🏝️ ARRAN 14 IS BACK — Australian Exclusive First Release!
For six long years, whisky fans around the world have been asking the same question: will Arran ever bring back the 14? And for six long years, the answer was silence. Bottles disappeared from shelves, collectors tucked away their last precious drops, and the whisky community resigned itself to the idea that this beloved expression might never return. But here we are in 2026, raising a glass to one of the most anticipated comebacks in modern whisky, and as members of the Single Malt Whisky Club, you’re not just hearing the news – you’re the first in Australia to get your hands on it. That’s right. The Arran 14 is back, rebuilt, refined, and ready to remind everyone why it became a cult favourite in the first place.
This isn’t just a re-release. The distillery’s master team has refined the recipe, elevating what was already a fan favourite into something even better. Matured in Bourbon barrels with a kiss of rare Palo Cortado sherry casks — one of the most prized and unusual sherries in the world — the result is pure, layered brilliance.
Arran has completely reimagined their beloved 14. This isn’t a re label or a gentle tweak — it’s a new recipe, rebuilt from the ground up to deliver deeper flavour, richer texture, and that unmistakable Island character that keeps Arran fans coming back. And because it’s non chill filtered with nothing added, you’re getting the whisky exactly as the distillery intended — pure, honest, and full of life.
From the first sip, you’ll get that warm burst of orchard fruit, honeyed malt, and a coastal freshness that feels like a sea breeze cutting through a summer afternoon. At 46%, it lands beautifully — bold enough to excite, smooth enough to enjoy any night of the week.
The Arran 14yo began it’s life at the Lochranza Distillery (home to Arran and their peated brand – Lagg). Arran 14yo is distilled in Lochranza’s classic twin still setup (small onion shaped wash still + slightly larger spirit still), producing a fruity, ester-y new make. Arran use a slow distillation which preserves orchard fruit esters and citrus notes. The 14yo is matured primarily in ex bourbon barrels with a secondary component of Palo Cortado sherry casks. This combination is unusual – Palo Cortado is rarer than Oloroso or PX – and is said to contributes a nutty, saline, citrus spiced dimension that complements Arran’s natural fruitiness.
Bottled at robust 46% ABV, non-chill filtered, and nothing added (just the way whisky should be!) the Arran 14yo makes it’s way back into their core range after a 6 year hiatus – better than ever! And we’re proud to be launching this back into the Aussie market with SMWC members getting the first slice of the – just landed in Australia – pie!
Arran’s Distillery Manager Stewart Bowman put it best: “It’s amazing to bring this whisky back with a new look, refined recipe but still full of those tropical flavours and that unmistakable Arran character we’ve all missed.”
If you’ve been waiting for the right bottle — this is it. Don’t sit on this one.
EVERY MALT OF THE MONTH ORDER GET’S A CHANCE TO WIN A BOTTLE OF ARDNAMURCHAN 2016 OLOROSO AUSTRALIAN EXCLUSIVE!
WHISKY INSIGHTS VIDEO
OUR TASTING NOTES
Nose: deliciously juicy on the nose. A big hit of apple and pear juice with floral (jasmine) overtones , there’s also a delightful perfume-y note there too.
Palate: Fruity-sweet with a lovely rich mouthfeel. Toffee-apples, blind baked pastry, and sweet berry jus, mixed peel and – I think– yellow jubes.
Finish: Nice and long with more of those delicious fruity notes – but as it fades a pleasant ginger-warmth emerges with some more of those pastry notes and a soft salted-caramel nudge. There’s a little saltiness on the lips afterwards as well.
This is truly well-balanced, easy-drinking whisky. There’s just no negatives I can find here. The alcohol is perfect at 46% abv, so fruity and light in taste, but lovely and viscous in the mouth. You’re going to love this whisky I promise. Your friends are going to love it too – so careful who you pull this one out in front of… because odds are you’re going to finish it with them!
THE MEMBERS EXTRA WHISKY
Fully matured in a single Pedro Ximénez cask, dripping with jammy raisins, plums, and that glorious Christmas cake richness
FROM ARRAN (LOCHRANZA DISTILLERY)
We’re thrilled to welcome the Arran 14 Year Old back into the core range. A very popular age statement of ours until it went on hiatus in
2018, it’s great to have this bottle back where it belongs.
The Arran Single Malt 14 Year Old is matured mainly in Bourbon barrels with a touch of Palo Cortado sherry casks, showcasing the elegance and rarity of the Palo Cortado influence. A beautifully balanced marriage of bourbon and sherry maturation, and a proven favourite which offers outstanding value at the heart of Arran Single Malt’s core range.
Nose: Rich fruit syrup with apples and mandarin. Cereal sweetness and a gentle coastal salinity.
Palate: Viscous with salted apples, toffee and mango.
Finish: Lingering with soft oak, restrained sweetness and a delicate saline edge.
ABOUT ARRAN (LOCHRANZA DISTILLERY)
Lochranza Distillery, perched at the northern tip of the Isle of Arran, is one of Scotland’s great modern whisky success stories. Founded in 1994 by Harold Currie – a former Chivas director with a vision to revive Arran’s lost distilling heritage – the site was chosen for its exceptionally pure water from Loch na Davie. Construction famously paused when a pair of protected golden eagles nested above the site, a story now woven into the distillery’s identity. The first spirit ran in June 1995, marking the island’s first legal whisky in more than 160 years.
Since then, Lochranza has grown from a small independent operation into a respected single malt producer known for clean, fruit-forward spirit matured largely in ex bourbon casks and supported by sherry and specialty finishes. Milestones include the opening of its visitor centre by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997 and the release of its first 10 year-old in 2006 – now the backbone of the Arran range. Today, Lochranza stands as the northern anchor of Isle of Arran Distillers, complemented by its peated sister brand Lagg, and continues to champion traditional methods, island provenance, and a proudly independent spirit.
