luscious sweetened spices and citrus, drawing you back for another taste.
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James MacTaggart, the Devil's right-hand imp and Master Distiller, has scoured the deepest recesses of Arran's dungeon warehouse to select the perfect whiskies for this dark ritual. This final release uses the most diverse range of ages and cask types to create a deep and complex whisky that is sure to steal your eternal soul! James had the following to say:
"For Chapter 3 of the Devil's Punch Bowl, I have chosen a brooding selection of Arran's finest aged Oloroso Sherry Butts, which set the scene for the final performance. Notes of distinctive dark chocolate and dried fruits give a satisfying depth and provide the ideal foundation for this last dram with the Devil. The inclusion of French Oak Barriques adds a rich layer of spice and toasted oak to proceedings, while the Bourbon barrels bring the sweetness of honey and vanilla."
Of course, this is a limited edition release, and it’s safe to predict that the whisky will fly out of stock like a bat out of hell! It’s practically impossible to find the first two chapters for sale, so we suggest that you set aside your goodly virtue and succumb to the alluring mistress that is Devil's Punch Bowl Chapter 3. The good news is that we are allowing pre-orders so you are guaranteed not to miss out. However, to spread the Devil’s dram as widely as possible, all orders are restricted to one bottle per customer.
This is the Fiendish Finale—dare you drink with the Devil one final time?