The Arran Malt The Sauternes Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky

There are few independent distilleries left in Scotland. Isle of Arran is among them. That freedom from corporate control may be a reason it can bottle a large variety of styles. This is one of my favourites. After a long maturation period in standard casks, the spirit spends an additional brief period in wood that once contained Sauternes dessert wine from Bordeaux. The wine-infused casks lend fruit and honey and a sweet entry to this robust, 50-per-cent whisky. But the complexity builds to include strong notes of cereal, soda bread, hay, vanilla and nuts. Score - 92. (Beppi Crosariol, theglobeandmail.com, June 19, 2017)