Whisky Guild - single malt scotch whisky new york new jersy

Islands

Not surprisingly, Island whiskies tend to be influenced by the sea and the rugged landscapes they're distilled in.

Island whiskies do vary but they tend to share a salty marine character. The great Talisker distillery produces big peaty malts, while Scapa produces an elegant whisky that is much smoother and sweet. Highland Park is famous for its perfect balance that has something appealing for everyone.

Arran

Located in the South West of Scotland, the Isle of Arran was famous for its illicit whiskey trade. Surprisingly, the island never had a ‘legal’ distillery until distillery manager Gordon Mitchell opened Arran in 1995. This makes Arran the newest distillery in Scotland and it’s still too early to really judge the Whiskey. At one time, the Island of Arran had dozens of illicit distilleries but the islands remoteness made selling and shipping the whiskey difficult. For such a new distillery Arran offers an impressive range of malts even though they’re still fairly young. Arran is lighter in character and not as heavily peated as your typical Island dram. The whisky is sure to gain further complexity and character as it continues to mature.

Meaning of the Name: Taken from the island name
Established: 1995
Pronunciation: Arr en
Region: Island
# of stills: 2
Tours: Open to the public
Phone: 01770 830264
Location: Lochranza, Isle of Arran, Argyll, KA27 8HJ

Style
Sweet, malty, creamy

Range
No age statement / $35 to $45
10 year old / $45 to $55
Non Chill filtered / $50 to $65
1996 / $50 to $65
Chateau Meraux Finish / $70 to $80
Calvados Finish / $70 to $80
Sherry Finish / $70 to $80
Post Cask / $80 to $90

www.arranwhisky.com

Highland Park

The distillers’ at Highland Park still makes whisky the old fashioned way by cutting their own peat and malting their own barley at the distillery. The result is a heathery smoky whiskey that is well rounded and complex. Highland Park is one of Scotland’s most premier distilleries and is a favorite among connoisseurs. The distillery is the most northern in Scotland and is located on the rugged wind swept island of Orkney. Dating back to 1798, Highland Park draws its water from the Cattie Maggie’s Spring and cuts its peat from the Hobbister Moor. This is one of our favorite drams and the 18 year old expression is highly recommended for lovers of peaty robust whisky. If I could only drink one whisky for the rest of my life, Highland Park 18 would be the one.

Established: 1798
Pronunciation: Highland Park
Region: Island
# of stills: 4
Tours: Open to the public
Phone: 01856 874619
Location: Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 ISU

Style
Heathery, peat smoke

Range
12 year old / $40 to $50
15 year old / $5 to $70
18 year old / $55 to $70
25 year old / $100 to $125
30 year old / $250 to $300
Also available in numerous independent bottlings

April 2007 Whisk(e)y Tasting Journey

www.highlandpark.co.uk

Watch Highland Park's Brand Ambassador discuss the Highland Park range.
Highland Park
Click Here to Watch

Isle of Jura

The sparsely populated Isle of Jura is best know for playing host to George Orwell for a spell, the Islands Red Deer population, whom outnumber the residents, and the Isle of Jura distillery. Jura has gained considerable traction in the US with its Superstition expression that was released several years ago. Although within sight of Islay, the distillery produces a much lighter spirit than its neighbor. The whisky tends to be fairly complex with a heavy peat character.

Norse meaning of name: Deer
Established: 1810
Pronunciation: Jew ra
Region: Island
# of stills: 4
Tours: Open to the public
Phone: 01496 820240
Location: Craighouse, Jura, Argyll, PA60 7XT

Style
Peaty, oily

Range
Superstition / $40 to $50
10 year old / $30 to $40
16 year old / $45 to $55

www.isleofjura.com

Ledaig

Tobermory is the only distillery on the Island of Mull and makes two very different whiskies. The Island of Mull is located off Scotland’s West Coast between Islay and the Isle of Skye. The distillery makes the popular Tobermory, and Ledaig drams. These drams may be made in the same distillery but they are very different. Tobermory is a lightly peated smooth dram while Ledaig is more robust and closer to an Islay in style. Older bottles of Ledaig have become very popular with collectors and the drams price is now reflective of that. We’ve been fortunate enough to secure a bottle of Ledaig 20 which is an excellent peaty dram. Both whiskies are used in the Black Bottle and Scottish Leader blends.

