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Scottish Islands: Scotch malt whisky
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An informal grouping (officially part of the Highlands) covering Skye, Orkney, Jura, Arran and Mull.
How it's made
Scotch rules apply. Many island malts use some peated barley and age in warehouses close to the sea.
Malted barley, sometimes peated, is mashed, fermented and distilled twice in copper pot stills. Highland Park still malts part of its barley on its own floor and dries it over Orkney peat, which smells more floral than Islay peat.
History
Whisky has been made on the islands for centuries, often illegally. Highland Park in Orkney dates from 1798 and Talisker on Skye from 1830, while newer distilleries include Arran (1995), Raasay and Torabhaig.
Ageing and label terms
Scotch must age at least 3 years in oak in Scotland. Island malts usually carry age statements of 10 to 18 years and mature in ex-bourbon and sherry casks, often in warehouses near the sea.
Styles
From unpeated and fruity (Arran, Jura) to honeyed and lightly smoky (Highland Park, Scapa) to peppery and smoky (Talisker, Ledaig).
Rules and protected names
'Islands' is not a legal Scotch whisky region: the islands officially belong to the Highland region. The protected names are Highland, Lowland, Speyside, Islay and Campbeltown.
How to serve and classic cocktails
Neat or with a few drops of water. Island malts make a fine Penicillin float, a smoky Rob Roy or a whisky highball with soda.
With food
Smoked salmon, oysters, langoustines, oatcakes with strong cheddar, and dark chocolate.
Good to know
Orkney, Skye, Mull, Jura, Arran and Raasay each have their own character, so the 'Islands' label covers a very wide range of styles.
Producers
- Talisker
- Highland Park
- Isle of Jura
- Arran
- Tobermory
Bottles to try
Talisker 10 Year Old
Peppery and maritime: smoke, sea spray, dried fruit and chilli warmth.
Serve: Neat or in a highball
Highland Park 12 Year Old Viking Honour
Heather honey, gentle smoke, orange peel and dried fruit.
Strength: 40% · Age and cask: 12 years, sherry-seasoned oak casks
From Kirkwall on Orkney, founded in 1798. Part of its barley is still malted on traditional floors and dried with local Orkney peat, which is rich in heather because the islands have few trees.
Serve: Neat
Arran 10 Year Old
Fresh and fruity: apple, citrus, vanilla and a light malty sweetness.
Strength: 46% · Age and cask: 10 years, ex-bourbon and sherry casks
Lochranza distillery opened in 1995, the first legal distillery on the Isle of Arran for over 150 years. The 10 Year Old is bottled without chill-filtering and with natural colour.
Serve: Neat or with a splash of water
Ledaig 10 Year Old
Peat smoke and sea spray with pepper, lemon and a sweet malty core.
Strength: 46.3% · Age and cask: 10 years, mainly ex-bourbon casks
Ledaig is the peated whisky made at Tobermory distillery on the Isle of Mull; unpeated spirit from the same stills is sold as Tobermory. It is bottled without chill filtration.
Serve: Neat, or with a splash of water
Talisker Skye
Gentle smoke, sea salt, sweet vanilla and Talisker's black-pepper finish.
Strength: 45.8% · Age and cask: No age statement, refill and toasted American oak casks
A softer, sweeter introduction to Talisker, the oldest working distillery on the Isle of Skye, founded in 1830. Toasted casks add vanilla and round off the peppery maritime house style.
Serve: Neat, with a splash of water, or in a highball with soda
Jura 10 Year Old
Soft and sweet: honey, orange, vanilla, a little dried fruit and light smoke.
Strength: 40% · Age and cask: 10 years, ex-bourbon casks, finished in oloroso sherry casks
The Isle of Jura distillery stands in Craighouse, the island's only village. Founded in 1810 and rebuilt in the 1960s, it has tall stills that help give a light spirit.
Serve: Neat, on ice or in a highball
Highland Park 18 Year Old Viking Pride
Honey, heather, dried fruit, orange peel and a gentle, fragrant peat smoke.
Strength: 43% · Age and cask: 18 years, sherry-seasoned European and American oak casks
Made in Kirkwall on Orkney, where part of the barley is still malted on the distillery's own floors and dried over local peat. Orkney peat is mostly heather rather than wood, which gives the smoke its floral, honeyed character.
Serve: Neat, after dinner
Scapa Skiren
Fresh and honeyed: heather honey, lemon, pear, coconut and a gentle salty finish.
Strength: 40% · Age and cask: No age statement, first-fill American oak casks
Made on Orkney overlooking Scapa Flow, with unpeated malt. Its wash still is a rare Lomond still, a design with a wide neck that gives an oily, fruity spirit.
Serve: Neat or with a little water
More whisky regions
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