Isle of Arran Distillery comes of age
The Isle of Arran Distillery has come a long way in the last 12 years, but where did it all begin.
The site was first chosen as is home to the purest water in all of Scotland water that’s been cleansed by granite and softened by peat as it slowly meanders from the mountaintops into nearby Loch na Davie.
Building work started in December 1994 and the first sprit ran through the spirit safe at 2.29pm on 29 June 1995 - two months before the official opening of the distillery on August 17.
The Visitor Centre was opened by Her Majesty the Queen exactly two years later and in 1998, after three years of maturation, the first cask of Arran single malt was opening on July 25 by actor Ewan McGregor and the rest, as they say,
Double-distilled from un-peated malt, the Arran single malt is matured in both ex-sherry and ex-bourbon casks for perfect balance. The result is a fuller bodied dram with a delightful sweet-fruity character that shows maturity far beyond its years. They only use the traditional methods of distilling, with wooden washbacks and copper stills, designed to their exact specification. The Arran Single Malts are mostly made from un-peated malt, with the exception of the two expressions of their peated Machrie Moor single malts, and they don’t use caramel for artificial colouring. All of their single malts are non-chillfiltered, which means they’re natural in pigment and exactly the way whisky should be!
The first ever 10 yearold from the distillery was launched in 2006 and their 14 year-old followed in 2010. In February 2016 they released their first ever core range 18 year-old which brings their staple offering to a 10, 14 and 18 year-old single malt. This is a massive achievement this forward-thinking 100 per cent Scottish distillery and they are proud to carry the history of whisky distilling on Arran into the modern whisky market all over the world; their single malt is now distributed in around 45 different worldwide markets and this network is growing every year. A special 21st anniversary bottling will be released in September.
Arran is a welcoming island, its people are open and friendly and nowhere is this better demonstrated than in the Visitor Centre. The Visitor Centre welcomes around 88,000 visitors every year and was awarded distillery visitor experience of the year two years running in 2014 and 2015 by Scottish Field Magazine. Officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen in 1997, the Visitor Centre is situated right next to the distillery. It affords you the opportunity to learn about the art of whisky making from professional guides who have become well known as being among the very best in the industry. You can tour the distillery and witness the magic for yourself and at the end of the tour enjoy a dram in the company of like-minded people. There are several different types of distillery and tasting tours to choose from depending on the
time you have and the interests of your particular group. For those driving, the friendly tour guides will supply you with your own ‘drivers dram’ in a bespoke little bottle so that you can take it home and enjoy it later at your leisure. No need for the driver to miss out!
As well the educational side of your visit you can enjoy a meal in Casks Café or simply a well-earned seat and a cup of coffee while enjoying the panoramic views. Casks Café is proud to work very closely with 14 island producers as part of the Visitor Scotland ‘Taste Our Best’ initiative. You will find delicious dishes on the menu created using only the best of local produce, from the island cheese and meats to Blackwater Bakehouse bread which is specially made for their using their own grist! It is the perfect place to enjoy the true flavours of Arran all under one roof.
If you’d like something a little more invigorating to drink they naturally have the largest and most comprehensive stock of Arran whisky in the world. You may choose to sample some of their Single Malts by choosing a whisky flight to go alongside your meal which is a great way to ‘try before you buy’ and find the style that you enjoy most. It is also a fantastic way to try some of their more limited editions.
For the festival the distillery will be opening a brand new building as part of their Visitor Centre experience. The new blending and tasting room will house the most extensive collection of Arran Single Malts and be a dedicated space for distillery manager James MacTaggart to work on new expressions and host groups from all over the world.