Single Malt Whisky, Scotland/Highlands-Arran

The Isle of Arran distillery started cask finishing very early on. Remember the Burgundy, Cognac, Calvados and Sauternes woods finishes of the early 2000s. This year, the young manager, Euan Mitchell, has three new ones on offer. One is aged in Port barrels, another in Sauternes barrels and this one in barrels that have contained Amarone, a rare dry red wine made from raisined grapes from the Valpolicella appellation. Whether it is the chromatic, aromatic or flavour palette, each of them has a rare elegance.

Nose : Fine, firm. Extremely elegant, the initial nose reveals itself to be intensely fruity (wild strawberry, blueberry). It evolves with apple jelly and heady floral notes (lavender, mauve lilac). Gradually, it gains depth (licorice, chocolate, anise). Then, spices make their appearance: pepper, clove.

Palate : delicate, nuanced. As ethereal as the nose, it looks towards the Orient (rose petal, Turkish delight). Dried fruits (apricot, date, fig) give it depth. It lingers with notes of black fruits (gooseberry, blackcurrant), eucalyptus, and Armenian paper.

Overall : balanced and vibrant. It returns to its Scottish origins (malted barley, yeast, beer). Mineral (like pencil lead), it lingers deliciously on gingerbread, coriander, and cardamom. The empty glass highlights the quality of its woodiness (vanilla).