Lagg Distillery
Lagg Distillery is the second whisky distillery on the Isle of Arran, located at the south end of the island near the village of Kilmory. Built by Isle of Arran Distillers Ltd. — the same company that owns the Lochranza Distillery at the island's north end — Lagg was conceived to produce an exclusively heavily peated single malt, providing a deliberate stylistic counterpoint to Lochranza's fruity, unpeated Arran whisky.
Plans were announced in 2016, construction was completed in early 2019, and the distillery formally opened to the public in June 2019. The facility, designed by Denham Benn Architects, features a green roof and a panoramic visitor centre overlooking the Firth of Clyde. Lagg revives a historical tradition: an original Lagg distillery operated briefly on the island in the early 19th century before closing in 1837 as illicit production gave way to legal alternatives.
Tours
Available
On-site Shop
Open
Online Shop
Available
History
Isle of Arran Distillers Ltd. announced plans for Lagg in 2016. The decision was driven by the desire to give Arran two complementary distilleries with entirely different characters — unpeated and fruity from Lochranza, heavily peated and maritime from Lagg — offering whisky enthusiasts a complete island experience. Planning approval was granted in August 2016.
Construction was completed in early 2019. The distillery officially opened in June 2019 with a programme of visitor experiences. The first whisky, a 3-year-old single malt, was bottled in 2022 — the core range being Kilmory (46% ABV, ex-bourbon casks, accessible and balanced) and Corriecravie (55% ABV, Oloroso sherry cask finish, cask strength).
In 2024, Lagg partnered on a peatland restoration project covering 325 hectares on Arran, projected to sequester over 16,500 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent — a significant environmental commitment that underscores the distillery's relationship with the Arran landscape.
Production
Lagg operates one wash still and one spirit still, with an annual capacity of approximately 500,000 litres. Barley is peated to approximately 50 ppm phenols — comparable to the heaviest Islay producers such as Ardbeg and Kilchoman's Port Ellen malt specification. The maritime climate of south Arran influences the maturing casks stored on-site. The green-roofed building and sustainable design reflect Isle of Arran Distillers' long-standing environmental commitments.
Tasting Character
Lagg's heavily peated style (50 ppm) gives the whisky considerable smoke, but the island maritime environment and varied cask selection add layers of complexity beyond raw peat. The Kilmory (46% ABV, ex-bourbon casks) is the more accessible expression: vanilla and sweet oak from the bourbon wood balance the substantial peat smoke, with coastal salinity in the background. The Corriecravie (55% ABV, Oloroso sherry finish) is richer and more intense: dark fruit, chocolate, and robust peat smoke in a cask strength format. Both are non-chill filtered.
What They Produce
Notable Bottlings
- Lagg Kilmory£48.90 — 46% ABV; ex-bourbon casks; accessible and balanced; vanilla, coastal smoke, and gentle sweetness
- Lagg Corriecravie£63.50 — 55% ABV; Oloroso sherry cask finish; cask strength; rich dark fruit, chocolate, and intense peat
- Lagg New Make Peated Spirit — Early sale of new make before aged whisky was available
- Lagg Single Cask releases£48.90 — Limited individual cask bottlings available through the distillery shop
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Visiting
The distillery is located at Lagg, Isle of Arran, KA27 8PG. Tours and distillery experiences can be booked through laggwhisky.com. The panoramic visitor centre includes tasting rooms and a café-bar with views overlooking the Firth of Clyde toward Kintyre and Ailsa Craig. A physical shop and online shop are both available.
Official Website
