After just a quick tour of the islands of Scotland you’ll discover a veritable treasure trove of varied whiskey distilleries. All have contrasting characteristics which says much about the individuality of the island.
With more than 800 islands in total, only a handful of which that are habited, there’s much for distillers to draw inspiration from, creating a whiskey character and flavour that transcends the history and heritage of the area.
Mull and Jura whiskey is synonymous with having a diverse range of styles – something that’s certain to appeal to connoisseurs. The Isle of Skye distillers, Talisker produce whiskies with a punchy flavour, whilst the Highland Park area is famed for producing herbal and citrus flavoured whiskies.
The definitive character of Island whisky is expressed by the richly vibrant and distinctive flavours. A smoky brine flavour is inflected with an almost therapeutic oil, black pepper and honey flavour that endures long after taking a sip.
The History of Island Whisky
With only a handful of distilleries on the inhabited Scottish islands, including Jura, Arran, Mull, and Skye to name just a few, Island whiskies offer an eclectic range of flavours, from light citrus to peat smoke – each paying homage to individual island regions.
Highland Park distillery was originally established in 1798, with this regional whiskey enduring to this day. Jura whiskey – a whiskey native to Jura island – is one of the most pronounced whiskies of the Scottish islands. Originally founded in 1810, the distillery fell into disrepair and was rebuilt in the early 1960’s, finally opening its doors in 1963.
Most recently, a notable new addition to distilleries on the Scottish Islands, Abhainn Dearg commenced operations on Lewis in 2008. Though 100 times smaller than Talisker, with a production of just 20,000 litres, the Abhainn Dearg brand has proven to be very tantalising to consumers.
Please feel free to browse our Island whiskey selection of spirits. If you’d like to learn more, call us on 01466 795 105 or email info@thespiritsembassy.com.
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