Introducing... Ewan's Cut!
We are thrilled to welcome back renowned Scottish actor Ewan McGregor to our Lochranza Distillery for a truly special occasion. It was here in 1998 that Ewan first joined us to toast the inaugural cask of Arran Single Malt, marking the beginning of our journey. Now, over two decades later, we have partnered with Ewan to bottle and auction 150 exclusive bottles from his own personal 1998 cask, a gift from us that has matured beautifully in our Warehouse 3. All proceeds from this auction will go to Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS), a charity close to Ewan's heart that provides vital support to children with life-limiting conditions and their families.
The limited-edition bottles, which represent one of the oldest whiskies ever produced at Lochranza, will be auctioned by Whisky Auctioneer, the world’s leading online whisky auction platform, from September 27th to October 7th. We are grateful to Whisky Auctioneer for waiving the seller’s commission and generously donating their 12.5% buyer’s commission, ensuring that the maximum possible funds reach CHAS.
This rare 26-year-old Arran Single Malt, matured in an ex-Sherry Hogshead cask and bottled at 46% ABV, is a testament to our dedication to quality and craftsmanship. Each bottle features a unique, specially designed label, with the first twenty-four bottles personally signed by Ewan McGregor. The bottle design and name, “Ewan’s Cut,” were brought to life by The Leith Agency in collaboration with Ewan and his brother Colin McGregor, drawing inspiration from Ewan’s illustrious career and iconic roles in films like Trainspotting and Star Wars.
As we celebrated 25 years of whisky-making at our Lochranza Distillery in 2020, we proudly reflected on our growth from a small, independent distillery to a global brand, all while staying true to our roots. This auction offers whisky enthusiasts and fans of Ewan McGregor a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a piece of our history while supporting a cause that is deeply important to us.
Ewan McGregor has been a long-standing supporter of CHAS, visiting their hospices many times over the years. He has seen firsthand the unwavering care that Rachel House and Robin House provide to children and their families during their hardest moments. Ewan's hope is that this auction will raise significant funds to help CHAS continue their incredible work.
Rami Okasha, CEO at CHAS, expressed his gratitude, stating, “We are delighted that Ewan, who is a long-standing supporter and friend of CHAS, has kindly chosen to donate all proceeds from this exciting auction to our charity. We are grateful too to Isle of Arran Distillers for arranging this special event and to Whisky Auctioneer for waiving the seller’s commission to ensure that CHAS will benefit from the maximum funds."
Stewart Bowman, our Distillery Manager, reflected on the significance of this event, noting, “In 1998, Ewan McGregor joined us at Lochranza Distillery to toast the first cask of Arran Single Malt, which was the first legal cask to be laid down on Arran for over 150 years. We presented him with his own ex-sherry hogshead that day, and it has matured in our Warehouse until now.
Since then, Ewan has gone on to have an amazing career, and we have built a global whisky brand while proudly maintaining our independent status. We are thrilled to invite Ewan back to the distillery, where our story began almost 30 years ago, to present him with the finished bottles of Ewan's Cut. Like Ewan, we remain close to our roots and are passionate about giving back to the community. We have looked after Ewan's cask for the last 26 years, and we are delighted to work with him, Whisky Auctioneer, and Leith to raise money for CHAS.”
The auction will run on www.whiskyauctioneer.com from 27th September to 7th October.