Arran Marsala Cask Finish takes the distillery's unpeated spirit and finishes it for six months in Sicilian Marsala wine casks — a 2018 limited edition in Arran's popular wine cask series. The Marsala influence adds a honeyed, nutty, oxidative warmth quite different from the berry fruit of port or the dried fruit of sherry.
The Marsala cask character is distinctive. Marsala is a fortified wine with a nutty, oxidative quality — closer to Madeira than sherry — and this character transfers effectively to the whisky. The almond, hazelnut and butterscotch notes complement Arran's naturally fruity spirit, creating a Mediterranean-influenced island malt.
Arran Marsala is a well-executed wine cask finish from a distillery that has made wine finishing a core part of its identity. At 50%, non-chill-filtered and naturally coloured, the Marsala influence is honestly presented. The Sicilian warmth on an Arran island base creates something with genuine character.
