Buy rare and selected Islands Single Malt Scotch Whisky

This region consists of the six islands or island groups of Orkney, Skye, Mull, Jura, Arran and Lewis. The windswept islands of Orkney and Skye, as well as the more sheltered islands of Mull, Arran and Jura, are spread around the Scottish mainland, produce excellent single malt whiskies and do not have a uniform character. Only the slight salty flavour due to the sea air is common to the island whiskies.
The Orkney Islands, with 70 smaller islands, lie in the far north of Scotland and are the only part of Scotland with 500 years of continuous autonomy. It is home to the most northerly whisky outpost in the world and two distilleries compete to be the most northerly distillery: Highland Park and Scapa. At around 300 metres further north, this applies to Highland Park. In blind tastings, whisky from Highland Park is often awarded top marks and described as very balanced. Whiskies from Orkney are equally popular with lovers of Speyside whiskies and Islay whiskies, as there is both a slight sweetness and peatiness. The Scapa distillery was opened in 1885 and uses two stills, one dated 1978 and the other of the Lomond type, which allows the production of a variety of whiskies and is a rare example. It has a short, squat top instead of the elongated, conical tops that are commonly used in Scotland.
The Isle of Skye is home to just one distillery, Talisker, which produces a strong, aromatic whisky with a slight smokiness and distinct spicy and peppery flavours. Talisker was built in 1831 and named after Talisker house, which was traditionally the home of the eldest son of the Macleod clan. There are five stills at Talisker, two large ones for the first distillates and three smaller ones for the final run. Their precise size and shape - the angle of the position of the swan necks - are crucial to the production process of the whisky with Talisker s characteristic flavour.
The island of Jura lies between Islay and the Scottish mainland, is only 367 square kilometres in size and is home to just 180 inhabitants. The village of Craighouse on the east coast is home to the distillery, the only island hotel, a small shop and the only church. The Isle Of Jura distillery is the largest employer on the island and produces a range of excellent whiskies.
Mull is the second largest island in the Inner Hebrides. The island s capital Tobermory is home to the distillery of the same name. In addition to Springbank, Tobermory also produces several whisky brands. Ledaig is smoky, most comparable to the peaty-smoky whiskies from Islay. Ledaig bears the clear signature of the Manzanilla wine casks. Bright and fresh with a wonderful saltiness. Tobermory itself is an unpeated malt, delicate and fruity, with an occasional light honey flavour.
The Isle of Arran has a long tradition of distilling. In addition to the island s many illicit distilleries, there were three licensed distilleries, the last of which closed in 1835, but after 150 years the local whisky industry was reborn. The Arran distillery opened in Lochranza in 1995. Arran whisky is dry and light, with hints of vanilla and fruit. A golden nectar that comes unpeated - atypical for an island whisky.
The only distillery in the Outer Hebrides is called Abhainn Dearg (Scottish Gaelic for Red River) and is located near Carnish on the Isle of Lewis. The very young distillery presented its first whisky in October 2011.