The Amarone Cask Finish is one of Arran's more exotic wood experiments — their clean, fruity island spirit given a secondary maturation in casks that previously held Amarone della Valpolicella, the rich Italian red wine made from dried grapes. The result is a whisky that marries Arran's citric brightness with the concentrated, raisiny sweetness of Amarone.
Bottled at 50% without chill filtration, the Amarone influence is significant but not overwhelming. The wine cask adds a deep berry sweetness and a tannic structure that complements the spirit's natural fruit character rather than competing with it.
The nose is deep and vinous: red berry compote, dark cherry, plum, and chocolate, with Arran's signature citrus and vanilla persisting beneath the wine influence. The palate is rich and layered — dried grape, toffee, dark chocolate, cinnamon, and a warming spice from the Amarone wood.
The finish is medium-long, with berry sweetness, oak tannins, and a lingering spice. It is one of the more successful wine cask finishes in the Arran range — the Amarone's concentration matches the spirit's intensity at 50%, producing a whisky that is greater than the sum of its parts.
