Arran Gold Cream Liqueur with Single Island Malt Whisky 17%

Cream and whisky sounds like a shortcut, but it is not when the whisky is actually good. Arran makes its own single malt at Lochranza and uses that rather than anonymous spirit, and you can taste it.

The Expert's Description

Arran Gold is a cream liqueur made with Single Island Malt Whisky from Arran, bottled at 17%. It is therefore not whisky but a cream-based liqueur in which the distillery’s own malt whisky forms the spirit component.

The difference from an ordinary cream liqueur lies precisely there. Most use neutral spirit or an anonymous blend, while Arran uses malt whisky from its own distillery. That gives a cereal sweetness and a light malt character beneath the toffee and chocolate which would otherwise disappear.

Arran Gold was named World’s Best Whisky Liqueur at Whisky Magazine’s World Whisky Awards in 2007. The distillery sits at Lochranza at the northern end of the Isle of Arran and was founded in 1995.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Toffee and milk chocolate first, with cocoa and a clear cream note. Beneath the sweetness sits a malty cereal note from the whisky, which makes the nose less one-dimensionally sweet than an ordinary cream liqueur.

Palate

Full and creamy. Caramel, chocolate and vanilla open, then the malt whisky comes through with a light cereal sweetness and a hint of oak. At 17% it is soft and easy to drink, but not thin.

Finish

Medium and creamy, with cocoa and a final malt note lingering after the sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Arran Gold Cream Liqueur with Single Island Malt Whisky 17%
Distillery: Arran
Region/Country: Isle of Arran, Scotland
Type: Cream Liqueur with Single Island Malt Whisky
ABV: 17%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Arran Gold
EAN no.: 5060044480270
Serving suggestion: Serve chilled with coffee or over ice as a welcome drink

Flavour Profile

Creamy · Toffee · Chocolate · Sweet · Malty · Soft

Did You Know?

The Arran distillery at Lochranza was founded in 1995 and was the first legal distillery on the island in over a century and a half. Arran otherwise had a long history of illicit distilling, since the island’s remote bays were well suited to keeping the excise at arm’s length. Today the family also runs a second distillery, Lagg, at the southern end of the island.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Arran Gold Cream Liqueur with Single Island Malt Whisky 17%

Is Arran Gold whisky?

No. It is a cream liqueur made with whisky as its spirit component. At 17% it sits far below the minimum of 40% for whisky, and the cream makes it a liqueur in legal terms. The whisky in it is genuine Arran single malt, however.

How is it best served?

Chilled from the fridge alongside a cup of coffee, or over ice as a welcome drink. It should not be served at room temperature, as the cold keeps the sweetness in check and makes the texture more pleasant.

How long does it keep once opened?

Cream is perishable, and an opened bottle should be kept in the fridge and drunk within a few months. Unlike whisky, which can stand open for years, a cream liqueur has a real shelf life.

Can it be used in coffee or desserts?

Yes, it works well in an Irish coffee variant or poured over vanilla ice cream. The malt notes from the whisky give it a little more direction than a wholly neutral cream liqueur would have.

What is the Isle of Arran known for in whisky terms?

A light, fruity and maritime style without heavy smoke. The distillery at Lochranza opened in 1995 and was the first legal one on the island in over a century and a half. See our full range of Scotch Whisky.

Is it a good gift for someone who does not drink whisky?

Yes, that is probably its best role. The sweetness and cream character make it approachable for someone who finds whisky too harsh, and the whisky underneath gives it a little more to offer than a standard liqueur.