Isle of Arran Distillers

In the early 19th century there were more than 50 whisky distilleries on Arran most of them illegal and carefully hidden from the eyes of the taxmen. The Island’s malt whisky was shipped to the mainland and enjoyed by the gentry who regularly ‘took the Arran waters’. It was acclaimed at the time as the best in Scotland – only rivalled by those from the ‘Glen of Livet’. The Arran Distillery was opened in 1995 at Lochranza in the north of the Island. During the official opening ceremony two golden eagles who live on the mountain behind the Distillery provided a fly past as a 'thank you' for halting building work for several weeks to allow them to hatch their chicks. On a warm summer's day they can still be found floating high on the thermal currents before dropping like a stone hunting their quarry.

Ripe Golden Barley. The initial rush of rich vanilla sweetness gives way to the fruits of slow distillation – kiwi banana cantaloupe melon – with just a dusting of cocoa powder. It is undoubtedly complex and yet the aromas are in complete harmony with the malt. A touch of cinnamon adds a spicy edge to the soft and sweet texture which captivates the palate. The classic Arran citrus notes have rounded with age and reveal new depths of character against a background of sweet oak. It drifts over the tongue like golden syrup and fades ever so slowly to tempt another sip.

Delicious with smoked salmon.

Silver Medal - International Wines and Spirits Competition 2006. Malt Advocate Magazine 20th Anniversary Edition 2011 "one of the 20 defining whiskies of the past 20 year". Gold Medal - San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2012. Double Gold Medal - China Wine & Spirits Best Value Awards 2014.