Lagg Distillery Manzanilla Sherry Finish Isle of Arran Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 57,6%

The southern tip of Arran is not a gentle place to build a distillery. The wind comes straight off Kilbrannan Sound, and peat sits thick in the ground around Kilmory. That rawness is what Lagg has built its name on – and now it meets something entirely different: the pale, salty world of Sanlúcar de Barrameda.

Expert's Description

Lagg Manzanilla Sherry Finish Small Batch is an Islands Single Malt Scotch Whisky, first matured in 1st and 2nd fill Bourbon casks before being finished in 1st fill Manzanilla Sherry casks for over a year, bottled at 57.6%. It's the distillery's second small batch release, following 2025's Palo Cortado Small Batch, and another step in Lagg's ongoing exploration of unusual Sherry cask types for its heavily peated spirit. Manzanilla isn't like most other Sherries – it's produced exclusively in the small coastal town of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, where it matures under a protective layer of flor yeast right on the Atlantic. That gives it a paler, drier and fresher style than something like Oloroso or PX, with a touch of salt and almond rarely allowed anywhere near peated whisky. Peated to 50 ppm, non-chill filtered and free of added colour, Lagg hasn't held back – only 2,000 bottles exist of this release.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweet syrup and maraschino cherry arrive first, carried by a gentle warmth that hints at what's underneath. Beneath it, a thread of smoke that never quite fades.

Palate

Hot honey meets spiced red fruit and cherry syrup, while a salted minerality cuts through the sweetness and keeps everything tight.

Finish

Long, dry and warming, with ashy bonfire smoke and a faint brine that recalls the sea just outside the distillery's windows.

Specifications

Name: Lagg Distillery Manzanilla Sherry Finish Small Batch
Distillery: Lagg Distillery
Region/Country: Isle of Arran, Scotland
Type: Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 57.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: 1st and 2nd fill Bourbon casks, finished in 1st fill Manzanilla Sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Bottled: 2026
Number of bottles: 2,000
Edition: Small Batch Release
EAN No.: 5037377000116

Flavour Profile

Peated · Sherry-matured · Salty · Fruity · Spiced

Did you know?

Graham Omand, Lagg's current distillery manager, learned the trade as a stillman at Arran's Lochranza distillery – under his own uncle, former master distiller James MacTaggart. That knowledge came with him seven years ago, when he set out to build an entirely new distillery from scratch on the island's southern tip.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Lagg Manzanilla Sherry Finish Small Batch

What does Lagg Manzanilla Sherry Finish Small Batch taste like?

It opens sweet and gently smoky, with maraschino cherry and honey, before a salty, mineral undertone ties the peated character together with the Sherry's freshness. The finish is long and smouldering, with a hint of sea air.

What is Manzanilla Sherry, and why is it unusual in whisky?

Manzanilla is a light, dry style of Sherry made only in Sanlúcar de Barrameda in Spain, where sea air and a protective layer of flor yeast keep the wine pale and fresh. Most Sherry-finished whiskies use heavier styles like Oloroso or PX, so Manzanilla casks are a rare sight – and take the whisky in a saltier direction.

Is Lagg Manzanilla Sherry Finish Small Batch worth it?

With only 2,000 bottles released worldwide, cask strength, and an unusual pairing of peat and Manzanilla, it stands apart from most of what's on the shelf. The quality and rarity make it a solid pick for collectors and curious drinkers alike.

Should you add water to Lagg Manzanilla Sherry Finish Small Batch?

At 57.6%, a few drops of water can open the whisky up and draw out extra layers of fruit and salted minerality. Serve it in a tulip-shaped whisky glass, which gathers the aromas best.

What's the difference between this and Lagg's Palo Cortado Small Batch?

Palo Cortado is a drier, nuttier Sherry style, while Manzanilla goes the opposite way with pale fruit and a distinct salty edge. Both are small batch releases from Lagg, but they pull the peated spirit in different directions.

Where is Lagg Distillery, and what defines it?

Lagg sits in Kilmory on the southern tip of Arran and opened to visitors in 2019 as Lochranza's sister distillery. Where Lochranza makes Arran's classic, unpeated style, Lagg was built entirely around peated whisky.

Is Lagg Manzanilla Sherry Finish Small Batch suitable for whisky beginners?

With cask strength and pronounced smoke, it's better suited to those who already know and enjoy peated whisky. That said, the Manzanilla finish is a good route in for experienced peat fans looking for something outside the usual Oloroso or PX territory.