Distillery and Whisky News April 2025 - Lochranza
Hello whisky lovers, and welcome to our April edition of Distillery and Whisky News.
The clocks have finally sprung forward and while that doesn't guarantee better weather, it does mean the lighter nights of spring have arrived. And doesn't that just make everything seem better?
Looking for a unique way to celebrate Easter this year, we like the sound of the Chocolate & Whisky Tour at Glasgow's Clydeside Distillery, where you'll sample whisky and artisan chocolates paired by a local chocolatier.
If you've plans to get away this Easter then make our Plan Your Trip page your first port of call to help with planning your perfect distillery tour experience.
Distillery Of The Month: Lochranza Distillery
Lochranza Distillery, one of Scotland’s few independent distilleries, is set to host a special edition of the Arran Whisky Festival from June 27-29, marking 30 years of whisky-making excellence. Known for its warm hospitality and traditional whisky craftsmanship, Lochranza promises an unforgettable experience for whisky lovers.
Kicking off proceedings on Friday, June 27 the exclusive White Stag Dinner will be held in a marquee at Lochranza Distillery. Guests can look forward to an evening of exceptional drams, fine dining, and the company of fellow whisky lovers, making it a must-attend event for fans of Arran Single Malt.
Saturday, June 28, is the main festival day, with free general entry and a packed schedule of events. Visitors can enjoy live music, a full bar service in the marquee and a variety of masterclasses hosted by industry experts. From deep dives into rare single casks to exploring future whisky innovations, there’s something for every whisky enthusiast.
Festival attendees will have the chance to attend expert-led whisky sessions, including tastings of Arran Single Malt from 1995, explorations of Lagg Single Malt’s future cask releases, and deep dives into the science of whisky blending. Other sessions will cover the global influence of Arran Single Malt, food and wine pairings, and a look at limited-edition bottlings. A drop-in tasting of Core Range Classics with Eunan Morrison will also be available.
Sunday, June 29, brings the 30th Anniversary Celebration at the Festival Marquee. For just £5, guests can raise a dram to three decades of distilling, enjoy a charity BBQ and contribute to local Arran causes.
Whether you’re a longtime fan of Arran whisky or new to the island’s whisky scene, the Arran Whisky Festival 2025 promises an unforgettable weekend filled with exceptional drams, expert insights, and the spirit of celebration. Mark your calendar and prepare to raise a glass to 30 years of Lochranza Distillery.
Find out more about Lochranza Distillery at its dedicated pages on the DistilleryTours.scot website.
Venue of the Month: The Good Spirits Co.
If you're looking for a great bottle of whisky for a gift this year, you'd be hard pressed to find better than what's on offer at The Good Spirits Co. The range of single malts varies from week to week, but there are usually between 250 and 300 different expressions in stock at any one time. They have everything from budget-friendly everyday drams to rare, collectable single casks from long closed distilleries like Port Ellen or Brora.
Not only do they have an incredible range of whiskies, spirits, wines and beers, they also have a fantastic line-up of tastings. Most of these events are held in the tasting room at Glasgow's Bath Street store, but they also run online tastings from time-to-time as well.
Their 14th birthday tasting on 30th May sounds like fun with six whiskies to be tasted, if you can't make that don't worry as there is a virtual version, featuring the same six whiskies, taking place on 31st May.
Find out more about The Good Spirits Co. on its dedicated page at the DistilleryTours website.
Date With A Dram: Balvenie Distillery
For April's Date With A Dram competition we've teamed up with Balvenie Distillery to offer you the chance to win a bottle of Sweet Toast of American Oak 12.
Competition Time
To be in with a chance of winning a bottle of Balvenie's Sweet Toast of American Oak 12 simply follow DistilleryTours.scot on Facebook or Instagram and share our 'Date with a Dram' post dated 1 April. The lucky winner will be chosen at random and announced in our May newsletter!
Congratulations to Pete Law from Aberdeenshire who won March's competition - a bottle of Leith Export Co's Table Whisky.
You must be 18 years old or over to enter. Please note, will never approach you for your credit card details or personal information, send you friend requests or ask you to click on a link. Please stay safe online and remember to drink responsibly.
DistilleryTours Podcast: Bladnoch Distillery
In the April episode of the Distillery Tours podcast we speak to Nick Savage, Master Distiller and Head of Operations at Bladnoch Distillery.
Nick tells us all about Bladnoch’s history, stunning setting and its 2015 ‘resurrection’, describing it as a ‘brand new, 200 year old distillery’!
DistilleryTours Visits... The Glasshouse
We took a trip to Edinburgh's Glasshouse Hotel to experience a 5 Star overnight stay and tasty Tamdhu tasting...
For whisky lovers looking to indulge in Scotland’s finest drams while enjoying a luxurious stay, Edinburgh’s Glasshouse Hotel is a dream destination. With its dedicated whisky-themed suites, a bar boasting hundreds of expressions, and specially curated tasting events, this five-star retreat offers the perfect base to explore the world of whisky, whether within its elegant walls or as a starting point for distillery adventures across Scotland.
Malt of the Month: Bladnoch Wave 1
For our Malt of the Month we learn more about Bladnoch Distillery's Master Distiller's Collection Wave 1.
The Wave is the second series in Bladnoch Distillery's Master Distiller's Collection. Demonstrating the marrying process of whisky casks, each annual release reveals one of the five whisky making pillars used by Dr Nick Savage.
Perfect Serve: Orange & Fig Highball
The Perfect Serve will titillate your tastebuds with a delicious whisky cocktail featured every month...
This month's Perfect Serve is an Orange & Fig Highball - a lovely, refreshingly light way to enjoy Tullibardine as the better weather starts to arrive.
Festival Season Incoming...
We will be at the Scottish National Whisky Festival on 5th April at Glasgow's SEC and the following weekend (12th April) we will head to Alloa's Town Hall for the Clackmannanshire's Whisky Festival. Tickets are still available for both events.
Visit our stand and you can try some delicious drams from Dewar's Aberfeldy Distillery, Wolfburn Whisky, The GlenDronach, Tullibardine Whisky, Holyrood Distillery, Speyburn Single Malt Scotch Whisky as well as Whisky52. So make sure you come on by and have a dram with us!
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