Description
Harold Currie, former director of Chivas, founded Arran Distillers in 1994 with the goal of building a distillery on the Isle of Arran. He chose Lochranza, a picturesque village on the island's northern tip, for its proximity to Loch na Davie, a pristine source of fresh water ideal for distilling. Construction of the distillery wrapped up in 1995, but the project faced early challenges, including financial difficulties and adverse weather conditions. Despite these setbacks, the first spirit was distilled on June 29, 1995. The distillery officially opened in August 1997, with the then Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) attending the ceremony.
To diversify its offerings, Arran Distillers decided to explore the production of peated whisky. This led to the establishment of a second distillery at Lagg, located in the southern part of the island. The Lagg Distillery, which began operations in 2019, focuses on producing heavily peated whiskies, in contrast to the mostly unpeated whiskies of Lochranza. Arran Distillers continue to use traditional methods such as wooden washbacks and copper pot stills, combined with modern sustainable practices.
This 17 year old Arran is a limited edition one-off bottling. They have used an even mix of first fill and second fill Sherry hogshead and first fill Bourbon barrels.
Tasting Notes
Colour - Warm gold.
Nose - Green apple and orchard fruits. Butterscotch and a hint of toasted oak.
Finish - Soft and lingering with almond and creamy vanilla. A touch of cinnamon in the final mouthful.
