The Islands represent a very diverse region and one that is not strictly a recognised as a region by the Scotch Whisky Association - technically the Islands are a part of the Highlands. It is most probably for geographic ease that this small group of islands is lumped... together. There are so many different characters to be found, though usually a slight salinity is to be found, thanks to the vicinity to the sea. To the very north there is Orkney, and their single malts are coastal and full in the case of Highland Park, with plenty of honey and smoky malt. The other Orcadian distillery, Scapa, has a distinctive herbal quality. Then there is the Isle of Skye with its sole distillery: Talisker. Single malts here are often described as being 'volcanic' in character with plenty of body. There's Arran, who make a malty, rich whisky. It's a recently founded distillery on the Isle of Arran, founded in 1995. Finally, there's Mull and Jura. Each with a single distillery a piece. On Mull the Tobermory distillery produces a sweet, thick, slightly herbal whisky and on the Isle of Jura, the distillery with the same name produces some maritime, oily drams with a herbal character.
Single Malt Whisky In Other Regions
Other Island Styles
Other Whisky Styles