Review | The Hearach

The Hearach is the first single malt to be released by the Isle of Harris Distillers Ltd. It is released in small batches with each batch showing a natural and subtle difference in colour, aroma and flavour. At the time of writing the latest release is Batch #16. The inaugural batch was bottled and released in September 2023. The first whisky was distilled in December 2015 and the decision was taken to make a lightly peated style of single malt. The name refers to a person from the Isle of Harris – Na Hearadh in Gaelic.

Review / Torabhaig Allt Gleann Batch Strength

This whisky is the latest limited edition single malt whisky to be released from the Hebridean distillery of  Torabhaig (pronounced tora-vaig). the newest distillery on the isle of Skye. The Torabhaig Allt Gleann Batch Strength is a cask strength version of their popular Allt Gleann bottling, which was first released in 2021. Allt Gleann translates as 'old glen' from the local Gaelic dialect. The whiskies featured in Batch Strength were distilled in 2017 and 2018, and filled to ex-bourbon barrels. It forms part of The Legacy Series alongside the original Allt Gleann expression and other bottlings. Torabhaig Allt Gleann Batch Strength is released at 61.1% ABV and will be available in selected world markets, plus at the distillery shop on Skye. A bottle will cost £75/ €85/ $US89.  

Review / Tobermory 25 years old

This new whisky is the third bottling in the rare Hebridean Series from Tobermory on the island of Mull. The Tobermory 25 years old follows the 23- and 24- year old expressions from the previous two years. Initial maturation was in re-fill American oak and ex-Oloroso sherry casks, before a nine year secondary maturation in first-fill ex-Oloroso sherry casks from the famous Gonzalez Byass bodega in Jerez, Spain. There are just 5,298 bottles in this batch of Tobermory 25 years old and these are released at 48.1% ABV. The whisky is both of natural colour and non chill-filtered. It will be available via the Tobermory website and in selected world markets from March 8. A bottle will cost £345/ $US415. 

Review / Talisker Surge

This whisky is a new core range product from the Talisker distillery on the western isle of Skye. Talisker Surge will be a travel retail exclusive. The new whisky is designed to show the elemental stormy forces that shape Skye and the Talisker distillery. Surge features whiskies of differing ages that have been matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks. The travel retail exclusive will be available in UK airports from September, before being released in Asia during October and Australia in December. There will also be a Talisker sample bar located in Terminal 5 at London's Heathrow Airport during October and November. Talisker Surge is bottled at 45.8% ABV and will cost £85/ €95/ $115 US per bottle.

Review / Talisker 44 years old : Forests of the Deep

This whisky is the latest release from the famous Talisker distillery from the isle of Skye. It is their oldest ever single malt to date. The Talisker 44 years old : Forests of the Deep is a partnership with ocean conservation charity Parley For The Oceans.  The collaboration saw wooden staves from Talisker whisky barrels taken on a research trip to kelp forests located off the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. 

The staves were then returned to Talisker and casks reconstructed before being 'marine charred'. This involved toasting the inside of the barrels with dried seaweed smoke. The whisky, which had previously been maturing for over four decades in ex-bourbon casks, was then finished for a few months in these special maritime barrels. For further information on the work Parley For The Oceans do or to donate - click here. 

Review / Torabhaig Allt Gleann

The Allt Gleann is just the second ever single malt release from Torabhaig (pronounced tora-vaig), the newest distillery on the isle of Skye. This follows the inaugural Legacy Series 2017 bottling that was released earlier this year in February and sold out immediately. Allt Gleann, meaning 'old glen' in Gaelic, is the second of four planned releases for 2021 and 2022 in The Legacy Series. The new whisky has been created from just 30 first-fill and re-fill ex-bourbon barrels that were distilled and filled in 2017. It is bottled at 46% ABV and is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. Torabhaig Allt Gleann is available from the distillery shop and via selected specialist whisky retailers. A bottle will cost £50.

