New Lagg distillery on Arran opens next year

Much remains to be done, but the buildings and visitor centre of the new distillery are already taking shape with the recently completed steelworks. Its name: Lagg Distillery. It is the second distillery of the Isle of Arran Distillers at the southern tip of Arran. Despite a rather harsh winter on the island, construction work is fully on schedule for the opening in spring 2019. Euan Mitchell, managing director of Isle of Arran Distillers, is delighted: "It is fantastic to see the vision come true. With just under a year to go until we plan to open the Lagg Distillery, we are delighted to confirm that everything is on target to be completed by spring next year."

Family heritage

The new distillery is located near the village of Lagg, right next to fields of barley that provide a portion of the malt currently used in production at the Arran distillery, the group’s other site near Lochranza, in the north of the island. Isle of Arran Distillers recently announced that Graham Omand will become manager of the Lagg distillery. Graham is not unknown: He has been working for Arran for over eight years under the guidance of master distiller James MacTaggart, his uncle. Ideal conditions, because James has passed on his knowledge and experience from 42 years in the whisky industry – as a family heritage, so to speak – to his nephew.

Smoky and peaty whisky

Born on the Isle of Islay, Graham's passion and knowledge of whisky making is also a result of his surroundings. All this makes him the ideal person to produce a rich, smoky, peaty and high-quality spirit for the Lagg distillery. Because the owners have decided that heavily peaty whisky will become the flagship of the Lagg Distillery Single Malts. A decision based on the popularity of Arran's Machrie Moor limited edition. At full production, Lagg Distillery will increase the annual capacity of the Isle of Arran Distillers from currently 1.2m litres to then 2m litres.

Lagg Cask Society

Three new warehouses have also been completed to store the first Lagg single malt casks, which is particularly important for all members of the Lagg Cask Society. The Scotch producer recently offered 700 first-filled casks for sale, giving whisky fans the opportunity to become part of its exclusive Lagg Cask Society. James MacTaggart selected ex-Bourbon barrels from Kentucky especially for this purpose, which will then be filled in spring 2019. This unique offer will not be repeated for another ten years and offers members the exclusive opportunity to be part of the journey at Lagg from the very beginning.

Image: Isle of Arran Distillers