Meaning of name: Taken from the Tobermory village
Gaelic Meaning: Ledaig – Safe Haven
Established: 1798
Pronunciation: Tober more ay
Pronunciation: Led chig
Region: Island
# of stills: 4
Tours: Open to the public
Phone: 01688 302645
Location: Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Argyll shire, PA75 6NR

Style
Peaty, sweet

Tobermory Range
10 year old / $25 to $35
32 year old / $225 to $275

Ledaig Range
Peated / $30 to $35
Sherry Finish / $35 to $45

www.burnstewartdistillers.com

Scapa

Scapa is often overshadowed by its Northern neighbor Highland Park which is also located on Orkney. The distillery was built in 1885, but was mothballed in 1994. Scapa operated on a limited basis beginning in 1997 with staff from nearby Highland Park until it started full operations again in 2005. Scapa tends to be more salty and less smoky than Highland Park since is uses unpeated barley but does draw enough peat from its water supply to slightly influence the whisky. Scapa’s new 14 year old expression is excellent and tends to grows on you with each sip. The dram is a great undiscovered whisky that has the potential to become very popular with its great briny sea air quality. The distillery is an impressive site from the Sea; it stands on a cliff with the back of its warehouses boldly displaying the distillery name. Pick up a bottle of the 14 year old and let us know what you think.

Meaning of name: Taken from the Scapa Flow
Established: 1885
Pronunciation: Scap ah
Region: Island
# of stills: 2
Tours: By appointment only, Scapa does not have a visitor’s center
Phone: 01856 872071
Location: St Ola, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1SE

Style
Briny sea air

Range
14 year old / $50 to $60
25 year old / $225 to $275

www.scapamalt.com

Talisker

The world famous Talisker is the only distillery on the Isle of Skye and is renowned for its big peppery, peaty whisky. Talisker adds some punch to the Johnnie Walker blends and its youngest expression is part of Diageo’s Classic Malt line. Aged only ten years, this huge fiery untamed dram has won numerous awards and is the best ten year old whisky on the market. In the distilleries early days it used the triple distillation method but now uses the more traditional two step process. In recent years, Talisker has added numerous other expressions to its range and the current Distiller’s Edition and the 18 year old are among our favorites. As I’m sure you can tell, we LOVE this whisky and it’s a must for the whisky novice and connoisseur alike. If you had to settle for one dram, you’d be wise to make it a Talisker. Talisker also has an excellent Visitor’s Center that we’ve been fortunate enough to experience first hand.

Gaelic meaning: Isle of Skye – ‘Isle of Mist’
Meaning of name: Taken from the Talisker House
Established: 1830
Pronunciation: Tal is ker
Region: Island
# of stills: 5
Tours: Open to the public
Phone: 01478 614308
Location: Carbost, Isle of Skye, IV47 8SR

Style
Peppery, peaty

Range
10 year old / $40 to $50
18 year old / $60 to $70
Distiller’s Edition / $60 to $70
20 year old / $160 to $180
25 year old / $160 to $180
175^th Anniversary Edition (vatted) / $70 to $80

www.malts.com

Watch Spike discuss the Talisker Range.

Talisker
Click Here to Watch

Driving in Speyside
with Willie McDougall new Distillery Manager of Talisker

Watch

Tobermory

Style
Peaty, sweet

Tobermory Range
10 year old / $25 to $35
32 year old / $225 to $275

Ledaig Range
Peated / $30 to $35
Sherry Finish / $35 to $45