Review / Jura Rum Cask Finish

This single malt whisky is the third bottling in the Cask Editions series from the Hedbridean island distillery of Jura. The Jura Rum Cask Finish has been created by Gregg Glass, the Whisky Maker & Blender at brand owner Whyte & Mackay, and has seen the spirit first matured in American white oak ex-bourbon casks before being transferred to ex-Caribbean rum casks for a finishing period. It is presented with tropical themed packaging to reflect the cask influence. The Jura Rum Cask Finish is bottled at 40% ABV and will initially be exclusively available in a one litre format in UK supermarkets. The price will be £45. A 70cl bottle will also be released to other markets later in 2021.

 

Review - Jura 18 years old

This whisky forms part of the core range from the island distillery of Jura. The range was revamped in 2018 and this 18 years old is joined by other age statements at 10, 12 and 21 years old plus three other 'no age statement' expressions - the French Oak, Journey and Seven Wood. The whiskies involved in this 18 years old have followed two different paths - regular unpeated spirit has matured in ex-bourbon casks before a period of finishing in ex-red wine barriques sourced from Bordeaux in France, while rarer peated spirit (which is only made at the distillery for one month each year) has been matured solely in ex-bourbon casks. The two pockets of stock have then been married together to produce the final whisky.

Review - Jura 12 years old

This whisky forms part of the core range from the island distillery of Jura. The range was revamped in 2018 and this 12 years old is joined by other age statements at 10, 18 and 21 years old plus three other 'no age statement' expressions - the French Oak, Journey and Seven Wood. The whiskies involved in the 12 years old have followed two different paths - regular unpeated spirit has matured in ex-bourbon casks before a period of finishing in ex-Oloroso sherry barrels, while rarer peated spirit (which is only made for one month each year) has been matured solely in ex-bourbon casks. The two pockets of stock have then been married together to produce the final whisky.

Review - Highland Park Twisted Tattoo

This whisky is a new single malt from the Orcadian distillery of Highland Park. It features spirit matured in first-fill ex-bourbon casks and ex-Rioja red wine casks - the first time they have used such wine barrels for maturation - and is bottled at 16 years of age. The packaging is inspired by the Nordic legend of the Midgard Serpent and features bespoke designs by tattoo artist Colin Dale. He is renowned for using traditional freestyle non-electric tattoo techniques and is inspired by the lost skin art of Inuit, Native American and Nordic cultures.

Review - Tobermory 12 years old

This whisky is a new core expression from the remote distillery of Tobermory and signals the re-birth of the brand as a single malt. The Tobermory 12 years old has been released following a two-year hiatus in production at the distillery. This has allowed a major overhaul and refurbishment of the old production equipment, including replacing the stills. Other work has seen other buildings upgraded, the replacement of a roof and a new visitor centre. Production is due to restart shortly in May. This new 12 years old is created using Tobermory's classic non-peated style of malt and has been matured in American oak casks.

Distillery Visit - Talisker

The distillery of Talisker is located in the village of Carbost on the rugged Hebridean island of Skye. Talisker is a Viking word translating as 'sloping rock' and is named after Talisker Bay, which is about five miles away. The distillery was founded in 1830 by the MacAskill brothers and they were from the nearby island of Eigg. They purchased the land as it was cheap - this was because it was not good for farming. The village of Carbost was built at the same time as the distillery and the houses used for distillery workers.

Review - Jura Tastival 2017 Edition

This whisky is the annual Tastival bottling from the island distillery of Jura. They release this special limited edition each year as their contribution to the Feis Ile festival, which takes place each Spring in late May/early June on the neighbouring island of Islay. The 2017 Edition of Tastival has been matured in a combination of first-fill American oak ex-bourbon casks and ex-Port pipes from the famous Graham's vineyard in Portugal. The bottling is the first to be created by Graham Logan, the new Distillery Manager at Jura.

