Arran 18 is a mature, elegant single malt from Lochranza Distillery on the Isle of Arran. Since the mid-1990s, Arran has built a strong reputation for a bright, fruit-forward house style and a consistent focus on cask quality. At 18 years of age, that signature Arran character becomes deeper and more layered—richer oak integration, greater complexity, and a more “grown-up” sherried dimension—while still keeping the fresh citrus and orchard-fruit core the distillery is known for.
The producer: Lochranza Distillery (Arran)
Set in the scenic village of Lochranza in the north of Arran, the distillery works with a clear philosophy: let the spirit and the wood do the talking. Arran’s unpeated single malts are typically defined by clean malt sweetness, citrus brightness, and orchard and stone fruits, often gaining a gently tropical lift with age. Arran also has a sister distillery, Lagg, which focuses on peated whisky—while Lochranza remains the home of Arran’s classic unpeated style.
Style, casks & character
Arran 18 is bottled at 46% ABV and is generally presented in a “minimal-intervention” style. The maturity is shaped by a pronounced sherry-cask influence, which brings a luxurious depth—think darker sweetness, spice and polished oak—layered over Arran’s naturally fruity spirit.
Tasting profile
Nose: Orchard fruits (apple, pear) with syrupy sweetness, gentle spice and toasted oak. Palate: Caramelised orange, dark chocolate and soft sweetness, with hints of vanilla and baked stone fruit. Finish: Long, cohesive and elegant—fruit and oak lingering in balance.
