Arran Sherry Cask Review: A Tasteful Play of Dark Chocolate and Sticky Fruits

Can you snag front-row seats for a dime? You’d think not—yet Arran pulls off exactly that. In this Arran Sherry Cask review, you’ll see how flavor, quality, and a friendly price come together as if it were effortless.

If you’ve never tried an Arran whisky, let’s start with the most important thing: do it. Arran guarantees quality. At the Lochranza Distillery, whisky is made with skill and passion—and Arran hasn’t grown as commercially massive as some of the other players. Without naming names, several Scotch brands have gone huge lately (with mega distillery expansions), and some whisky connoisseurs feel their quality has slipped. You won’t hear that said about Arran.

Today we’re talking about the Arran Sherry Cask, matured in a sherry butt from a bodega in Jerez, Spain. Think of it as a 180 in darts—you just know it’s a bullseye.

The price stands out right away. You can bring this whisky home for around fifty bucks, and if you take it easy with the bottle, you’ll be set for the year with a quality dram. It’s easy to forget, but whisky is a natural product. Every drop of Arran single malt begins with rainwater.

It’s no coincidence this text appears on the tube: “The area is home to the purest water in all of Scotland, every drop of Arran Single Malt begins life as rainwater that gathers at Loch na Davie in the beautiful hills behind the distillery. The crystal-clear water flows down the hillside, through six modest waterfalls, each one further purifying it. The name of the source, Easan Biorach, means ‘sharp waterfalls’ in Gaelic.”

Arran’s whiskies contain just a few ingredients: Concerto barley and water from Loch na Davie. The malted barley is mixed with the water in the mashtun to create wort, which goes into wooden washbacks where fermentation gets underway. The resulting wash forms a beautiful foundation for distillation.

So much for a peek behind Arran’s curtain: how does it drink? As you slowly raise the glass to your nose, you immediately catch the sweet influence of the sherry cask, with dried fruit and something else peeking through. It’s that time of year when you start thinking of Sinterklaas chocolate letters. And sure enough, with the first sip, that’s exactly it: you taste dark chocolate. Sometimes that chocolate note leans less pure and simple, and more like a Tony’s Chocolonely, something with caramel, and at times a hint of berry. The finish lets you linger a while longer with a sweet, chocolatey, gently woody mouthfeel.

Is it very complex? No. But at this price point, you can’t really expect that. Is it tasty? Absolutely, especially if you enjoy a sweeter style and can appreciate a younger whisky. It’s also a handsome bottle that makes a great gift, not just because it’s quality whisky, but because this nectar of the gods comes in a beautiful tube. One that makes you dream of a trip to the distillery.

On the back of the tube you’ll find a map showing the distillery’s location. And the words pure, independent, and spirit are boldly displayed. The front of the tube is lovely too, featuring the signature and name of master blender James MacTaggart and the distillery’s coordinates. Finally, it’s emphasized that the whisky is natural in color. Arran isn’t keen on adding coloring like caramel.

All in all, the Arran Sherry Cask is a wonderful product. The water of life to savor, delighting the eye, nose, and palate from A to Z. If you’re after a solid fifty-euro whisky for yourself or as a gift, this is a great choice. Not a complex or smoky dram, but one that will keep you cozy through the colder days still left in 2023.

+ Great value dram

+ Delightfully sweet

- Not for you if you want complexity or smoke