Surrounded by the Firth of Clyde, the Kilbrannan Sound, and The Sound of Bute lies the Isle of Arran. Once home to reportedly 50 distilleries, the island had not been officially producing whisky for some 150 years until the foundations were laid for Isle of Arran distillery in 1995. In its near 30 years since, the distillery has gone from strength to strength and has even spawned a sister site with a peaty focus at Lagg distillery.
Since their stylish revamp in 2020, some of their mainstay releases – alongside the flagship 10 year old single malt – have been the wine cask finishes, and here we look at the Sauternes Cask finish.
Though the wine cask releases do not carry an age statement, here the signature Arran spirit has spent its first 8 years in “oak barrels” (assumed to be ex-bourbon barrels) before being finished in the titular Bordeaux sweet wine Sauternes casks.
The final spirit is bottled at its natural colour without chill-filtration at 50% ABV. At the time of writing they are currently available ca. £53 RRP per 70cl bottle.
Nose
A deliciously sweet and floral start. Apple, pear, apricot, peach, honeysuckle, and melon flavours all make for a soft, sweet, and uplifting nose.
Taste
Soft and sweet malt flavours fill the mouth. There’s vanilla, honeysuckle, cherry blossoms, sweet stone fruits, and white grapes all melding together beautifully as the ABV and oak spices start to warm things up.
Finish
Floral sweetness lingers whilst the warming oak spice brings some depth and balance.
Verdict
Quite simply: fantastic. I really enjoyed this one. Unusual for me to take notes on a whisky whilst out and about but this one warranted taking the time and enjoying it. A timely discovery as its spring/summer collection of flavours match the season well.
Also: the 50% ABV is not noticeable. Despite that percentage, it still remained light, floral, and fresh whilst maybe giving it some body. I’d think that some water would actually take away from this. A good balance from Arran here.
There’s also a personal story to this one: this was recently recommended to me whilst attending the Summertown Wine Bar. I hope I’ve got the guy’s name right, but I believe it was Ash that recommended this one to me. I was after a night cap and after talking through my preferences, he gave me a few choices but gently steered me in this direction and I thank him for it. His passion for whisky was really evident and it was good to have a conversation with a fellow whisky nerd, even if I didn’t let on too much! [ed: I probably did].
Outside of the personal story to this, I actually think that this whisky is possibly the best fusion of whisky and wine flavours that I’ve had to date. Really the best of both worlds.
M
Sample disclosure: This is a whisky that I bought whilst at Summertown Wine Bar and immediately ordered another. All notes are intended as an honest, fair, and independent review of the whisky, and not as a promotion. Please drink responsibly. Please drink wisely.
Photos: Whisky photo from Summertown Wine Bar; scenery from Arran Distillery and nearby.
whisky unplugged 