This whisky displays vibrant notes of banana, mango and papaya along with biscuity malt character and baking spices. On the palate there is a pronounced richness with notes of chocolate, coffee and cinnamon before finishing with a hint of stone fruit and black pepper.
Presenting….. The Signature Series Edition 2 – Barrel Bonfire
The Signature Series is our four-part limited-edition series. It is a selection of Arran Single Malts which showcases the diversity of our spirit and embodies the values which are important to us. It features four unique bottlings specially chosen by Lochranza Distillery Manager Stewart Bowman and given his seal of approval.
With this bottling, we invite you to learn about the more heavily peated side of Arran matured in a Bourbon Barrel. The peated level of this bottling sits at 42ppm.
The Quarter Casks used in this bottling were sourced from a small distillery in Chicago – Koval - who use these custom built 115 litre casks to mature their Bourbon before they arrive with us in Lochranza.
The whisky in this bottling was originally filled into Bourbon Barrels in 2012. It was matured for nearly 5 and a half years, before being transferred into the Koval Quarter Casks in September 2018, where it spent the remaining 5 and a half years of its maturation time. We filled only a small number of these Quarter Casks and have not filled any more since. As such, they have a very rare place in our inventory.
Over the course of the secondary maturation, the intensity of the heavily peated whisky has taken on an even more complex and full-bodied character. The smaller the size of cask, the greater the surface contact area between the wood and the spirit, effectively creating an environment for ‘express’ maturation. The resulting
whisky has the benefit of more intense flavours which add depth and greater nuance to the final dram. Smokier notes mingle with the well-loved charred citrus and sweet vanilla spices of Arran Single Malt, evoking a bonfire made from barrel staves.
Our Barrel Bonfire is bottled at 50% Vol, as always non-chill filtered and with no added colouring.
COLOUR : Pure Gold
AROMA : Rich, sweet, aromatic and fruity, baked banana bread and syrupy sponge pudding fill the senses. Notes of treacle trot into a distinctive whiff of burning cedarwood. A splash of water releases a bounty of tropical fruits. Eucalyptus oil mingles with and soft, aromatic smoke.
TASTE : Zesty notes of lime and sweet peaches canter across the palate. A burst of rich smoked fruit and baked bread prance into antiseptic lozenges, creosote, and aniseed. Soft barley malt combines with nutmeg and peat smoke.
FINISH : The influence of these rare Madeira casks is undeniable. A whimsically smoky finish welcomes a long and lingering aftertaste of menthol, clove, wood smoke and camphor.
Berry-laced cereal pops right out, mild proof and oak with plenty of vanilla and cereal grains lightly toasted. Not as sweet as on the nose, turning a bit darker into a malt syrup-like depth. Mouthfeel is deceptively heavy, piquant across the whole tongue with baking spices laying thickly on the front half. Coating, silky, and warming. Begs you to keep sipping.
2022 Winner of the Best Single Malt Whisky Of The Year!
Aged in bourbon barrels, american and european sherry casks. Candied orange peel. Sweet vanilla. Ginger cake. Hints of cinnamon and barley sugar with a touch of fresh oak.
Try it! It's delicious!!
Tropical fruits, heather honey and baking spices, followed by demerara sugar,
coconut and marmalade, with citrus notes, caramel and ice cream on the finish.
Sweet nose with notes of dried fruit, nutmeg spice, honey, caramelized walnuts and a gentle touch of oak
Initial spicy notes of cinnamon and clove fade to reveal grape syrup which coats the palate, with raisins, figs,candied cherries and a hint of liquor ice
Limited to 662 bottles
NAS, non-chill filtered and no added colouring.
Matured initially in two ex-bourbon barrels and then finished for approx. 16 months in two Amarone wine barriques.
Bottled at 54.1%
The front palate has a really prominent peppery tingle, and that sweet cinnamon is still there too front and center. The nose agrees with the palate for the most part; there are lots of classic bourbon notes with a slightly tannic oak and vanilla being most prominent. There’s a little bit of cherry in there too. The heat is very manageable for a 120 proofer with a nice mouthfeel to boot.
Sweet Oak and Vanilla
A small batch of four standard barrels from Glencadam Distillery have been used to create this Highland Single Malt, distilled in 2011 and aged for eleven years. With its new make character boasting fragrant floral notes and orchard fruits, Glencadam is a delicously silky and moreish dram, increasingly popular as a distinguished single malt.
Distilled, matured, married and bottled on the Isle of Harris, The Hearach Oloroso Cask Matured is bottled at 46% ABV, no colour added, and non-chill filtered with the spirit lightly peated at 12-15ppm matured in casks hand-picked for quality from the respected Bodega José y Miguel Martín in the beautiful Andalusia region in southern Spain.
Harrison Wood, blender at the Isle of Harris Distillery, describes his tasting notes of The Hearach Oloroso Cask Matured as “Initial winter aromas of cinnamon, orange peel, and cloves which remind me of Christmas at home. There are green notes of herbs and the nostalgic creaminess of white chocolate from childhood days. When sipped, I can taste walnuts and fireside wood smoke. The dram develops with a hint of thyme from my kitchen, closely followed by dried oranges. Spices then come through, like vanilla pods and a subtle sense of cloves, before a long leather and liquorice finish."
Nose – Fresh notes of apricot, peach, mango and papaya are all immediately present, joined by thick beeswax and marzipan, with an undercurrent of green tea and cut grass.
Palate – Creamy, thick and full-bodied, as Greek yoghurt, honeyed oats and white grapes combine with more savoury flavours of burnt caramel and camomile.
Finish – Matcha green tea cheesecake with clotted cream and apricots.
Nose – Rich, fruity aromas of stewed plums and rhubarb combine with dark chocolate, raisins, cardamom and cinnamon, alongside a touch of old leather.
Palate – Soft and velvety mouthfeel, beginning with juicy plums, nectarines and melted almond butter, before umami notes of cinnamon, clove and brandy snaps emerge.
Finish – Rich dark chocolate pudding - with a touch of chili, cardamom and aniseed
This release captures Daftmill’s signature style, with green fruits, herbal nuances, and toasted almonds on the nose, followed by comforting notes of croissants and marzipan. Add a splash of water, and you’ll uncover fennel and butterscotch. The palate is beautifully balanced, starting with sweet fruits and Scottish tablet, then transitioning into drier, herbal tones. The finish is medium in length, with an elegant, floral touch.
