Arran
Island of Arran Distillers has operated two distilleries on the Isle of Arran since March 2019: the original Lochranza Distillery, which has been in c...
Island of Arran Distillers has operated two distilleries on the Isle of Arran since March 2019: the original Lochranza Distillery, which has been in continuous operation since 1995, and the new Lagg Distillery located in the southern part of the island. The Lochranza facility is currently Scotland's most visited distillery, attracting over 100,000 visitors annually. With the addition of Lagg, the company aimed to surpass 200,000 combined visitors per year by 2020. The Lochranza Distillery is equipped with one 2.5-ton wash still, six Oregon pine washbacks with an average fermentation time of 60 hours, and four new spirit stills. In 2019, the distillery planned to produce 450,000 liters of new make spirit, a reduction of 150,000 liters from the previous year. This decrease resulted from the strategic transfer of 250,000 liters of peated whisky production allocation to Lagg Distillery. In Autumn 2019, Arran underwent a comprehensive rebranding of its core range, introducing new bottle designs and labels. The new core expressions include 10 Year Old, 18 Year Old, 21 Year Old, and Barrel Reserve (previously Lochranza Reserve). The portfolio also features The Bothy Quarter Cask at 56.2% ABV and The Bodega Sherry Cask at 55.8% ABV. Arran's peated offerings include Machrie Moor and Machrie Moor Cask Strength. The 14 Year Old expression was temporarily discontinued in Autumn 2019 but is slated for future return. Arran's limited edition wine cask finishes include Amarone, Port, Sauternes, and Marsala cask expressions, alongside annual single cask releases matured in either bourbon or sherry casks. The third and final release in the Smuggler's Edition series, The Exciseman, launched in July 2017. In October 2017, a special edition was released to commemorate distillery manager James MacTaggart's 10th anniversary. June 2018 saw the launch of Brodick Bay, a 20-year-old expression and the first in the Explorer's Series. Spring 2019 introduced Lochranza Castle, a 21-year-old whisky matured in sherry butts and finished in Amontillado sherry casks.
History
Arran Distillery is the brainchild of Harold Currie, who served as Managing Director of both Chivas Brothers and Campbell Distillers. In 1995, the distillery opened high above the picturesque village of Lochranza on the Isle of Arran. The distillery raised funds through an innovative "bondholder" scheme, promising a certain quantity of whisky to attract customers: five cases of blended whisky in 1998, and five cases of "Arran Founder's Reserve" in 2001, for a total price of £450. When the distillery first opened, people speculated what style of whisky it would produce: an Islay smoky character, a Campbeltown heavy body, or a Lowland light style? The distillery stood at a crossroads. Even in 1995, the influence of terroir could still largely be controlled by chemistry. Harold Currie had been a Speyside distiller, and he chose to continue this style. Therefore, Arran's regional style is difficult to define. Mr. Currie passed away on March 15, 2016, at the age of 91. One week later, the company announced plans to build another distillery at Lagg in the south of the island.
Curiosities
Despite having only one legal distillery on the island in the 19th century (Lagg in the south, closed in 1837), Arran's whiskies are said to rival even the finest Glenlivet expressions of that era. The visitor center, inaugurated by Her Majesty The Queen in 1997 and winner of VisitScotland's highest accolade, remains one of the island's premier attractions, welcoming 88,000 guests in 2015 alone. Beyond their signature unpeated 'Arran Malts' and peated 'Machrie Moor' single malts, the distillery also crafts a prestigious range of blended and malt whiskies under the Robert Burns brand, officially licensed by the International Burns Club, of which they are a proud sponsor.
Timeline
Harold Currie founded the distillery.
On August 17, the distillery began production.
The distillery launched a 3-year-old whisky.
Launched Arran 4-year-old.
Launched Arran Single Cask 1995.
Launched Arran Single Cask 1997, non-chill filtered, finished in Calvados apple brandy casks.
Launched whiskies finished in Cognac casks, Marsala wine casks, Port casks, etc.
Launched Arran 1996, whisky finished in Ch. Margaux wine casks, and whisky finished in Grand Cru Champagne casks.
Following informal hints in 2005, officially released Arran 10-year-old and several new cask-finished whiskies.
Launched 4 new cask-finished expressions and Gordon's Dram.
Launched the first 12-year-old whisky and 4 new cask-finished expressions.
Launched peated single cask cask-strength whisky, 2 cask-finished whiskies, and 1996 Vintage.
Launched 14-year-old Rowan Tree, 2 cask-finished whiskies, and Machrie Moor (peated).
Launched The Westie, Sleeping Warrior, and a 12-year-old cask-strength whisky.
Launched The Eagle and The Devil's Punch Bowl.
Launched a 16-year-old whisky and a new version of Machrie Moor.
Launched a 17-year-old whisky and Machrie Moor Cask Strength.
Launched an 18-year-old whisky and The Illicit Stills.
Launched The Exciseman.
Launched a 21-year-old whisky and Brodick Bay.
Core range was adjusted and limited edition Lochranza Castle was launched.
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