I typically prefer my whiskies at 46% but the Arrans I tried at that ABV tasted a little muted and inferior to the cask-strength versions I sampled. For that reason, this release finished in small quarter casks and bottled at 56.2% offers the best value in the range. Knock it back to 50% to find its sweet spot and stretch your value even further. Unlike the age statement Arrans, it’s the palate that impresses more than the nose. The light aroma of honey and spice doesn’t prepare you for the massive spice explosion of the first sip: those quarter casks were clearly very active. Add a touch of water to get a better balance and bring out lovely caramel flavors speckled with salt and spice. The finish is long, with red pepper flakes and sticky toffee pudding topping. I’m not normally a fan of quarter casks, but they work very well to amplify the gentle Arran distillate. My second favorite of the five I tried, beaten only by a cask-strength 25-year-old that you can’t buy.