Arran Collection

The Revival of Island Distilling

Founded in 1995 at Lochranza on the northern tip of the Isle of Arran, Arran Single Malt marked the triumphant return of legal whisky distilling to an island once famous for illicit stills. Often described as "Scotland in Miniature" due to its varied landscape, Arran provides an extraordinary environment for maturation, where fresh mountain air meets gentle sea breezes. Today, Isle of Arran Distillers operates two sites: the original Lochranza Distillery, dedicated exclusively to unpeated, fruit-forward malts, and the newer Lagg Distillery on the south end, producing heavily peated expressions.

The winemaking and distilling philosophy at Arran prioritizes uncompromising purity. All Arran Single Malts are bottled without chill-filtration and with no artificial caramel coloring, allowing the true character of the spirit and oak to shine through untouched.

 

Pure Mountain Water & Artisanal Production

The distinct style of Arran whisky stems directly from its untouched island raw materials and slow, traditional production methods:

• Easan Biorach Water Source: Water cascades down through granite and peat beds into Loch na Davie, delivering pure, soft mountain spring water that forms the foundation of every wash.

• Tall Copper Pot Stills & Oregon Pine Washbacks: Long ferments in traditional wooden washbacks followed by distillation in tall copper stills maximize copper contact, creating a signature light, clean, and ester-rich spirit laden with orchard fruits.

• Cask Variety: Maturation relies heavily on first-fill and refill ex-Bourbon barrels for vanilla sweetness, alongside hand-selected Sherry hogsheads, Bodega butts, and secondary wine cask finishes (Amarone, Sauternes, Port).

The Whisky Portfolio

• Arran 10 Year Old (Flagship): The definitive benchmark of the distillery. Vibrant, fresh, and smooth, offering aromatic notes of green apple, honeyed malt, citrus zest, and soft vanilla oak. A versatile dram bottled at 46% ABV for enhanced texture and finish.

• Arran 18 Year Old: A rich, mature single malt aged predominantly in ex-Sherry casks. It delivers deep, complex layers of caramelized orange peel, dark chocolate, baked figs, toasted almonds, and warming cinnamon spice.

• Arran Barrel Reserve: An approachable, non-age-statement single malt matured entirely in first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels. Bright and lively with sweet notes of vanilla, orchard fruit, crisp citrus, and delicate oak spice.

• Arran Cask Finishes (Sauternes, Amarone, Port): A dynamic range of unpeated single malts finished in specialty European wine casks. These expressions marry Arran's signature citrus and honey core with rich dried fruits, cherry sweetness, or luscious stone-fruit undertones.

• Machrie Moor (Peated Series): Crafted to showcase the darker side of the island, this expression uses peated malt (20 ppm) to weave subtle campfire smoke, earthy peat, and maritime salt through Arran’s underlying sweet tropical fruit profile.

Epicurean Food & Cigar Pairings

• Arran 10 Year Old & Barrel Reserve: Fresh oysters, smoked salmon crostini, pan-seared scallops, creamy brie, or key lime pie.

• Arran 18 Year Old & Cask Finishes: Roasted duck breast, dark chocolate tarts, venison carpaccio, blue cheese (like Stilton or Roquefort), or a medium-bodied Habano cigar.