Arran Whisky: A tour and Tasting Guide

We were greeted off the bus and taken in to watch an introduction video, talking about the history of the whisky and why they chose the Isle of Arran as their base. The deciding factor came down to Loch na Davie, and it being a source of freshwater. Water plays a big factor when distilling whisky, so being so close makes sense. The distillery is still relatively young, opening almost 30 years ago, and was the only one on the island until they expanded and opened a second in Lagg in 2019.

After the video, we were taken into the second building which was the distillery itself. I am by no means the biggest whisky drinker in the world. But I love the smell, both of whisky and the distillery. A tour lives and breathes by its tour guide though, and luckily ours was brilliant. She was fun, engaging and knowledgeable, able to answer any of our questions. 

The distillery itself is small, you can see the entire facility as the majority of distilling takes place in just one room. I like that, there’s something about smaller breweries and distilleries that instills quality for me. I think it’s because I know the distiller is able to keep a closer eye on the ingredients and process, ensuring everything runs smoothly.

We were allowed a sample, and Arran Whisky treated us to lunch to go with it. So I was very happy with the various meats and cheeses to enjoy. The whisky went down well as we tried various drams. The showpiece was their single malt Arran Whisky. I am not used to straight whisky, it’s never been for me. But I couldn’t deny the quality. It almost felt a bit sacrilegious when I asked if it was suitable for cocktails. Luckily, it’s not a taboo, and they were happy to give some ideas.

Arran 10-year-old single malt had notes of vanilla, classic citrus, and orchard fruits. And it just made the perfect pairing to our meal. Everything complemented the whisky in just the right way, giving flavour without overwhelming our taste buds so we could taste each and every one of these notes. 

My favourite by far was the Arran Gold Cream Liqueur. In fact, as soon as lunch was over, I went straight over to the gift shop and bought the biggest bottle I could find to take home. I enjoy it with ice, and you can get notes of toffee and creamy fudge. You can reseal the bottle, or so I’m told; I haven’t tested this feature myself. Any attempt to do so has been faced with the age-old phrase “but one more maybe?” until the bottle has gone. My family have enjoyed each and every bottle in a single sitting. I’ve since ordered more bottles, and not once has the bottle ever been half-drunk. The drink went over especially well with Christmas dessert, even being requested as a household staple now.

I loved the Isle of Arran, and would happily come back to explore. We sadly had to move on to ensure we saw all we could before the last ferry home left. We still had time to quickly stop by a farm and see fluffy highland cows. I would love to come back to the island and explore at my own pace.

From my short time here, I can see why they chose this island as the home of their distillery. The island of Arran embodies a culture of taking the time to do things the right way. Taking the time to carefully choose the ingrediants, and taking pride in what you create. Ensuring that only the finest ingrediants are picked, ensuring the finished product is fitting for an island that offers so much to travellers.

The island has some stunning walks if you have the time, and beautiful spots waiting to be explored. Waiting for you to sit on the grass and enjoy a dram of Arran Whisky with the view and friends.