Arran Port Cask Finish & Arran Sauternes Cask Finish

Arran Port Cask Finish

Region: Highlands

ABV: 50.0%

Price: £50.00

The Arran port casks is made up of whisky that was matured initially in bourbon for approximately 8 years, before being finished in Port casks.

Nose

Initially on the nose we’re getting red berries, plums, fresh wood, strawberry jam, no, make that strawberry chewits, along with just a hint of pepper. Air allows a little of the initial cask to show in the form of chopped green apples and caramel sauce. It’s a pleasant fruit forward nose.

Palate

The palate has more of those red fruits strawberries, raspberries and cherries, there’s also honey and blueberries. It’s surprisingly hot given it’s 50%, but has a good syrupy mouthfeel. That spice really lingers along with a little sweetness. As we go back to it we notice orange peel, limes and chocolate.

Nose (with water)

Reduction brings out more of the bourbon cask influence, and these notes push the port notes into the background. We’re also finding warehouse funk, tobacco, golden syrup and icing sugar have started to appear.

Palate (with water)

On the reduced palate we’re finding the spice in better balance with this having become incredibly very sweet. Although like the nose, the sweetness seems to be coming from the bourbon now with the red fruit notes being very restrained. The mouthfeel remains good. There’s more citrus now along with tobacco, leather and sugar syrup. The finish remains a good length.

Conclusion

We’d have rather had this at cask strength with the option to dilute to taste, but we’ll not complain as we reckon the reduction to 50% will have helped this. This is not our favourite Arran release, but nonetheless it’s definitely a solid dram that you should seek out if you haven’t tried.

Score: 7/10

Value

This is competitively priced in today’s market.

Arran Sauternes Cask Finish

Region: Highlands

ABV: 50.0%

Price: £50.00

Similar to the Arran port casks this release is made up of whisky that was matured initially in bourbon for approximately 8 years, before being finished in Sauternes casks.

Nose

Initially on the nose we’re getting clotted cream, butter, pear, and Hollandaise sauce. As we sit with it we notice banana, honey drizzled over crème brûlée and a little corn. We’re enjoying this more than the port casks.

Palate

Honey, lemon juice, vanilla, icing sugar and a little warehouse funk. The alcohol is in better balance here than with the port finish. there’s a little spice but it’s not as overpowering as the last dram. The spice lingers on a medium length finish along with the honey sweetness. Mouthfeel has a slight creaminess similar to the texture of coconut milk.

Nose (with water)

A few drops of water brings out a little more of the warehouse funk, along with cornbread and oats. The butter we noticed previously is mostly gone, and is now more like whipped cream. Personally we prefer the undiluted nose.

Palate (with water)

While still not overpowering it’s definitely spicier and for us while still sweet has become a little flat… think flat lemonade. The spice outlasts the sweetness now on a still medium length finish. The mouthfeel has also been a little diminished. It’s thinner, and less complex now.

Conclusion

This is one we’d enjoy drinking post dinner as a dessert dram. Some interesting flavours, good mouthfeel and decent finish. Another solid release from Arran, and our favourite of todays drams. We’ll go with a 7.5.

Score: 7.5/10

Value

Again, another reasonably priced dram from Arran.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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