Arran Sherry Serenade - Signature Series #4

THE HOLY SPIRITS VIEW

The final chapter of Arran’s four-part Signature Series, selected by Distillery Manager Stewart Bowman, and the one given entirely to sherry. Nine years in first-fill Oloroso, ex-Pedro Ximénez and ex-Amontillado casks, three sherry styles in one vatting, with no peat and no finishing tricks. Arran’s earliest malts were mostly sherry-matured, and this feels like a return to that roots style.

THE DISTILLERY

Arran is an independent distillery at Lochranza, in the north of the Isle of Arran, distilling since 1995. The Signature Series was created to show the diversity of its spirit: Remnant Renegade (a marriage of remnant casks), Barrel Bonfire (peated, finished in Koval quarter casks) and Duero Discovery (Spanish red wine), with Sherry Serenade closing the set.

THE WHISKY: SIGNATURE SERIES EDITION 4, SHERRY SERENADE

Unpeated single malt, matured nine years in first-fill Oloroso, ex-Pedro Ximénez and ex-Amontillado sherry casks across Warehouses 1 and 4. Bottled at 50% ABV, non-chill filtered, no added colour, limited to 13,971 bottles worldwide.

TASTING NOTES

Dried figs, dark raisins, orange peel, dark toffee first, roasted nuts and almonds, polished oak, a hint of leather, cocoa and cinnamon behind. Palate full-bodied, velvety, almost treacly, toffee, chocolate-covered cherries, walnuts, espresso building with air, a lift of citrus through the middle. Finish long, toasted oak and caramelised orange fading into nutty sherry and soft cocoa. Three sherry styles working together, Oloroso richness, PX sweetness, Amontillado nuttiness. Rich, generous, very easy to enjoy.

Serve: Neat, in a Glencairn glass, ideally after dinner. A few drops of water open the fruit at 50%.