Arran Sauternes Cask Finish spends eight years in bourbon barrels before a period in casks from the Sauternes sweet wine region of Bordeaux. The Sauternes influence adds floral, honeysuckle notes and a stone-fruit elegance quite different from the berry fruit of port or the dried fruit of sherry finishing.
The wine finish is remarkably well integrated. Rather than adding sweetness, the Sauternes casks contribute a floral, honeysuckle quality that is both delicate and persistent. The Arran spirit's natural fruit character — apple, pear, peach — is enhanced rather than masked, creating a harmonious partnership between island malt and French dessert wine.
Arran Sauternes is arguably the most successful expression in the distillery's wine cask series. The floral elegance of Sauternes suits Arran's naturally clean, fruity spirit better than the bolder port or Amarone finishes. At 50%, non-chill-filtered, it has genuine body and presence. A beautiful, distinctive island malt.
