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Everything you need to know about Arran Distillery
Most popular bottles from the distillery
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Isle Of Arran Lochranza Finest Blended Whisky£64.99 Inc VAT -
Arran Single Malt Whisky Devils Punch Bowl Chapter II£299.99 Inc VAT -
Arran Cask Finishes Cote-Rotie Scotch Whisky£174.99 Inc VAT -
Arran 1995 Islands Whisky First Distillation£269.99 Inc VAT
A brief History
Arran, Island Region, Scotland. Founded in 1995
Island Spirit, Unfiltered Character
Let’s face it — Arran doesn’t always get the spotlight. It’s not on Islay with the peat beasts, nor is it nestled deep in Speyside with the sherry squad. But what it does offer is something a little bit different: genuine island charm, a balanced flavour profile, and bottle-after-bottle of underrated brilliance.
The original distillery is tucked into the hills of Lochranza, on the northern coast of the Isle of Arran — often described as “Scotland in miniature”. It opened in 1995, which makes it fairly young by whisky standards, but it already feels like part of the landscape.
Unlike many new-wave distilleries, Arran didn’t just make whisky to slap a label on. They waited. They matured. And when their first 10-year-old hit the shelves, people started paying attention.
Flavour Profile: Fresh, Fruity, and Island-Lovely
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Sweet |
Fruity | Malty / Cereal |
Arran whisky sits in a sweet spot — literally. It’s often fruity, gently spicy, and full of character. There’s no heavy peat here (unless you seek it), but there is a natural, unfiltered quality that feels honest and refreshing.
Arran is known for its elegant, approachable single malts with just enough complexity to keep you coming back for more. Key flavour characteristics include:
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Ripe orchard fruit and zesty lemon
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Soft malt and honeyed cereal
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Vanilla cream and light spice
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Clean, slightly coastal finish
Top 4 Flavour Profile Ingredients
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Citrus (Lemon / Orange Zest) |
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Vanilla |
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Apple / Pear |
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Malt / Biscuit / Toast |
Popular Bottlings from Arran
| Expression | Cask Type | Tasting Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Arran 10 Year Old | Bourbon & sherry casks | Apple, citrus, vanilla, gentle spice — classic and balanced |
| Arran 18 Year Old | Sherry cask focus | Richer with dark fruit, chocolate and roasted nuts |
| Arran Quarter Cask | First-fill bourbon | Punchier – sweet oak, spice, shortbread and zest |
| Arran Sauternes Cask | Dessert wine finish | Honeyed, floral, apricot and toasted almond |
| Machrie Moor | Lightly peated Arran | Smoke, citrus peel, sweet malt and sea breeze |
They’ve also been releasing single casks, festival editions, and fun finishes — if you like variety, Arran’s got plenty to explore.
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The Distillery
Arran Distillery
Lochranza, Isle of Arran KA27 8HJ
 Open in maps |
 https://www.arranwhisky.com/ |
 01770 830264 |
Visitor Information
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Address: Arran Distillery, Lochranza, Isle of Arran, KA27 8HJ, Scotland
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Telephone: Usually open for bookings and inquiries year-round
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Visitor Centre:
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Yes – stylish, friendly, and very much worth the trip
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Offers tours, tastings, and a cracking café
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Accessible by ferry from the mainland (Ardrossan to Brodick), then a short scenic drive
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If you're extra keen, there’s also Lagg Distillery in the south — Arran’s peated sibling
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Ownership and Background
Current Owner:
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Isle of Arran Distillers Ltd. (independent and privately owned)
Historical Snapshot:
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1995: First distillation at Lochranza
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2001–2010: Initial releases gain loyal fans
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2019: Opens Lagg Distillery to focus on peated whisky
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Present: Strong range of age-stated and cask-finished releases, growing global profile
It’s still proudly independent — no corporate overload, just good whisky made by people who clearly love what they do.
Distillery Facts
History and Background
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Founded: Established in 1995 by Isle of Arran Distillers, led by former Chivas director Harold Currie.
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First Legal Distillery: The first legal distillery on the Isle of Arran in over 150 years.
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Location: Situated in the village of Lochranza on the northern part of the island.
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Water Source: Uses spring water from Loch na Davie, known for its purity and softness.
Production Details
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Still Setup: Operates two wash stills and two spirit stills.
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Annual Capacity: Approximately 750,000 litres of alcohol per year.
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Distillation Style: Produces both unpeated and limited peated whiskies under different labels.
Whisky Style and Maturation
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House Style: Fruity, sweet, and floral single malts with a clean, natural character.
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Maturation: Primarily in ex-bourbon barrels, but also utilizes sherry, port, cognac, Madeira, and wine casks for special releases.
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Non-Chill Filtered: Most expressions are bottled without chill filtration and at natural colour.
Core Range and Special Editions
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Core Range: Includes age-stated releases such as 10, 12 (cask strength), 14, 18, 21, and 25-year-old single malts.
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Flagship Bottling: The 10-year-old is considered the classic Arran expression.
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Peated Expression: Machrie Moor is the distillery’s limited annual peated release, first launched in 2010.
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Special Editions: Offers frequent limited runs with unique cask finishes and collaborative releases.
Expansion and Growth
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Lagg Distillery: Opened in 2019 by the same company on the southern side of Arran, dedicated to producing heavily peated whisky.
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Dual Identity: Lochranza continues to produce unpeated spirit, while Lagg focuses exclusively on peated styles.
Visitor Experience
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Tourism: Offers a full visitor centre with guided tours, tastings, and a café.
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Accessibility: A popular destination for whisky lovers visiting the Isle of Arran, often included in island whisky trails.
Arran Whisky to Buy
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Arran The Bothy Quarter Cask Scotch Whisky Batch 2Special Price £84.96 Regular Price £119.99 Inc VATSaving £35.03Out of stock
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