The Story
20 years matured in bourbon barrels and sherry hogsheads, then finished in Oloroso sherry butts sourced directly from Bodegas Tradicion in Jerez. A coastal single malt from the Isle of Arran at its most complex.
The Arran Distillery sits on the Isle of Arran off Scotland's west coast — an island of dramatic scenery and diverse landscapes that the Explorers' Series celebrates through limited edition expressions, each inspired by a specific location. Brodick Bay is the main bay of Arran, visible from the ferry approach and central to the island's identity.
The Brodick Bay 20 Year is the most age-forward expression in the Explorers' Series. The multi-cask maturation program — bourbon barrels for sweetness and vanilla, sherry hogsheads for fruit and richness, and a final maturation in Oloroso sherry butts from Bodegas Tradicion (one of Jerez's most prestigious sherry producers) — produces a whisky of multi-layered complexity that reflects the coastal, damp aging environment of Arran's warehouses. The result, in Arran's words, "perfectly reflects the diversity, allure and charm of this beautiful island."
Tasting Notes
- Appearance: Rich golden amber with a warm reddish tint from the Oloroso finish.
- Nose: Coastal freshness, dried fruit, vanilla, and a warm sherry sweetness from the Oloroso butts.
- Palate: Complex and multi-layered — the bourbon base provides sweetness and vanilla, the sherry hogsheads add dried fruit and spice, and the Oloroso finish delivers a concentrated richness that ties everything together.
- Finish: Long and warming — sherry fruit and oak spice fading into a clean, elegant coastal close.
Specs
- Distillery: Isle of Arran Distillers, Isle of Arran, Scotland
- Style: Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky
- Age: 20 years
- Maturation: Bourbon barrels + sherry hogsheads, finished in Oloroso sherry butts (Bodegas Tradicion, Jerez, Spain)
- Series: Arran Explorers' Series
- Size: 750ml
Browse all Scotch whisky at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Arran Explorers' Series? The Explorers' Series is a collection of limited edition Arran single malts, each celebrating a specific scenic location on the Isle of Arran. Brodick Bay is the main bay of the island and the site visitors first encounter arriving by ferry. Each expression in the series features a multi-cask maturation program specific to that release.
- What is Bodegas Tradicion and why does the cask source matter? Bodegas Tradicion is one of Jerez's most prestigious sherry producers, known for maintaining some of the oldest soleras in the region. The quality and character of Oloroso sherry butts varies significantly by source — sourcing directly from a prestigious bodega produces casks with more consistent and higher-quality sherry residue than generic ex-sherry wood.
- How does Isle of Arran whisky differ from mainland Scotch? Arran is an island distillery on Scotland's west coast, producing a style that is lighter and more approachable than the heavily peated Islay malts to the south, with a coastal freshness that reflects the island's humid, sea air aging environment. The Brodick Bay 20 Year adds significant sherry influence to this coastal base.
- Is the Brodick Bay 20 Year a limited release? Yes — the Explorers' Series expressions are produced in limited quantities. Once sold out, individual expressions are not guaranteed to be restocked.
Description
20 years matured in bourbon barrels and sherry hogsheads, then finished in Oloroso sherry butts sourced directly from Bodegas Tradicion in Jerez. A coastal single malt from the Isle of Arran at its most complex.
The Arran Distillery sits on the Isle of Arran off Scotland's west coast — an island of dramatic scenery and diverse landscapes that the Explorers' Series celebrates through limited edition expressions, each inspired by a specific location. Brodick Bay is the main bay of Arran, visible from the ferry approach and central to the island's identity.
The Brodick Bay 20 Year is the most age-forward expression in the Explorers' Series. The multi-cask maturation program — bourbon barrels for sweetness and vanilla, sherry hogsheads for fruit and richness, and a final maturation in Oloroso sherry butts from Bodegas Tradicion (one of Jerez's most prestigious sherry producers) — produces a whisky of multi-layered complexity that reflects the coastal, damp aging environment of Arran's warehouses. The result, in Arran's words, "perfectly reflects the diversity, allure and charm of this beautiful island."
Tasting Notes
- Appearance: Rich golden amber with a warm reddish tint from the Oloroso finish.
- Nose: Coastal freshness, dried fruit, vanilla, and a warm sherry sweetness from the Oloroso butts.
- Palate: Complex and multi-layered — the bourbon base provides sweetness and vanilla, the sherry hogsheads add dried fruit and spice, and the Oloroso finish delivers a concentrated richness that ties everything together.
- Finish: Long and warming — sherry fruit and oak spice fading into a clean, elegant coastal close.
Specs
- Distillery: Isle of Arran Distillers, Isle of Arran, Scotland
- Style: Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky
- Age: 20 years
- Maturation: Bourbon barrels + sherry hogsheads, finished in Oloroso sherry butts (Bodegas Tradicion, Jerez, Spain)
- Series: Arran Explorers' Series
- Size: 750ml
Browse all Scotch whisky at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Arran Explorers' Series? The Explorers' Series is a collection of limited edition Arran single malts, each celebrating a specific scenic location on the Isle of Arran. Brodick Bay is the main bay of the island and the site visitors first encounter arriving by ferry. Each expression in the series features a multi-cask maturation program specific to that release.
- What is Bodegas Tradicion and why does the cask source matter? Bodegas Tradicion is one of Jerez's most prestigious sherry producers, known for maintaining some of the oldest soleras in the region. The quality and character of Oloroso sherry butts varies significantly by source — sourcing directly from a prestigious bodega produces casks with more consistent and higher-quality sherry residue than generic ex-sherry wood.
- How does Isle of Arran whisky differ from mainland Scotch? Arran is an island distillery on Scotland's west coast, producing a style that is lighter and more approachable than the heavily peated Islay malts to the south, with a coastal freshness that reflects the island's humid, sea air aging environment. The Brodick Bay 20 Year adds significant sherry influence to this coastal base.
- Is the Brodick Bay 20 Year a limited release? Yes — the Explorers' Series expressions are produced in limited quantities. Once sold out, individual expressions are not guaranteed to be restocked.
