Arran Smugglers' Series Volume 1 / The Illicit Stills

Although the Isle of Arran was once a hot-bed of distilling activity, there were no distilleries on the island for the majority of the 19th and 20th centuries. Isle of Arran Distillers opened their first distillery in 1995, and it quickly became a firm favourite. They bottled its first single malt in 1998, a limited edition 3 year old in a glass decanter. The distillery also produced a peated single malt called Machrie Moor, however an experimental second distillery on the other side of the island, called Lagg, is now the site of all the company’s peated production. As of 2019, the distillery was renamed Lochranza, however its single malt brand is still known by the old name, Arran.

This is the 2015 and first release in the highly acclaimed Arran Smugglers' Series, and was followed by High Seasin 2016 and The Exciseman in 2017. The series was a nod to the shady history of Arran's distilling back during the 18th and 19th century when the island was a producer of illicit whisky. Presented in a book style package to hide the goods. 

The whisky itself represents the type of dram the illicit producers would create. It is a mixture of Port Pipes and Sherry Hogsheads containing unpeated spirit and oak barrels containing peated spirit. An all-together heavier style dram than what is produced today.

One of only 8,700 bottles.