Arran Port Cask Finish – February 2026

THE ARRAN PORT CASK FINISH IS HERE. 50% ABV. 100% Exclusive.

Club Exclusive Alert: You cannot buy this whisky anywhere else in Australia.

This is Arran turned up to eleven. Finished in top-tier Portuguese Port casks and bottled at a heavy-hitting 50% ABV, it’s a rich, spicy, fruit-forward monster that demands attention.

Meet the whisky that proves “finish” is just the beginning. The Arran Port Cask Finish starts with the distillery’s signature unpeated spirit, matured for eight years in traditional oak, before being elevated in artisan Port casks from Portugal.

The result is a masterclass in balance. This isn’t just a standard release; it’s a 50% ABV flavor bomb that takes the classic Arran citrus and malt character and drenches it in rich, ruby Port. The result? A “dessert in a dram” that is thick, fruity, and incredibly satisfying. The best part? You won’t find this bottle at your local bottle-o. It is exclusive in Australia to the Single Malt Whisky Club.

Tasting Highlights:

• Nose: Vanilla spice, ripe citrus, and dried fruits.
• Palate: Cinnamon baked apple, plum, and a punch of spice.
• Finish: Long, sweet, and laden with cherry and dark chocolate.

The Isle of Arran has long been celebrated as one of Scotland’s most naturally beautiful whisky regions – a place where rugged coastline, lush valleys, and shifting maritime weather patterns converge to create a spirit with unmistakable character. Since the distillery’s founding in 1995, Arran has built a reputation for crafting whiskies that are bright, expressive, and unashamedly spirit‑forward. Their malts are known for orchard fruit, honeyed sweetness, and a clean, modern profile that appeals to both traditionalists and new whisky drinkers alike.

Among their core range, the Arran Port Cask Finish stands out as a particularly compelling example of how the distillery uses cask finishing not as a gimmick, but as a genuine tool for flavour development. It’s a whisky that takes Arran’s natural vibrancy and wraps it in layers of rich, ruby‑toned fruit from carefully selected Port pipes. The result is a dram that feels indulgent yet balanced, familiar yet elevated – a whisky that showcases the best of both worlds.

Before diving into the Port influence, it’s worth understanding the base spirit that makes Arran such a natural fit for cask finishing. Arran’s distillation style is deliberately clean and fruit‑driven. Their stills are relatively small, with a shape that encourages reflux and produces a lighter, more refined spirit. Fermentation times are long enough to develop complexity, and the distillery has always emphasised natural ingredients and minimal intervention.

Port casks have become increasingly popular in modern Scotch whisky, and for good reason. Port is known for its deep berry flavours, rich sweetness, and velvety texture. When whisky is finished in Port pipes, it absorbs some of these characteristics, gaining colour, aroma, and flavour complexity.

For Arran, the choice of Port casks is particularly inspired. Their spirit’s natural brightness contrasts beautifully with the darker, richer tones of Port. The finish doesn’t overwhelm the whisky; instead, it adds depth and dimension. The result is a spirit bursting with orchard fruits like apple, pear, and apricot, lifted by bright citrus notes of lemon zest and orange oil, wrapped in gentle honeyed malt sweetness, and finished with a subtle coastal freshness carried on the island breeze.

This interplay between light and dark, fresh and rich, is what makes the Arran Port Cask Finish so compelling. It’s a whisky that feels layered without being heavy, overwhelming or cloying.

If you want this bottle on your shelf, you have exactly one place to get it.

Nose: Deep, rich, fruity and succulent. Berry jus, fresh strawberry, jubes, citrus peel, vines of floral and vanilla notes too (there has been some very active ex-Bourbon casks in this batch prior to the Port finish I’d say).

Palate: The 50%abv is quite apparent on the first sip – but is massively tamed by the second. Delightfully viscous mouthfeel with more deep fruit notes – blackcurrant jam, dark chocolate – and a delightful sweet nuttiness (that carries through to the finish).

Finish: Sweet, and delicious with just a touch of salty (Plumb) at the end. More fruit I the distance as that nuttiness builds slightly. Warm, chewy, creamy and sweet/salty abounds as it leisurely fades away.

There’s a reason the Arran Port Cask Finish is sold out everywhere (except here of course!) – it’s got rich layers aplenty for the experienced whisky-phile, yet isn’t affronting to a newbie – and that perfect sweetness certainly makes it very approachable and incredibly Moorish.

Pro-Tip: A small ‘bloop’ of water in this really adds to the creaminess of this whisky.

Peat Freaks, REJOICE! Something unexpected has arrived.