A Crazy Heather Adventure
it was around this same time last year, in mid-july, when i took a summer trip to the isle of arran, not far from glasgow. while exploring the island, i visited both distilleries operated by the isle of arran distillers group - the old one opened in 1995 in the north at lochranza (commonly known as “arran”), and the newer lagg distillery in the south. but the highlight, or perhaps most harrowing part of the trip, was my hike up goatfell, the island’s highest peak at 874 metres. what was supposed to be a scenic trek turned into an unforgettable and slightly terrifying journey - a true “heather adventure.”
Old Fettercairn 10 Years Old – 1990s Bottling
A screw-cap old bottling from the Highland unicorn, Fettercairn — likely from the 1990s.
The Sea Dragon - Bowmore
Bowmore is a name deeply familiar and beloved among whisky enthusiasts. However, this, the oldest whisky distillery on Islay, has never been one of my favourite distilleries. The reasons are simple: I started exploring whisky relatively late, so I haven’t tasted many Bowmore expressions. Additionally, early on, I was heavily influenced by peaty flavours and felt that Bowmore, with its approximately 25ppm phenol level, wasn’t “authentic” enough. I used to believe that peat Islay whisky should deliver a punch with every sip to truly embody the “Islay flavour.”
But I was wrong.