About Lochranza Distillery
The legacy name Isle of Arran Distillery refers to the modern Lochranza Distillery at the north end of Arran. It opened in 1995 and produces the unpeated Arran Single Malt. Since the separate Lagg Distillery began operating in the island's south in 2019, using the Lochranza name is important: the two sites deliberately make different styles.
Lochranza helped demonstrate that a new independent island distillery could build a recognised single malt without inheriting old stock. Its clean, fruit-led spirit draws on water from Loch na Davie, traditional double distillation and a maturation programme that lets bourbon, sherry and other casks remain visible without masking the distillate.
History
Harold 'Hal' Currie, a former managing director at Chivas Brothers, developed the project after retiring from the larger whisky industry. Ground was broken in December 1994. Construction paused when golden eagles nested near the site, a well-documented episode remembered in the pair of eagles used on Arran labels.
The first mash began on 24 June 1995 and new make flowed on 29 June, restoring legal whisky production to Arran after 158 years. A short initial run was followed by completion of the build and a formal opening in August. The visitor centre opened in 1997, when Queen Elizabeth II visited; the first young casks could legally be tasted as Scotch the following year.
The distillery began with one pair of stills. A second pair was commissioned in 2017, doubling distillation capacity while maintaining the established spirit character. Isle of Arran Distillers remained independent and added Lagg in 2019. Lochranza retained the unpeated Arran identity, while heavily peated production moved to the new southern distillery rather than becoming the standard at both sites.
What makes it distinctive
Rainwater gathers in Loch na Davie above the village and reaches the distillery through the Easan Biorach burn after descending over granite. The distillery uses unpeated barley for its core spirit, with controlled mashing and double distillation in four copper pot stills. The new make is clean and sweet, often showing citrus and orchard fruit.
Bourbon barrels support vanilla, apple and tropical fruit, while sherry hogsheads and butts add dried fruit and spice. Wine and quarter-cask releases explore further wood effects. Arran normally presents its single malt at natural colour and avoids chill filtration at appropriate bottling strengths, preserving oils that contribute texture. Recent limited work with island-grown barley is a specific project and should not imply that every Arran bottling uses locally grown grain.
Whisky character and significance
Arran Single Malt is commonly associated with lemon, apple, pear, pineapple, malt and vanilla. Sherry-led bottlings become richer and spicier, while longer maturation can add wax, herbs and deeper orchard fruit. The core Lochranza character remains unpeated; smoky whisky from Lagg belongs to the sister distillery unless a bottle clearly states otherwise.
Visiting Lochranza Distillery
Lochranza has a visitor centre, production tours, tastings, retail and hospitality. Exact experience types, access and seasonal operation should be checked directly. Seeing both Lochranza and Lagg can illustrate the island company's contrasting approaches, but they are at opposite ends of Arran and travel time should not be underestimated.
Location and surrounding area
Arran lies in the Firth of Clyde and is often called 'Scotland in miniature' because mountain, glen, farmland and coast are concentrated on one island. Lochranza's northern setting is mountainous and close to the Kintyre ferry connection. Island transport depends on ferries and roads, so weather and sailing changes require flexible planning.
- Whisky region
- Highlands (Island)
- Location
- Lochranza, Isle of Arran, KA27 8HJ
- Visitor information
- Check the official website for current tours, tastings, access and booking arrangements.
Further information
Visit the official Lochranza Distillery website
Arran Whisky: official history
Lochranza: official distillery information