Review - Highland Park Valkyrie

Valkyrie is the first in a new trilogy of single malts from Highland Park. Named as the Viking Legend series, the packaging has been created by renowned Danish designer Jim Lyngvild. He is a 21st century Viking and lives in a traditional wooden Viking house that he constructed himself near Faaborg in Denmark. He also lives as an ancient Viking for two months of each year and his designs pull on the brand’s Viking routes. Valkyrie was created by Gordon Motion, the Master Blender of Highland Park, and will be followed by two further editions, named Valknut and Valhalla, in 2018 and 2019.

Review - Highland Park Ice Edition

This whisky is the latest limited edition single malt from Highland Park. The Ice Edition follows on from the recent Valhalla Collection and again pulls on the Nordic heritage of the Orkneys.  This expression is inspired by stories of the Ice Giants in Norse mythology and will be followed by the Fire Edition in 2017. The single malt is 17 years old and has been matured predominantly in ex-bourbon casks. It is presented in a blue glazed glass bottle, which in turn is housed in an bespoke wooden stand.  The bottle features an intricate circular design to represent the Viking circle of lifeand is accompanied by a booklet that tells the story of the Ice Giants.

Review - Arran 18 years old

The independent Isle of Arran distillery has announced that it plans to kick off its 21st anniversary with a second release of an 18 years old expression.  This bottling is the oldest whisky to be released by the owners to date, following a limited edition batch of 18 years old that was released last year and sold out quickly.  This bottling will be a permanent fixture in the core range of Arran malts and this second version has been matured in ex-sherry casks. This 18 years old is bottled at 46% ABV, is non chill-filtered and of natural colour.  It will be available through selected specialist whisky retailers shortly and via the distillery website - www.arranwhisky.com. The recommended retail price is £75 a bottle.

Review - Talisker Neist Point

The Neist Point is a new single malt from the famous Talisker distillery on the isle of Skye and is exclusive to the travel retail sector.  It joins the fellow travel retail exclusive Dark Storm expression. Talisker is located on the isle of Skye, the largest and most northerly island of the Inner Hebrides. It is the only distillery on the island and is found close to the village of Carbost, in the shadow of the imposing Cuillin hills.  This new permanent release is made from a selection of rare casks of different ages - all are made from American oak and most are refill casks.  It is named after the most westerly point of Skye, which is home to the Neist Point lighthouse. 

Review - Scapa Skiren

Skiren is the new single malt expression from the Scapa distillery on the Orkney islands. The islands have a rich Nordic heritage and the name of this new whisky plays on this - Skiren translates as 'glittering bright sky' from the old Nordic language.  It has been been exclusively matured in first-fill American oak casks.  The Scapa distillery is located close to the village of St. Ola and close to Kirkwall, the capital of the Orkney islands. It is the second most northerly distillery in Scotland and misses out on first place to nearby Highland Park, which is just half a mile down the road.

Review - Ledaig 42 years old Dùsgadh

This new whisky is the oldest ever bottling of the Ledaig single malt from the Tobermory distillery.  Ledaig (pronounced lay-chuck) is the name given to its smoky/peaty spirit and it is only produced for approximately four months each year.  For the rest of the year, the regular non-peaty Tobermory spirit is made.  This new 42 years old is named Dùsgadh (which translates as 'awakening' from Gaelic) and the spirit was distilled and casked in 1972.  Older versions of Ledaig are rare as Tobermory was closed for much of the late 1970s, 80s and early 90s.

Have just tried - Arran 17 years old

This whisky is the oldest single malt released to date by the independent Arran distillery. It is the second whisky in a special trilogy, which saw a 16 years old released last year and culminates in an 18 years old bottling next year. It was released back in March but we have only just got around to sampling it.  The whisky has been matured in ex-sherry casks and there are just 9,000 bottles released worldwide.  The bottling is said to contain some of the first whisky that was produced by the distillery when it opened in 1995.