Scotland is blessed with the natural ingredients which go to making some of the finest malt whiskies in the world and one of the newest whisky distilleries, producing its own distinctive brand, is on an island little more than a couple of hours’ travel from the centre of Glasgow.
The Isle of Arran Distillery - the Only Legal One!
The Isle of Arran has been described as Scotland in miniature with soaring mountains at its northern end and rolling farmland to the south. And, of course, it can have four seasons of weather in one day too.
Just outside the village of Lochranza on the north-west coast of Arran stands the Isle of Arran distillery. Behind it rise steep cliffs above which the resident golden eagles soar. Building work on the distillery had to cease for several weeks in 1994 while they hatched their young. This is Scotland’s newest whisky distillery and the only legal one on the island.
The Isle of Arran has a long history of whisky distilling but none of it legal. The whisky from the island was smuggled across to the mainland in many late night trips, in numerous sailing craft, for over 150 years. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, there were estimated to be around 50 illegal distilleries on the island. For rich Glasgow business men, ‘taking the Arran waters’ was well known to mean quite something else.
Lochranza Distillery
With such a past, the owner of the new distillery already knew that Arran was the place to set up business.
But to make sure, he commissioned the Department of Geology at Glasgow University to sample and test the water quality at various sites around the island. Lochranza came out tops. The water from a little lochan, Loch na Davie, high in the hills above Lochranza has the purest water on the island and, as every connoisseur of whisky knows, it’s the water that is the most important ingredient.
The distillery opened in 1995 or rather, the first spirit ran from the stills on the 29th June of that year, and at the official opening on August 17th, as if on cue, the golden eagles performed a flypast. An auspicious omen indeed.
Along with the pure water, Lochranza lies in a sheltered bay, warmed by the Gulf Stream and enjoys a mild micro-climate, perfect for whisky production. Visitors can tour the distillery and learn the technical details of whisky-making if they so desire, or just enjoy the sight of the magnificent copper stills, and the clear liquid flowing from them into vast reservoirs prior to casking. Different barrels give different flavours and high notes to a whisky. The Arran distillery uses sherry, bourbon and champagne barrels to produce their single malts. This gives a more mature and fuller bodied whisky than its age suggests.
The distillery produces non-chillfiltered whisky, believing that such a process which prevents clouding of the spirit, also removes many elements of its distinctive flavour. Instead, isle of Arran whisky has been described as ‘the true spirit of nature.’
Distillery Visitor Centre
A modern visitor centre offers tours of the distillery as well as a DVD of the history and processes in whisky making. The Eagle's Nest cafe has spectacular views, as well as locally sourced food and perhaps a glimpse of the eagles in flight.
Visitors of course cannot leave without sampling some of the produce and at the end of their tour, are invited to try some of the single malts. Expert tips are given on what to look for in a malt and how to go about drinking it– without adding either ice or water! Such desecration of Scotland’s national drink is much frowned upon.
The distillery also produces a whisky cream liqueur, the Arran Gold Malt Whisky Cream Liqueur, a velvety smooth drink which slips over the tongue very easily.
Having sampled at one’s leisure a generous range of their products, it is then time to leave – through the shop of course, where it is a rare customer who does not exit bearing a bottle or two to drink at home. Stowing the booty safely in the car’s boot (or trunk if you’re from across the pond) and having scanned the skies for a last glimpse of the golden eagles, then it’s off back to the house or hotel, a roaring fire and a glass of their finest single malt .
For those unable to travel there, some fine Scotch whisky is only a click away.
Ann Burnett - Ann Burnett is an experienced writer of children's stories and scripts, short stories and articles, and comedy.
