The Isle of Arran Distillery at Lochranza opened in 1995, which makes it one of Scotland's genuinely modern distilleries, and this ten year old is the bottle the whole range is built around. The label calls it the classic Arran and that is fair: it is the clearest statement of what the distillery does. Arran sits off the west coast in the Firth of Clyde, and the whisky made there is entirely unpeated, which sets it apart from the smoky Islay malts it is often shelved beside. What you get instead is a bright, honeyed, orchard fruit driven style that owes a great deal to the distillery's tall narrow stills and its coastal maturation. Everything about the bottling is set up to preserve that. It is non chill filtered, so the compounds that carry texture and flavour remain in the whisky rather than being stripped out for cosmetic clarity, and it is bottled at natural colour with no caramel added. At 46 percent alcohol by volume it sits above the 40 percent minimum by a meaningful margin, giving the palate real weight. The label even prints the coordinates of the distillery, 55.7030 degrees north and 5.2907 degrees west, which is a nice piece of specificity. Expect a rich, honeyed and malty character with soft vanilla and coconut from the American oak, cut by citrus freshness, orchard fruit and a hazelnut note through the middle. It is approachable enough for someone new to single malt and detailed enough to reward attention. Drink it neat or with a few drops of water.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
46% |
| Proof |
92 |
| Size |
700ml |
| Country |
Scotland |
| Region |
Island, Isle of Arran |
| Category |
Single Malt Scotch Whisky |
| Age |
10 years |
| Mashbill |
100% malted barley, unpeated |
| Filtration |
Non chill filtered |
| Colour |
Natural, no added colouring |
| Distillery |
Lochranza Distillery, Isle of Arran, established 1995 |
| Coordinates |
55.7030° N, 5.2907° W |
Tasting Notes
Color: Golden amber, natural and uncoloured.
Nose: Rich, honeyed and malty, with soft vanilla and coconut over a lift of citrus freshness.
Palate: Full and rounded, carrying honey and malt with orchard fruits, vanilla sweetness and a distinct hazelnut note.
Finish: Clean and warming, of medium length, closing on citrus, soft oak and lingering nuttiness.
FAQ
What proof is Arran 10 Year Old? It is bottled at 92 proof, or 46 percent alcohol by volume, non chill filtered and at natural colour.
Is it peated? No. Arran's standard range is entirely unpeated, so expect honey, orchard fruit and malt rather than smoke. The distillery produces a separate peated range under a different name.
Where is it made? At Lochranza Distillery on the Isle of Arran in the Firth of Clyde, which opened in 1995. The label prints the distillery coordinates, 55.7030 degrees north and 5.2907 degrees west.
What does non chill filtered mean? The whisky has not been chilled and filtered to remove compounds that can cause haziness at low temperatures. Leaving them in preserves texture and flavour, and may produce slight cloudiness if the whisky is chilled.
Is this a good first single malt? Yes. The honeyed, fruit forward profile is approachable without being simple, and the 46 percent bottling strength gives it enough body to hold interest.
Where can I buy Arran 10 Year Old Single Malt online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
