The second in Arran’s Master of Distilling series, this bottling pays homage to James McTaggart, Arran’s Master Distiller.

This spirit has been aged for 12 years, and finished in Palo Cortado sherry casks, which were hand selected by McTaggart himself. Palo Cortado is a rarer, dry style of sherry – aged initially to become a Fino or Amontillado (under a flor or film of yeast), this sherry naturally loses its flor and begins to age like an oloroso. Only around 2% of sherry grapes become Palo Cortado.

Its dry, somewhat austere style and relative rarity mean its casks are not often used to mature whisky. Nevertheless, when they are, they can produce some wonderful and unusual single malt.

As is the case with this dram, which offers up a slightly salty savoury note, alongside flavours of dry wine, honey, ginger, grassy malt, fresh bread, butter, marmalade, apples, orange rind, cinnamon, sour cherries, and a touch of dark chocolate.

The whisky has been bottled at 51.8% ABV and without chill filtration or colouration.

Nicknamed the Man with the Golden Glass, James McTaggart features on the box holding said glass and amidst bond-esque stylings.

Only 12,000 bottles were released.

• Product type
  Single Malt
• Distillery / brand
  Arran
• Country
  Scotland
• Region
  Island
• Bottler
  Distillery Bottling
• Distillation date
  2006
• Bottling date
  2019
• Age
  12 years old
• Non-chillfiltered
  Yes
• Natural colour
  Yes
• SKU
  036875