Lochranza Distillery - Arran’s Highland Identity

Established in 1995, Lochranza Distillery on the Isle of Arran is one of Scotland’s younger distilleries, but not so young that it hasn’t earned a strong reputation among whisky enthusiasts.

A short ferry ride from the Kintyre peninsula, the Lochranza Distillery is located in the village of the same name on the most northern tip of the island. There is much confusion on the distillery’s region. It’s a short jump from Campbeltown but also not far from the Lowlands region. Or is it an island whisky? Technically, it’s none of the above, it’s classified as Highland distillery because of its locale on the north part of the isle.

Lochranza, sometimes still referred to as Arran Distillery (its original name), is owned by Isle of Arran Distillers Ltd., an independent and privately held company. The name change came after the opening of a second distillery on the island, Lagg, making Lochranza the northern counterpart in a two-distillery island story.

Established by Harold Currie, a former managing director at Chivas Brothers, the distillery was financed in a truly unique way by issuing ‘Founder’s Bonds’ to 2,500 investors. Instead of a normal return of principal plus interest to the investors, each investor received 10 cases of Arran whisky (five in 1998 and five in 2001) for their £450 investment. At well under £10 per bottle that sounds like a great investment to us! 

Shortly after the distillery's opening, the late Queen Elizabeth officially opened the visitor center and was presented two casks for two chaps named William and Harry.  Those casks, remarkably, still rest in Warehouse No. 1, unclaimed to this day.

The distillery’s water source, Loch Na Davie, flows through a series of six natural waterfalls before reaching the site. Inside, Lochranza’s gleaming Forsyth stills, with their wide bases and long necks, along with extended fermentation times of around 75 hours, help produce a spirit known for its bright orchard fruit character, with notes of apple and citrus.

For those exploring independent bottlings, Lochranza offers a fresh and vibrant whisky, and you can find select expressions in our current collection, often showcasing a range of cask types that enhance its naturally fruity profile.

Available Now

We currently feature independently bottled Lochranza (Arran) single malts, highlighting the distillery’s signature fruit-forward character across unique cask expressions.

If you’re looking for a whisky that balances freshness, complexity, and approachability, Lochranza is an excellent choice.

👉 Shop Arran / Lochranza bottles here

A short ferry ride from the Kintyre peninsula, the Lochranza Distillery is located in the town of the same name on the most northern tip of the island. There is much confusion in the distillery’s region – it’s a short jump from Campbeltown but also not far from the Lowlands region. Or is it an island whisky? Technically, it’s none of the above, it’s classified as Highland distillery because of its locale on the north part of the isle.