The Arran Malt Distillery The Bothy Quarter Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky [IWSC 98] [WA 92]

Distillery Notes:

The Arran Single Malt selected for this cask strength expression was initially matured in first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels for 7 years before being transferred for secondary maturation into smaller Quarter casks also made of the finest American oak for a further 2 years. The process of transferring our whisky into the smaller 125 litre sized casks for their final 2 years of maturation produces far greater contact between the whisky & oak and a faster, more intense maturation. 

The end result is a full-bodied expression of Arran Single Malt combining power and finesse full of rich vanilla sweetness and bold peppery spice. Bottling at natural Cask Strength without chill-filtration or artificial colouring of any sort presents this whisky in its purest form. Small casks would have been a common feature of the Arran whisky trade in the eighteenth & nineteenth centuries as they were easier to handle and transport around the island. With our much-loved Quarter Cask expression we proudly bring this tradition back to life.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Apple tart, pineapple brioche

Palate: The citrus hallmarks of Arran welcome you, and the sweet spice of cinnamon and vanilla promises a memorable dram.

Finish: Sweetness, Honey, Pineapple, Vanilla, Coconut.

Awards/Reviews:

98 Points, Gold - Intl Wine & Spirits Competition 2021

"Fleshy orange and tangy grapefruit with high notes of sweet-scented pineapple and rosy apple. Harmonious, juicy and sweet with malty complexity, a blend of pepper and nutmeg mid-palate and a long and dry oaked finish."

Gold - Scotch Whisky Masters 2021

92 Points - Whisky Advocate

"Initially matured in bourbon casks for 7 years, this spends another 2 years in quarter casks, taking on aromas of vanilla, shortbread, canned pineapple chunks, wax, and cinnamon, all buffeted by the bright saltiness of fresh sea air. A hefty deep palate is unencumbered by the cask and instead trumpets its clean sweet flavors: lemon, orange, pineapple, fresh ginger, blueberry, cinnamon, shortbread, and saline. Full-flavored to the last, this whisky is muscular, but never aggressive."