Arran Premier Cru Bourgogne Cask #37

Premier Cru Burgundy casks at Arran represent one of the more elevated wine cask sourcing decisions in the distillery's catalogue. The Premier Cru classification in Burgundy applies to vineyards just below Grand Cru status, with significantly more constrained production than village level wine and higher concentration of fruit and structure in the resulting wine. Cask 37 from this Premier Cru programme is one specific cask in a small series Arran filled with spirit for Burgundy finishing.

Spirit matured at Lochranza in single Premier Cru Burgundy barrique number 37, with the original Pinot Noir wine having matured in the cask before the spirit transfer. Premier Cru barriques are French oak of fine grain, typically from Tronçais or Allier forests, and used by Burgundy producers under tight quality control. Bottled at single cask strength without chill filtration and without added colour.

The Premier Cru wine residue is more concentrated than village level Burgundy due to lower yields and longer maturation, producing higher loadings of polyphenols, ester compounds and the Pinot derived aroma fraction. The fine French oak grain contributes a higher trans whisky lactone ratio than American oak alongside the ellagitannin tannic backbone. The combined effect produces a layered red fruit, floral and finely tannic finish over the Bourbon underlay.