Arran
Sherry Cask
- 55.8
- 70cl
- Taste: 2
- Islands
Harold Currie, former director of Chivas, founded Arran Distillers in 1994 with the goal of building a distillery on the Isle of Arran. He chose Lochranza, a picturesque village on the island's northern tip, for its proximity to Loch na Davie, a pristine source of fresh water ideal for distilling. Construction of the distillery wrapped up in 1995, but the project faced early challenges, including financial difficulties and adverse weather...
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Harold Currie, former director of Chivas, founded Arran Distillers in 1994 with the goal of building a distillery on the Isle of Arran. He chose Lochranza, a picturesque village on the island's northern tip, for its proximity to Loch na Davie, a pristine source of fresh water ideal for distilling. Construction of the distillery wrapped up in 1995, but the project faced early challenges, including financial difficulties and adverse weather conditions. Despite these setbacks, the first spirit was distilled on June 29, 1995. The distillery officially opened in August 1997, with the then Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) attending the ceremony.
To diversify its offerings, Arran Distillers decided to explore the production of peated whisky. This led to the establishment of a second distillery at Lagg, located in the southern part of the island. The Lagg Distillery, which began operations in 2019, focuses on producing heavily peated whiskies, in contrast to the mostly unpeated whiskies of Lochranza. Arran Distillers continue to use traditional methods such as wooden washbacks and copper pot stills, combined with modern sustainable practices.
This whisky has been matured in an ex-Oloroso Sherry Hogshead. A Hogshead is a smaller cask 250 litres rather than the more common 500 litre Sherry Butt. This means that the whisky sees more wood and gets more out of the cask.
Official Tasting Notes
Colour - Polished mahogany
Nose - Chocolate raisins, mandarins and a hint of spice, promising a full-bodied dram
Palate - Chewy, warm notes of ripe figs and sweet cherries, luxurious but retains finesse with a beautiful balance between the mighty Sherry Cask and the subtle Arran spirit
Finish - Long, powerful with a touch of pink pepper, hazelnuts and toasted oak. Statuesque and elegant.
To diversify its offerings, Arran Distillers decided to explore the production of peated whisky. This led to the establishment of a second distillery at Lagg, located in the southern part of the island. The Lagg Distillery, which began operations in 2019, focuses on producing heavily peated whiskies, in contrast to the mostly unpeated whiskies of Lochranza. Arran Distillers continue to use traditional methods such as wooden washbacks and copper pot stills, combined with modern sustainable practices.
This whisky has been matured in an ex-Oloroso Sherry Hogshead. A Hogshead is a smaller cask 250 litres rather than the more common 500 litre Sherry Butt. This means that the whisky sees more wood and gets more out of the cask.
Official Tasting Notes
Colour - Polished mahogany
Nose - Chocolate raisins, mandarins and a hint of spice, promising a full-bodied dram
Palate - Chewy, warm notes of ripe figs and sweet cherries, luxurious but retains finesse with a beautiful balance between the mighty Sherry Cask and the subtle Arran spirit
Finish - Long, powerful with a touch of pink pepper, hazelnuts and toasted oak. Statuesque and elegant.
Tasting Rating Guide
1: Light, good for beginners - an aperitif on a summers day, i.e. Glengoyne, Auchentoshan
2: Also good for beginners but with more depth and body - a little stronger than 1, ie. Glenmorangie, Speyburn
3: A dram for everyone, a little more complex so the palate requires a little more experience, i.e. Cragganmore, Macallan
4: A stronger spirit, a big whisky with lots of character and body, excellent after dinner, i.e. Lagavulin, Laphroaig