Arran – Quarter Cask (70cl, 56.2%)

Arran Quarter Cask is a cask strength single malt from the Isle of Arran, bottled at 56.2% in a 70cl bottle. The whisky first matured for several years in ex-bourbon casks, then spent two more years in smaller 125-litre quarter casks, which bring it into closer contact with the oak. The bottling recalls the whisky trade on Arran in the 18th and 19th centuries, when small casks were easier to handle and move. The nose has lemon zest, candyfloss and a hint of cocoa. The palate shows fresh tropical notes of pineapple, green apple and vanilla, with a touch of chilli heat. The finish is aromatic, fruity and lasting, with sweetness and spicy oak.