Wizards of Whisky: Harold Currie

“Harold Currie was a prominent figure in the Scottish whisky industry, best known for founding the Isle of Arran Distillers. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1937, and began his career in the whisky industry as an apprentice at the Strathclyde Distillery in Glasgow.

After completing his apprenticeship, Currie went on to work for a number of different whisky producers, including Chivas Brothers, where he eventually rose to the position of director. However, after many years of working in the industry, he decided to pursue his dream of starting his own whisky distillery.

Currie founded the Isle of Arran Distillers in 1995, after identifying the Isle of Arran as an ideal location for a new whisky distillery. He faced many challenges in getting the distillery up and running, including finding funding and securing planning permission, but he persevered and the distillery eventually began production in 1995.

Under Currie’s leadership, the Isle of Arran Distillers quickly gained a reputation for producing high-quality single malt whiskies, and the company went on to win numerous awards. Currie remained involved with the company until his passing in 2016, and is widely regarded as a pioneering figure in the Scottish whisky industry.

In addition to his work with the Isle of Arran Distillers, Currie was a war hero in World War II and was awarded the Legion d’honneur, France’s highest military honour. He was a founding member of the Scottish Whisky Association and was instrumental in establishing the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.

Harold Currie was a highly respected and influential figure in the Scottish whisky industry, and his legacy continues to be felt today through the success of the Isle of Arran Distillers and other initiatives that he was involved in.
(Credits – scotchwhisky.com/heroldscotland.com)”