Arran Smugglers’ Series - Volume Three ‘The Exciseman' (70cl, 56.8%)

Arran Smugglers’ Series - Volume Three ‘The Exciseman' is a whisky from Arran (Islands). Bottled at 56.8% ABV, 70cl. Situated in the Firth of Clyde, the island of Arran was once a hotbed of illicit distillation and smuggling. Eventually though the dreaded Excise men got the best of Arran’s renegade stillmen, and the island was without a working distillery from 1837. That all changed in 1995 when the Arran distillery at Lochranza started production. Although it is a relative youngster, Arran’s investment in quality casks has paid dividends, and its popularity continues to soar like the Golden Eagles that nest nearby. This quick success, combined with high visitor numbers at the Lochranza distillery, have enabled the company to construct another distillery at Lagg, on the south of the island, that will focus on creating peated whisky. “The Exciseman” is the final release in the Smugglers’ Series. A trilogy of Arran Malts, which pay tribute to the island’s history of maverick distillers, and their efforts to stay one step ahead of the government’s excise men. For the Smugglers’ Series Vol.III, just two cask types have been used. The small and (perhaps most importantly) portable Quarter Casks used would have been much easier to hide, or spirit away upon the approach of the dreaded Excise man. In addition, Madeira casks have been used to pay homage to the European smugglers who would have brought them over from the continent. Smugglers’ Series Batch #3