Arran Bordeaux Cask

Bordeaux cask finishing appeared in the Arran release calendar through the early to mid 2000s as part of the broad wine cask exploration the distillery pursued during its first decade. Unlike Sauternes, which is a dessert wine from a specific subregion, Bordeaux red wine encompasses the wider Bordeaux production using Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and the related Bordeaux grape varieties. Casks sourced through working relationships with individual châteaux carried the specific signature of their previous wine, with batch to batch variation reflecting the variety of source châteaux.

The spirit was matured at Lochranza in a single Bordeaux barrique, with the wine residue derived from red Bordeaux of unspecified château origin. Bordeaux barriques are typically French oak with a coarser grain than fine wine cask wood. Bottled at 59.7% without chill filtration and without added colour, capturing the natural single cask strength.

Red Bordeaux cask residue delivers a distinctive flavour signature derived from the anthocyanins, tannins and oxidative compounds absorbed during long red wine ageing. Cabernet Sauvignon contributes pyrazines, methoxypyrazines and the structured tannic profile of the variety, while Merlot adds softer berry esters. Combined with the Bourbon underlay the resulting whisky develops a distinct dark berry, dried fruit and gentle drying tannic profile.