Lagg Distillery: History, Owner and Visitor Guide
Updated: 5 hours ago
Lagg Distillery is the second distillery on the Isle of Arran. Where the original Arran distillery makes an unpeated style, Lagg was built to make heavily peated whisky. This guide covers its location, history, owner and visits.
In this guide
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Lagg at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Location | Kilmory, southern Isle of Arran, Scotland |
Region | Islands, Scotland |
First spirit | 19 March 2019 |
Owner | Isle of Arran Distillers |
Whisky style | Peated single malt Scotch whisky |
Core expressions | Kilmory Edition and Corriecravie Edition |
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Where is Lagg Distillery?
Lagg Distillery is near the village of Lagg on the southern coast of Arran, Scotland. Its visitor centre has views across the Firth of Clyde.
Lagg history: from 1837 to today
Wikipedia says an earlier distillery at Lagg operated briefly in the early 19th century and closed in 1837. The area was known for illicit distilling.
Construction of the modern distillery began in 2017. Its custom copper pot stills were installed in August 2018, the first spirit was produced on 19 March 2019, and Lagg welcomed visitors in 2019. The design includes a planted roof that echoes Arran's landscape.
Lagg's first inaugural single malt bottlings arrived in 2022, followed by its two core expressions in 2023. Kilmory is matured entirely in first-fill bourbon barrels and bottled at 46% ABV. Corriecravie first matures in bourbon wood, then spends around six months in Oloroso sherry hogsheads before bottling at 55% ABV.
In 2024 Lagg joined a Peatland ACTION funded project with Dougarie Estate, Caledonian Climate and Angus Estate Plant to restore 325 hectares of damaged peatland on Arran. In June 2024 its core range launched in the United States through Hotaling and Co.
Who owns Lagg Distillery?
Lagg is owned by Isle of Arran Distillers Ltd, the company that also owns the Lochranza distillery.
How is Lagg made?
Lagg makes heavily peated single malt Scotch whisky using barley, water from its own borehole, yeast and peat sourced from Aberdeenshire. The smoke complements citrus, fruit and oak flavours rather than dominating every tasting note.
Can you visit Lagg Distillery?
Lagg offers guided tours and whisky tastings at its visitor centre in Kilmory, where visitors can explore the stillhouse and the peated whisky range. Opening hours, tours and prices may change, so consult the official Lagg website before travelling.
Stills and production plans
Planet Whiskies reported in September 2018 that custom copper pot stills made by Forsyths of Rothes had arrived at the new Lagg Distillery on Arran, ferried from Ardrossan to Brodick on 30 August. Production of Lagg Single Malt was due to begin in early 2019.
Stills: the wash still holds 10,000 litres and the spirit still 7,000 litres
Style: the stills were tailored for a heavily peated spirit, at 50ppm
First year output: planned at 200,000 litres of alcohol
Company capacity: Isle of Arran Distillers expected to reach 2 million litres once Lagg was fully operational in 2019
People: Master Distiller James MacTaggart, with Graham Omand as Lagg Distillery Manager
Site: three warehouses completed and handed to the company, plus a visitor centre
Lagg whisky bottle range and cask comparison
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Documented producer expression |
|---|---|---|---|
Lagg Kilmory Edition | Check label | Check label | Documented expression; batch and availability vary |
Lagg Corriecravie Edition | Check label | Check label | Documented expression; batch and availability vary |
Producer and release sources document these expressions. Historical bottles may be out of production or unavailable. Bottled sourced or blended whiskey is not always entirely distilled at this site.
Lagg is a separate distillery from Lochranza. Both are operated by Isle of Arran Distillers, but Lagg was designed to make distinctive peated single malt in the south of the island.
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Frequently asked questions about Lagg
Where is Lagg Distillery?
At Kilmory on the southern Isle of Arran, with views towards Ailsa Craig.
When did Lagg start making whisky?
Its first spirit ran on 19 March 2019; the first inaugural single malts were released in 2022.
Who owns Lagg Distillery?
Isle of Arran Distillers, which also operates Lochranza Distillery in the north of the island.
Is Lagg whisky smoky?
Yes. Lagg deliberately makes peated single malt, in contrast to the largely unpeated Arran malt from Lochranza.
What is the difference between Kilmory and Corriecravie?
Kilmory is matured in first-fill bourbon barrels at 46% ABV, while Corriecravie adds an Oloroso sherry finish and is bottled at 55% ABV.
Sources and photographic credits
Information reviewed on 22 October 2026. Bottle strengths and visitor arrangements can differ by release, market and date; check producer information before travelling or buying.
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Whisky producer and release source: https://www.arranwhisky.com/
About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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