Lochranza Distillery (Arran)
Lochranza Distillery is situated in the village of Lochranza, on the northern part of the Isle of Arran. The distillery enjoys a picturesque setting, nestled between the rugged mountains and the sea.
History & Ownership
Lochranza Distillery was founded in 1995 by Harold Currie and his associates, making it the first legal distillery on the Isle of Arran in over 150 years. The island has a long history of whisky production, including illegal distillation, but Lochranza marked a new chapter with its establishment. The distillery is owned by Isle of Arran Distillers Ltd., an independent company dedicated to producing premium single malt Scotch whisky. In 2019, Isle of Arran Distillers Ltd. opened a second distillery on the southern part of the island, named Lagg Distillery. While Lochranza continues to focus on unpeated whiskies, Lagg Distillery specialises in producing heavily peated expressions, adding to the diversity of Arran's whisky offerings.
Production Style & Core Range
Lochranza Distillery produces a variety of single malt whiskies, known for their quality and diversity. The distillery uses copper pot stills, wooden washbacks and sources its water from Loch na Davie. The distillery offers a range of whiskies under the Arran brand, including Arran 10 Year Old (the flagship expression, known for its balanced profile with notes of citrus, vanilla and orchard fruits). There is also the Arran 14 Year Old (with richer flavours of dried fruits, spices and oak) and the Arran 18 Year Old (a complex and refined whisky with deep flavours of dark chocolate, dried apricots and spice). The Arran Quarter Cask 'The Bothy' is whisky matured in smaller casks, enhancing the contact between the spirit and wood, resulting in a robust and flavourful profile, meanwhile the Arran Sherry Cask 'The Bodega' is a rich and full-bodied whisky matured in sherry casks, offering notes of dried fruits, nuts, and spices.
Visitor Centre
Lochranza Distillery offers a comprehensive visitor experience, including guided tours that cover the whisky-making process, the history of the distillery and tastings of various expressions. There is also a café and a shop where exclusive bottlings are available.
