Arran Sauternes Cask Finish

astringency potential! *the whiskies rated under 70% do not fit the astringency profile i am looking for, but are good, tasty whiskies - great for casual enjoyment and everyday drams with friends. the whiskies rated 70% or above either hit the astringency profile or are promising candidates for the astringency journey. 70% is low astringency, the higher the percentage, the higher the astringency. 100% is astringency perfection. :)

Quick hit review. Sometimes, a little oxygen in the bottle can work wonders. A bit shy and lackluster at first, this Arran has improved significantly. Heather honey, lemon peel and green apples reach my nose, the wine cask is noticeable. On the palate, ripe apricots, orange zest and overripe banana mix with cloves, nutmeg and mild tannins. Slightly resinous but still sweet, the finish subsides with juicy pears and drying oak. Although I still prefer the 10-year-old, it's a pretty nice sipper. RATING: 3.5/5.0 stars ≙ 84 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE

Golden. Taste: Faint, vanilla, light acidity, floral.

Sample bottled 03/26 in Lucerne and tasted with the Xbein 04/26. I'm not exactly a big fan of Arran (Lochranza). But I found this one quite palatable.

Average, good, but not exceptional. Lacks some personality.

Light golden color. Oily.

This was a sample in the Unusual Casks whisky tasting set from Master of Malt. It didn't rock my boat! I've enjoyed other Arran whiskies more since I tasted this one.

On the nose: apricot, honey, lemon, almond, crackers, vanilla, grass, white pepper. Very fresh and light, quite simple. On the palate, lots of spicy oak (ginger, pepper). Then, more of the same: tropical fruits, apricot, grapefruit, lemon, vanilla, herbs. Light saline notes. Good texture. The finish is very dry and somewhat bitter. Of all the Arran spirits I've tried, this is my least favorite. It's too fresh, citrusy, dry, and bitter; the cask influence is overpowering, and the spirit feels somewhat muted. The aromas and flavors aren't particularly interesting, and the overall profile it's aiming for simply doesn't appeal to me. It feels like an overoaked version of Barrel Reserve, which, frankly, I prefer. But it reminds me a lot of Glenglassaugh Sandend, Fettercairn Warehouse 2 Batch 2, and Glenmorangie Spios. But it's perfectly drinkable, the texture is very good, the notes are relatively well balanced, and it serves its purpose for casual drinking.

Ist in Ordnung. Süffig und trinkbar, aber keinerlei Komplexität. Zudem schmeckt er recht jung.

I like Sauternes aging, the wonderful honey sweetness. This one is here briefly and then gone again, not very concise and rather weak despite the 50%.

Nose: baked pear, maltines, oceanic. Palate: Pear, maltines, vanilla, nutmeg. Finish: medium, vanilla

Not bad.

Tasted during Arran tasting at King&Mouse (Vilnius) at 2023-04-25. Nose: vine, fruits Palate: sweetness Finish: didn't remember well

Decent whisky as a daily dram. A little different then the others. Fair pricing too.

I like Arran generally, but this expression is not the case. Would have been better without the Sauternes cask finish.

Smells like an orange liqueur or elderflower liqueur. Honey and sea salt. I know this is probably higher than most would rate it, but these are my dream after-dinner flavors. I brought 2 bottles home from their shop on Arran.

For me, one of the weaker Arrans from the core range. Basically a good whisky, but the Sauternes cask didn't add enough in my opinion. A little disappointing.

(Blind) It feels very strongly like a refilled sherry cask. If it's a single cask, it's most likely a refilled sherry cask, and if multiple casks were used, it's most likely a combination of sherry cask and bourbon cask. While not overpowering the sherry nuances of a sherry night, it's subtle yet powerful, with a distinct presence. The smooth yet full nuances make it a wonderfully comfortable drinker. The aroma, taste, and finish all suggest fortified wines like sherry, as well as aged bourbon casks. While some rum casks may have been used, I don't think it's very likely. If it were a single cask, I'd most likely think of Bruichladdich, and if multiple casks were used, I'd probably think of Hazelburn. The estimated ABV is 50-55%, and the age is around 18-21 years. Personally, I'd say it's closer to 20 years. However, if refill bourbon casks were used, the age could be shorter. Ben Nevis Sherry Butt reminds me of something I've personally tasted, but since it was a first-fill Sherry Butt at the time, the nuances are a bit different. If only bourbon casks were used, I'd probably think of Deanston, but I'm not sure about the distillery. >> Guess: Bunahaben or Hazelburn / Refill Sherry or Sherry + Bourbon Cask (+Rum?) or Refill Sherry Finish / Aged 20 years / 48 ~ 53%

Someone smelled stone fruit. Turned out there were damn Apricots in it. That's really tasty. He tickles at 50, he tickles, and then suddenly comes the donkey punch on the bag with a bite on the ball. Just like a Falcon punch straight at the hedge. A bit of hay harrow, nice and sweet along the barrel. Rough bang afterwards.

An excellent example of a sauternes wine finishing in the nose. Taste and finish are good, but I had hoped for more sauterne wine notes there.

S 7 Sampled in a blind tasting. Decent dessert whisky, the Sauternes cask finish is quite active and slightly overpowers the Arran distillate. 81-85 - Another dram welcomed

S 6.5 I would’ve scored the nose higher if not for that subtle feinty notes at its base. Also, the youth in this expression slowly reveals itself as it breathes. Bottled at a very good strength to uphold the body although there are more impressive Arrans out there at this price point. 81-85 - Another dram welcomed

Pleasantly sweet with a trace of bitterness, the wine has quite a taste.

Light and fresh on the nose. Honey and yellow fruits on the palate. The finish is medium-long and dry.

Very fruity and fresh, citrus fruits, melon, apples, peaches, tropical fruits, then nuts, vanilla and a lot of honey, with a note of agave and eucalyptus in the background?

the favorite of wine barrel finishes in the corerange