Arran Heavily-Peated Rum Cask Finish

 

Produced at the Lochranza Distillery on Arran as an exclusive bottling for the new distillery at Lagg in the south of the island. This is a small batch, heavily-peated whisky which, after initial maturation in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels, was finished in rum casks for a further 9 months. Bottled at a very respectable 57.2%, no age statement and currently priced at a shade under £65.

Tasting notes:

Appearance: Pale straw/light gold colour, quickly forms beads before falling as slow, thin legs.

Nose: Smoke, citrus fruit, tropical fruit, ginger spice.

Palate: Tropical fruit in abundance from the rum finish, warm pineapple, citrus and banana notes, caramel sweetness and vanilla, all underpinned with soft peat smoke.

Finish: Long, tropical fruit notes gradually fading to leave traces of sweet smoke.

Summary: This was a real favourite on the tasting session. Despite being described as heavily peated it's not overpowering, instead providing a lovely warmth and extra depth to a very well-balanced whisky. The rum finish works beautifully with the typical apple and citrus notes seen in Arran malts, adding a very welcome tropical fruit dimension. 

This was first sampled as part of a Limited Editions Whisky Tasting at Lochranza, where it more than held it's own in a high quality selection. Great value for money, so much so that we grabbed a couple of bottles from the distillery shop on the way out.

If you would like more information on this whisky, or any of the other Arran Malts, follow the link to the company website.