Arran 25 years

Arran

Origin

Islands (Scotland)

Type

Single Malt Whisky

Barrel

Sherry

Age

25 years

Alcohol

46°

Value

300 points

About the product

Arran 25yo is not an everyday whisky. It is currently the oldest official bottling of Arran available, which is no surprise when you know that the distillery has only been producing since 1995. There are 3,000 bottles of this 25-year-old whisky available worldwide. It will remain part of the base range, and on a regular basis a new batch of it will be bottled, each one minimally different from the previous one but different.

This whisky, like many of Arran's expressions, matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks. This is the perfect combination to allow the qualities of the alcohol produced by Lochranza Distillery to shine over the long term. It was then bottled without cold filtration and without the addition of colouring, at a strength of 46% ABV.

On the aroma, you get rich oak notes first and foremost. Added to this is a gentle element of nutmeg and then sweeter aromas rear their heads, with baked ripe figs, soft sultanas and black cherries as main aromas. On the palate, you get an explosion of flavours. Fruitcake with toasted almonds and cinnamon and then the juicy zest of oranges and tangerines, rounded off ear manuka honey, dark brown sugar, baked apricot and a touch of white pepper that brings the complexity all together into a beautiful whole. Finally, the finish is creamy and spicy, with dark chocolate, walnuts and compote of black fruits.

About the brand

Arran Whisky is made at the still fairly young Lochranza Distillery. The first plans for it were made in 1993 and the first alcohol ran out of the stills there in 1995. That means they will celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2025, hopefully resulting in a nice 30yo? Stay tuned for that news!

Lochranza Distillery can be found in the village of the same name in the north of the Isle of Arran. That's on the west coast of Scotland, a stone's throw from Glasgow. It's a popular weekend trip from Glasgow, because on Arran you'll find a sort of miniature version of Scotland. A short distance away (the road around the whole island is about 80 km in total) you'll find mountains, valleys, beautiful green meadows, beautiful beaches and everything that makes Scotland so enticing for foodies: fresh produce from the land and sea, and whisky, of course. The distillery's location among the mountains in the north of the island is unquestionably spectacular. So must have thought the eagles who were already living there when the distillery was built. They have since become part of the identity of Arran whisky and you can observe them on site to your heart's content.

The whisky made by Lochranza is much loved. It is characterised by a distinctly fruity character that appeals to novice tasters and experienced whisky lovers alike. The basic range includes whiskies that can now be called modern classics such as the 10yo, the Quarter Cask and the Sherry Cask. All of them are tasty, accessible and affordable whiskies of high quality, carefully blended from the casks aged in their warehouses. The Machrie Moor, the lightly peated version made at Lochranza, is also a favourite of many, but will no longer be produced from 2026, as the group has set up a second distillery in the south of the island making only peated whisky (Lagg Distillery).