Arran 2015/2025 Single Cask Denmark 9 yr 50 ppm 1st Bourbon Single Malt Whisky 59,6%

Not every Arran bottling is light and sweet. This one runs the other way — dark, peaty, and richer than most people expect from this distillery.

A single bourbon cask, hand-selected for Denmark, with 50 ppm of peat smoke taking the lead role.

Expert Description

Arran 2015/2025 Single Cask Denmark 9 Year Old 50 ppm is a Single Islands Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a 1st fill bourbon barrel and bottled at 59.6%.

Arran usually distills a lightly peated or unpeated malt, but this single cask is made from barley peated to a full 50 ppm — double the level of the distillery's standard Machrie Moor. Distilled in October 2015, the whisky spent nine years in a single 1st fill bourbon barrel before being bottled at cask strength, non-chill filtered and with natural colour. Only 246 bottles exist from this cask, all reserved for the Danish market.

Ulrik Bertelsen from Whisky.dk has tasted it and calls it one of the finest peated releases he has met from Arran — a dram where raw power and aromatic depth meet in fine balance.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Rich peat smoke with hints of bonfire and a touch of iodine, but also an underlying sweetness of vanilla and ripe pear that keeps the nose inviting rather than harsh.

Palate

Softer than expected — baked apple and tropical fruit reach the palate first, before the peat smoke rolls in like a warm wave, carried by the bourbon cask's creamy texture.

Finish

Long and warming with grilled citrus, white pepper and a dry trace of oak that lingers well after the last sip.

Specifications

Name: Arran 2015/2025 Single Cask Denmark 9 Year Old 50 ppm
Distillery: Arran
Region/Country: Isle of Arran, Scotland
Type: Single Islands Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 59.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon barrel
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 19.10.2015
Number of bottles: 246
Edition: Single Cask – Exclusively Bottled for Denmark
Serving suggestion: In a Glencairn glass, a splash of water helps open the smoke

Flavour Profile

Peated · Fruity · Creamy · Spiced

Did You Know?

50 ppm is significantly stronger than most peated whiskies from the Scottish islands – for comparison, Arran's standard peated bottling, Machrie Moor, typically sits around 20 ppm.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Arran 2015/2025 Single Cask Denmark 9 Year Old 50 ppm

Is this Arran peated?

Yes, heavily. The barley is peated to 50 ppm, making it one of the smokiest single cask releases Arran has sent to Denmark.

How many bottles are there?

Only 246, drawn from a single bourbon cask and reserved for the Danish market.

Does it taste like an Islay whisky?

Not quite. The smoke is clear, but Arran's natural fruit sweetness and the bourbon cask's vanilla keep it softer and fruitier than a typical Islay dram.

How should I serve it?

In a Glencairn glass at room temperature. A drop of water loosens the smoke and lifts the fruit underneath.

Is it a good gift for a whisky enthusiast?

Yes, especially for someone who already knows Arran and wants to try the distillery's bolder, peated side – the limited run makes it an easy choice.

Why does Arran usually distill unpeated whisky?

The distillery was founded in 1995 with a philosophy built around a light, fruity island style without smoke. Peated releases like this one are a deliberate departure from the house style, not the rule.