Arran may be a remote distillery — situated on the eponymous island off the coast of Glasgow — but it has an outsized presence in the whisky world. Arran seems to be readily available in most bars of decent repute, and if you find it, you’re likely to find one of the below spirits — or possibly all three, a trio of whiskies that showcase Arran’s skills at finishing single malt Scotch.
The three whiskies are named for their finishes — Sauternes, Port, and Amarone wine — but Arran doesn’t offer a lot of additional information about their production. The whiskies carry no age statements and there’s no data on how long they are finished in their respective casks. No matter, perhaps. We got all three to try. Thoughts follow.
Arran Sauternes Cask Review
I’m an avowed sucker for Sauternes in all forms, especially as a single malt Scotch finishing element. In this bottling, it’s a wonder, giving the color a lovely golden hue and the nose a lively mix of fresh, sweet cereal and citrus fruit — lemon, mandarin orange, and grapefruit — plus a sprinkling of baking spice on top. Fresh and inviting, it’s a summery experience that pulls you right in with no strings attached.
The palate falls in line perfectly, featuring toasty granary notes laced with plenty more of that lemon-driven fruit. It’s not complicated but it is delicious, driving that breakfast cereal through-line with a backbeat of toasted coconut, nutmeg, and brown butter — spiked a bit with white pepper and a finishing touch of dry hay. The punchy brightness of the whisky endures into the finish, evoking (dry) white wine, a pinch of brown sugar, and late-game notes of red apple and a reprise of Ruby Red grapefruit.
Hard to put down, so be warned.
100 proof.
A / $80 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
Arran Port Cask Review
A heartier and more brooding expression than the Sauternes — just as you would expect (and hope). On the nose, the whisky is quite wine-heavy, drowning out any notes of cereal and replacing them with an earthier funk. The aromatics bend more toward dry red wine than Port, suggesting something more savory than sweet.
The palate showcases caramel and a rather dry wine note, almost like a dry sherry. Touches of mint and red berries fill in the gaps, but the overall impact is rather austere, meandering its way to a finish that evokes a drop of furniture polish and a slightly industrial bent. Peppery elements linger in lieu of anything especially Port-like.
100 proof.
B+ / $90 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
Arran Amarone Cask Review
Somewhere between the above two whiskies — surprisingly — likes Arran Amarone Cask, brisk with cereal aromas but also showing a slightly winey quality that is difficult to place (and which certainly doesn’t evoke the expressive Amarone style). Rather, it’s quite sunny and touched with notes of lemon curd and peel, and a hint of baking spice. Coriander and dried ginger are particularly prominent — though both wash away any wine-driven notes fairly readily.
The palate is sweet and quite pretty, again not at all wine-heavy, all breakfast cereal notes, though it’s touched with a gently tannic quality that evokes notes of anise and a mix of dried savory herbs. Mostly anise, though. The whisky evolves in short order through the expected notes of buttery bread and golden syrup, to a finish that surprises with a nod at strawberries, orange marmalade, and pastry cream.
Again, I would never, ever have guessed that Amarone had anything at all to do with this whisky — but maybe that doesn’t matter in the end. Good stuff.
100 proof.
A- / $85 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
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