Lochranza Distillery
Arran is known as ‘Scotland in miniature’, as it shares some of the characteristics of the Highlands and Lowlands, the mainland and the Western Isles. Production began at Lochranza Distillery almost 30 years ago. Its proximity to Loch na Davie provided us with a rather special source of fresh water for distilling. We knew this would hold us in good stead in the years to come.
There’s something magical about the alchemy of whisky making, and there’s no better way to appreciate it than by visiting a distillery. As one of the few independent distilleries in Scotland - and one that proudly follows traditional practice - we promise a particularly fascinating experience. We pride ourselves on offering the warmest of welcomes to our home village.
Address:
Isle of Arran Distillers Ltd, Lochranza, Isle of Arran KA27 8HJ
Phone: +44 (0) 1770830264
Email: bookings@arranwhisky.com
This distillery is included as part of our Ayrshire and Kintyre Tour.
Directions:
Catch the ferry to the Isle of Arran from Ardrossan. The Lochranza Distillery is in the north of the island.
Regular buses operate to fit in with the ferry times. There are three main bus routes covering North Arran, South Arran and the String. Information on buses can be found on the Stagecoach website.
Opening Times:
- Visitor Centre 7 days 10am-4.30pm
- CASKS Cafe Tues-Sun, 10am-4pm (closed on Mondays) with lunch served 12pm-3pm.
- Whisky & Gift Shop 7 days 10am-4.30pm
Podcast:
We interviewed Andy Bell, Head of Sales for Europe and the Nordics for the Isle of Arran Distillers, in our December 2021 podcast.
Andy tells us about the Lochranza Distillery’s unique history, and the impact its founder had on the wider whisky industry. He compares the processes at Lagg and Lochranza, and tells us about their Project North and South, which brought the two spirits together.
Tours:
THE DISTILLERY TOUR £20
Join your Tour Guide for a walk-through of our Distillery, and learn about the processes involved in producing our award-winning Arran Single Malt, finishing with a sample dram of Arran 10 Year Old single malt and the chance to try our Arran Gold Cream Liqueur!
Children and young persons age 8-17 are free of charge, but must have a booked space as all participants count towards capacity. Infants and children under the age of 8 are not permitted on Distillery Tours, including in prams/carriers etc.
Time: 10:45am & 1:45pm daily
Duration: 1hr 15mins
Tastings:
THE ARRAN MALT EXPERIENCE £40
Hosted by one of our knowledgeable tasting guides, this experience begins with a guided tour of our distillery, following the processes involved in producing our wonderful Arran Single Malt.
Then, retire to our tasting room to enjoy a comprehensive introduction to the Arran Single Malt whiskies that have become the heart of our award-winning range. The perfect Arran Whisky experience for both newcomers to our distillery, and enthusiastic Arran Malt fans alike!
Duration: 1hr 30mins
THE LOCHRANZA SELECT TASTING £45
Join your whisky guide in our Dramming Room for a whisky tasting that delves deeper into the range of Arran Single Malts distilled and matured here at Lochranza, allowing you to sample some of our cask strength and limited-edition whiskies, distillery exclusives or maybe even a surprise from the warehouse or the archives! Please note the selection of whiskies will vary depending on availability.
Duration: 1hr 30mins
JOURNEY THROUGH THE AGES TASTING £80
Our Journey Through The Ages Experience takes a deep dive into the 30 year story of Arran Whisky, as well as the history of whisky-making on Arran and beyond. Your journey begins in our still house, and onwards into Warehouse 1, where you will enjoy a dram straight from the cask. From there, you will head to our cosy tasting room to sample some iconic whiskies from the archives, and hear more tales of Arran past and present.
This experience assumes a level of existing knowledge of whisky distilling processes in general, and our distillery in particular, and so is the perfect choice for the consummate Arran Whisky fan looking to delve that little bit further!
Duration: 2hrs 30mins
Drone footage and aerial view of the Arran Distillery with thanks to Charlie Gilmour - check out his full website and services at Charlie Gilmour Photography
