Skerryvore: launching new album next month
The Isle of Arran Distillery will celebrate its 15th Anniversary this summer by hosting an open day featuring the first appearance on the isle’s shores by renowned trad-rock band Skerryvore.
The distillery, which started production on the 29th June 1995, has quickly gained recognition. This August will see the release of its 14-year-old single malt, and earlier this month it announced new plans to double production to meet rising export demand.
The Distillery Visitor Centre, which was opened in 1997 by HM The Queen, now welcomes over 60,000 visitors annually from around the world.
The open day, which is being held on Saturday July 3rd on the distillery’s grounds in the village of Lochranza on the north-west tip of Arran, will be a showcase for its award-winning single malt Scotch whisky. There will be tasting tours, whisky master classes and a special distillery bottling to commemorate the 15th Anniversary celebrations.
The special bottling, produced from three ex-Bourbon barrels from 1995 hand-selected by Arran’s Master Distiller James MacTaggart, will be presented in commemorative packaging and sold exclusively at the distillery’s Visitor Centre.
Whisky writer Dave Broom will also be present to host a special masterclass giving malt whisky aficionados the opportunity to nose and taste samples of the Arran Malt drawn straight from casks maturing at the Distillery.
The company has enjoyed success in the US whisky market, and Isle of Arran is now the second top selling single malt by volume in Norway, beating several established brands in the process.
Local food and drink producers from across the island will also be offering their wares at the Open day, with local pipe and brass band performances, story-telling, face painting and mountain biking from Arran Adventure to keep all ages entertained.
There will also be live entertainment from renowned ceilidh band Skerryvore, making their first ever appearance on Arran.
The trad-rock outfit are launching their self-titled third album with a gig at 02 ABC 1 Glasgow on Thursday July 1st, and are embarking on a UK & European tour afterwards to support next month’s release.
