The Isle’s Maverick Spirit

In a Scotch whisky landscape dominated by heritage and rules carved in stone, Arran Whisky sets its own pace. Distilled on the Isle of Arran, this is whisky with attitude – bold, contemporary, rooted in Scottish craft yet unafraid to twist the narrative. This isn’t just another Highland dram; it’s island whisky with a pulse.

Where Wild Meets Refined

If you want whisky shaped by wind-whipped coastlines, dramatic Highlands, and the raw soul of a remote Scottish island, Arran is calling. Based in Lochranza at the island’s northern tip, the distillery represents a revival rather than a beginning.

Founded in 1994 by industry legend Harold Currie, Arran brought legal distillation back to a place once famous for hidden stills and quiet smuggling. More than 160 years had passed since an official whisky had been produced on the island. That kind of history isn’t just heritage,  it’s unfinished business.

Building a distillery in a rugged landscape wasn’t a simple job. Weather, infrastructure, and logistics all conspired to make the project a challenge. And then nature stepped in with a sign: construction was famously halted when a pair of golden eagles nested above the site. Call it symbolism, a stroke of myth, or the island giving its blessing,  it adds to the lore Arran carries in every bottle.

Whisky of the Island – Not Just from the Island

What sets Arran apart isn’t the location alone,  it’s how that location shapes the whisky at every step.

Pure Loch Water
The spirit is fed by Loch na Davie, one of the cleanest natural water sources in Scotland. Granite, peat, and high moorland filter the water naturally, contributing to Arran’s signature clarity and mineral freshness.

A Unique Island Climate
Arran’s coastal air brings mist, maritime breeze, and slow maturation,  perfect conditions for whisky to evolve gently and gain balance.

Nothing Stripped Away
Arran doesn’t chill filter. No artificial colouring either. What you get is whisky in its raw, honest, natural form – just as it should be.

The Brand Glow-Up, Clean, Confident, and Contemporary

In its early years, the look of the bottles was traditional, almost conventional. Everything changed in 2019 when Arran stepped into its own attitude,  minimalist design, earth tones, and packaging that reflects the heart of the spirit inside. It was the moment the brand found its voice: premium, modern, distinctive.

This evolution also marked a split in direction:

• Lochranza Distillery continues with unpeated expressions.
• Lagg Distillery, opened in 2019 on the southern coast, focuses on peated whisky with deeper smouldering character.

Two distilleries. Two philosophies. One island with plenty to say.

Whisky with Real Personality

Arran doesn’t rely on gimmicks or theatrics. The whisky does the talking. Special releases and distinctive ranges add to the story:

• The Robert Burns collection honours Scotland’s national poet and celebrates the island’s cultural connection.
• Machrie Moor, inspired by the mysterious standing stones of the island, brings the peat-forward side of Arran’s identity into the spotlight.

Every drop carries a sense of place,  wind, stone, sea, and legend woven into the dram. Arran whisky isn’t something you just sip. It’s something you explore.

Featured Expressions

Arran 10 Year Old

ABV: 46%
A landmark bottle and the benchmark for the distillery’s style.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Floral malt and summer meadow breeze
• Palate: Crisp green apple, soft grape, and malty biscuit
• Finish: A touch of strawberry and salted caramel

Approachable yet sophisticated, it showcases what makes Arran different – coastal character layered with orchard sweetness.

Arran Founder’s Reserve

ABV: 43%
Originally bottled in 2001 as a tribute to the distillery’s earliest supporters, this is collectible whisky with deep heritage.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Vanilla ice cream, tropical fruit, and custard biscuit sweetness
• Palate: White chocolate panna cotta, spiced pineapple, and Danish pastry richness
• Finish: Creamy vanilla custard and buttery shortbread

Not just a whisky – a taste of Arran’s first chapter.

Arran Quarter Cask

ABV: 56.2%
Matured in smaller casks for extra wood influence and power.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Vanilla, coconut, and fresh citrus
• Palate: Honey, warming spice, and a hint of coastal seasoning
• Finish: Long, full, intense, and slightly smoky

A punchy, full-bodied dram that doesn’t hold back.

What’s Next for the Island?

With experimental cask finishes emerging and distilling innovation in full stride, Arran looks set to keep pushing boundaries. Sustainability, community involvement, and forward-thinking production all remain at the core of the distillery’s philosophy.

Lagg, the peated sibling, is only beginning to unfold its story,  and early indications suggest plenty of smoke, depth, and bold character still to come.

Take the Arran Journey

Arran Whisky isn’t just another Scotch distillery. It’s a modern revival of island spirit, built on ingenuity, independence, and a refusal to play it safe. From the pure water of Loch na Davie to the coastal air filling every warehouse, the whisky reflects its landscape with unmistakable confidence.

Explore the range, pour a glass, and taste a bottle that proves tradition doesn’t have to mean playing by the rules.