Arran Machrie Moor Fingal’s Cut Sherry Cask Finish
Machrie Moor is the name given to peated expressions produced by the Lochranza distillery as a taster of what to expect from releases from the newly-built Lagg Distillery at the southern end of Arran. The name refers to an area of peat bog situated towards the west coast of the island and made famous by the standing stones and stone circles widely spread across the terrain.
This heavily-peated Arran spirit was initially aged in ex-bourbon casks before being finished in Oloroso sherry casks. Bottled at cask strength, a very respectable 54.4% with no age statement.
Distillery notes:
Nose: An earthy smoke with notes of rich dark chocolate, candied oranges and crème brûlée.
Palate: Sweet and fruity with soft spices of cinnamon, an influence of the Sherry casks. Slices of dried orange and grapefruit complimented with notes of sticky toffee pudding.
Finish: Smoke, Peat, Long lasting , Mouth-watering.
Appearance: Deep, rich red-brown, viscous lines which eventually become beads before falling as slow, thick legs.
Nose: Quite alcohol forward, oak followed by candied peel and vanilla, with peat smoke in the background.
Palate: Rich raisins, thick treacle bitterness, layers of oak tannins, sultanas, candied orange peel, dates, caramel, vanilla and cinnamon spiciness. The dry, ashy smoke brings further depth without overpowering.
Finish: Medium, rich dried fruit notes giving way to ashy peat. Tannic notes come to the fore, bringing a drying astringency.
Summary: The whisky is marketed as an example of potential releases from Lagg Distillery, but the differences in the design of the stills at Lagg suggest a far more heavily-peated future for them. As I've mentioned in other reviews, although evident, the peat influence may leave some peatheads a little disappointed.
However, if you like sherried whisky, this is one you really should consider. Well balanced, deep and complex, rich fruit notes linger on the palate before giving way to a soft smoke. This is a whisky which benefits from a little water and time in the glass, softening the initial alcohol hit and allowing the sherry influence to really shine through whilst also producing a more noticeably smokier finish.
