Arran 2007 – Rum Finish

The Small Batch series at Arran is the distillery's format for bottlings that vat together a defined parcel of casks rather than presenting a single cask. The format provides consistency and volume beyond what a single cask delivers while still offering a more individuated character than the larger core range vattings. This Rum Finish small batch was distilled in 2007 and finished in ex rum casks for the secondary maturation phase.

Primary maturation took place at Lochranza in ex Bourbon American oak barrels filled in 2007, with secondary finishing in ex rum casks at a later date before the small batch vatting. Ex rum casks are typically American oak Bourbon barrels that have had a second life ageing rum in the Caribbean. Bottled at 46% with no chill filtration and no added colour.

The rum finishing phase delivers a layered profile distinct from pure Bourbon maturation. Aged Caribbean rum carries elevated ester loadings developed in tropical climate maturation, including ethyl octanoate, isoamyl acetate and the heavier propanoate compounds that contribute brown sugar and tropical fruit character. The cask wood absorbs residual sugars from the original molasses based rum. Combined with the Arran Bourbon underlay the resulting whisky shows a fuller tropical and brown sugar register over the vanilla American oak structure.