Arran Amarone Cask

Score: 63

Arran Amarone Cask rolled into the tasting smooth, confident, and dressed to impress, earning a well-deserved 2nd place. It’s a dram that knows how to turn heads without shouting, delivering cherry jam, dark chocolate, and a splash of red wine swagger right from the first sip. Beneath the plush Amarone finish lies that classic Arran fruitiness, bright, juicy, and familiar, but now wrapped in velvet. The wine cask adds depth and elegance, giving the whisky a luxurious texture that feels a bit fancy without ever tipping into pretension. At 50% ABV, it’s no lightweight, but it wears its strength well. Rich and warming, it’s just cheeky enough to keep things interesting. Think dessert in a dinner jacket, with a wink, refined, but playful. Its 2nd-place finish reflected genuine admiration. Not just a crowd-pleaser, but a dram that offered something layered and memorable. The Amarone Cask didn’t try to dominate, it charmed, and it succeeded.