First release in landscape inspired series from the Isle of Arran Distillers
The award-winning Isle of Arran Distillers is launching its latest series of limited-edition whiskies, this time celebrating the unique beauty of the landscape on the island. The first of The Explorers Series pays homage to Brodick Bay, which can be found on the east coast of the Isle of Arran.
The Brodick Bay whisky has been matured for a minimum of 20 years in both Bourbon barrels and Sherry hogsheads before being finished in Oloroso Sherry butts, sourced directly from Bodegas Tradicion in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. The result is a memorable sweetness with rich layers of intense fruit.
The first sip of the intense sweetness coats the taste buds as the creamy toffee develops into a treacle laced fudge. Dark chocolate raisins and honey give this dram delicious depth which stays long on the palate. Over time or with a drop of water, the Brodick Bay opens up to show another side with soft oak and hints of pink pepper.
Located 12 miles from the Isle of Arran’s Lochranza distillery, Brodick Bay is backed by dense woodlands of Scots pine and is guarded by the islands highest peak, Goat Fell. The bay is surrounded by a vast a unique terrain, ranging from a sandy beach, verdant field, lush forests and rocky mountain passes.
Speaking about The Explorers Series, Euan Mitchell, Managing Director of Isle of Arran Distillers, said: “Seeing the natural beauty of this island every day is so inspiring. It felt like the obvious choice to pay homage to the picturesque scenery through our new limited-edition series.
“This first release is a very complex and multi-layered whisky, which was a conscious choice to reflect the diversity and charm of the island. All the instalments from The Explorers Series will be innovative blend of flavours. We want to give whisky lovers something that is unlike anything else, because to us, there’s nowhere like the Isle of Arran.”
The Explorers Series follows the hugely popular Smugglers Series. Launched in 2015, it celebrated the illicit whisky trade that operated from Arran and up the Clyde to Glasgow.
The first installment of The Explorers Series is available from the Isle of Arran Distillers Visitor Centre in Lochranza or online at www.arranwhisky.com/shop-whiskies from Tuesday 10 July at 11am. Suggested retail price is £130 for a 70cl bottle and only two bottles can be purchased by each customer.
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For more information visit www.arranwhisky.com
Accolades for Isle of Arran Distillery include Winner for: Best New Exporter (2004), Queen’s Award for International Trade (2005), Scottish Distiller of the Year (2007) and Scottish Drinks Producer of the Year (2007) Scottish Field Visitor Experience of the Year 2014 & 2015, Drinks Business Best Contribution to Wine and Spirits Tourism (2017), Best Brewery/Distillery Tour – Scottish Outdoor Leisure Awards (2017)
Product awards include: Best Whisky Liqueur (2007), ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 12 Years & Under’ for The Arran Malt Amarone Cask Finish (2008) ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for The Arran Malt Sherry Single Cask 1998 (2010) and ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for the Icons of Arran Peacock (2011.) ‘Double Gold Award’ for Arran’s 14 Year Old Single Malt and ‘Gold Award’ for Arran’s 10 Year Old Single Malt at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2012). Double Gold in FiftyBest.com awards (2012). Double Gold Medal for the 12 Year Old Cask Strength in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2013). Double Gold for both the 10 Year Old and 12 Year Old Cask Strength at the China Wine & Spirits Best Value Awards 2014. Category Winner & Gold Medal ‘Best Scotch 13-20 Years – Islands (Non- Islay) World Whiskies Awards for the Arran 18 Year Old (2018). Category Winner & Gold Medal ‘No Age Statement Single Malt’ for The Bothy Batch 3 World Whiskies Awards (2018). Silver Medal ‘Single Malt 12 Years and Under’ World Whiskies Awards 2018 for the Arran 10-year-old (2018).