Arran 10 Year Old Whisky

It’s still one of the hidden Whisky gems of the Scottish islands.

Harold Currie was a senior director at Chivas. He somehow got it in his head that he could do better. Harold was also a fan of the Isle of Arran — an island in the middle of the Firth of Clyde which had at one time been home to at least fifty illegal distilleries. So he saved his pennies, took on a few investors, and broke ground on his dream in 1994. But two golden eagles built a nest on site and construction had to be stopped until the chicks were fully fledged. Solid move, right? Today, they produce a tidy range of Single Malt offerings, limited editions, special blends, and a Scottish cream Liqueur.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again… Isle of Arran is one of those “Whiskey-insider” secrets. But if you are new to their Whiskies, it’s understandable that when you see the word “Isle” in the distillery name you think that this is a peaty dram. It’s not. There’s nary a trace of smoke or peat. Instead, the entire Arran line is smooth and fruit-forward in an almost Highland style. Arran 10 Year Old Whisky is their core offering — medium-bodied, filled with notes of citrus zest, and bottled without chill-filtering at an absolutely perfect 46% ABV.