Arran 2004 Vintage
Orkney Bere 2012
Arran 2004 Vintage
Bere is Scotland's oldest cultivated barley and was commonly used until the 20th century for the production of whisky.
Bere for this Arran whisky was grown on Orkney before being malted in Inverness, subsequently distilled and of course matured on Arran at the Distillery. It has been matured for over 8 years in American Oak barrels.
The Isle of Arran has played host to many distilleries, mostly illicit and the last legal distillery closed in 1835. What is surprising is that it took until 1995 for a still to run again as the Arran distillery at Lochranza came online. Financed mostly by Harold Currie who had retired from Chivas, the team also sought investment from 2000 investors who gave up £450 for a share of future whiskies. Many of whom turned up for the official opening, including a descendent of the last person to be killed on Arran for distilling illegally. Since the initial days, Arran distillery has prospered thanks to an array of cask types and special editions. The whisky, in time, has come of age and growing demand meant an expansion in 2017, with a new pair of stills. Things went even further in 2019 when a second distillery (Lagg) was established at the southern end of Arran.
