Celebrate Arran Whisky Festival 2021
Ever been to the Arran Festival of Malt and Music?
It’s an annual event held on the Isle of Arran, in which lovers of ‘The Arran Malt’ can raise a dram and celebrate together. But unsurprisingly, due to the pandemic, the distillery has decided to go virtual this year – with in-person sessions being swapped out for a series of online events.
The festival will take place between the 25th-27th June, and updates on how to join the line-up of activities will be posted on their social media pages closer to the time. So, why not get involved? Treat yourself to our Isle of Arran Whisky Set, tune in to their YouTube channel and enjoy.
To give you a head start, here our experts provide a little introduction to this popular single malt brand and take a closer look at how the delicious spirit is made and what makes it so special.
Geography is the key
Isle of Arran distillery was founded in 1995. Many locations were considered at the time. But due to its proximity to Loch na Davie, Lochranza – at the very north of the island – was eventually settled upon. And it’s this location that gives the single malt its incredibly clean and sweet taste.
It’s all about the water.
Lochranza is home to some of the purest water in all of Scotland. And every drop of Isle of Arran whisky starts its life as rainwater that has pooled in the Loch na Davie. This then cascades down the beautiful hillside, through six stunning waterfalls, each one purifying the water even further.
What’s more, Arran itself enjoys a warm microclimate. Sea breezes and clear mountain air come together with the warm flow of the Gulf stream, creating an ideal atmosphere for distilling and maturing the spirit. It’s the perfect geographical location for creating a pure dram; one that is entirely natural and unadulterated. And, since the first cask was opened on the 25th July 1998, the distillery has produced a wide range of delectable award-winning single malts.
Arran whisky – created using old fashioned methods
The island has a reputation for producing the highest quality whisky. And, in part, this is due to the old fashion methods used by the distillery. They may not be the cheapest or easiest, but they’re certainly the best.
Arran single malt is made from two main ingredients – concerto barley and water from Loch na Davie. The barley is milled in-house and mixed with water and yeast to begin fermentation. This process produces a liquid (called wash), which is then double-distilled in copper pot stills and subsequently matured in oak casks.
The quality of these casks is crucial. Having previously held wines and spirits (such as sherry or bourbon), they give the spirit its colour and character. The distillery never adds caramel to their whiskies or strips flavour away using chill filtration. By taking advantage of their surroundings and using a traditional technique, they’re able to serve up a naturally delicious 46% ABV dram.
Our Isle of Arran Whisky Set
Here at Whisky Tasting Company, as part of our core range of single malts, we’re incredibly proud to offer an Isle of Arran Whisky Tasting Set. This is available for just £32 and features five of the distillery’s signature styles of single malt – therefore giving you a true representation of Arran whisky. These include:
- Arran 10 Year Old Single Malt
- Arran Port Cask Finish
- Arran Sauternes Cask Finish
- Machrie Moor
- The Arran Malt Aged 14 Years
Re-bottled at our facility, you’ll receive 30ml miniatures – which is just enough to sample the personality and charm of each. The set also contains a series of tasting cards, with facts and information about the Isle of Arran distillery and the Arran malt, and a luxury whisky-themed tasting mat.
It’s a fantastic introduction to this unique Scottish brand and the perfect way to celebrate the Arran Festival of Malt and Music 2021 from the comfort and safety of your own home. So, why not treat yourself? Order your Arran Whisky set today, set aside the last weekend in June, and get involved in the distillery’s online events.
And if you have any questions about Isle of Arran whisky, and the selection available in our store, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We have excellent knowledge in this area and we’re always happy to help. You can either give us a call on 01743 247220 or fill out our online form and we’ll get back to you.