Arran Rum Cask

Rum cask finishes appeared periodically across the Arran release calendar through the 2000s and 2010s as part of the distillery's broad cask finishing exploration. Unlike the Port, Sauternes and Amarone finishes that became permanent range entries, the rum finish has remained an intermittent release rather than a core line. The casks used are typically ex Bourbon American oak barrels that have subsequently held aged rum from Caribbean producers, returning to Arran with a residue of the rum maturation alongside the original American oak underlay.

Primary maturation took place in first fill ex Bourbon American oak barrels at Lochranza, with secondary finishing in ex rum casks of varying provenance. Rum casks are themselves typically ex Bourbon barrels that have had a second life ageing rum in the Caribbean before being returned to Scotland, meaning they carry layered residues from both spirit traditions. Bottled at 58.3% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

Rum casks contribute residual sugars absorbed from molasses based rum maturation, alongside the ester profile developed during long Caribbean ageing, including elevated levels of ethyl octanoate, propanoate and isoamyl acetate. The combined effect with the Arran new make is a softening of the citric forward house style into a fuller tropical fruit, banana and brown sugar register, with the original Bourbon vanilla underlay still providing structure underneath.