Island Scotch Whisky

Scotland’s myriad of islands and their varied landscapes were originally considered ideal for distilling both due to the availability of clean, cold water and barely, and also because the remote nature of the islands made them difficult to police. Active distilleries currently exist on Orkney, Jura, Skye, Mull, Lewis, Arran, and of course Islay (see separate entry). Speaking generally, the Island style is commonly described as dense, often with a dose of peat, and maritime in nature.

There are exceptions to the stereotypes associated with Island whisky of course, with several distilleries producing varied peating levels and styles of malt, and Arran being mostly sweet, fragrant and almost Speyside in nature. Talisker however typifies the image of the islands and is every bit the classic malt suggested in its marketing. It is a pungent and dynamic whisky, rich in peat, pepper and a balancing fruity sweetness. If any whisky can be said to mirror its surroundings, it is that produced at Talisker, set in the wildly dramatic and untamed landscape of Skye.