Lagg is the Isle of Arran's second distillery — opened in 2019 at the southern end of the island, dedicated entirely to peated whisky. Where the Lochranza distillery produces the bright, fruity Arran single malt, Lagg makes heavily peated spirit in a style that is distinctly its own. The Kilmory Edition is the core expression, named after the nearby village, and it represents the distillery's foundation stone.
Fully matured in first-fill bourbon barrels and bottled at 46%, the Kilmory lets the spirit and the peat speak without interference from exotic cask finishes. The result is an honest, young, peated island malt that shows its age openly — there is a freshness and directness here that older, more polished expressions smooth away.
The nose leads with heather smoke and charred citrus — charred pear skin, charred lemon, fresh vegetal peat, and banana peels, with something floral beneath. The palate progresses smoothly from fruity arrival to spicy to peaty, with the smoke big but never overwhelming. The bourbon cask sweetness provides balance.
The finish is long, with citrus, smoke, and vanilla lingering. It is a promising foundation — the distillery's stocks are still young, and the Kilmory will only improve as older casks become available. For now, it offers a snapshot of Arran's smoky side at a fair price, and a reason to watch Lagg's development with interest.
