The picturesque Isle of Skye is filled with untamed landscapes, sheer cliffs that look out to the Outer Hebrides, and towering mountains with hardy flora and fauna – the perfect place to create art. And in Scotland, the art form of choice is distilling excellent whisky. Isle of Skye whisky holds the qualities of the island and its inhabitants, making for a delicious and unique experience.
If you’re planning to come to Skye Isle for a vacation and want to know the whisky distilleries on your to-do list, then you’ve come to the right place.
Ian Macleod Distillers
The unyielding Outer Hebrides provide a relentless environment to make whisky, stirring creativity and inspiring fine whisky. One of the first who had their soul stirred by the untamed Isle of Skye was Ian Macleod of Clan Macleod, who created Ian Macleod Distillers in 1933.
Since then, his secret family recipe rich with details of delicious Skye blended Scotch whisky has been passed down through generations, and you can enjoy the fruit of his labour nearly a century later. Ian Macleod Distillers Limited offers a wide range of excellent aged whiskies with various tastes that dance across the palette, like walnut, cinnamon, gooseberry and more.
Highland malts have always had a smooth and bold taste that’s difficult to replicate anywhere else, making Ian Macleod a necessary attraction. The Clan motto, “Hold fast”, doesn’t apply to holding off on visiting this exquisite distillery.
Talisker Distillery
Boasting the title of the Isle of Skye’s oldest distillery, Talisker has sat on the shores of Loch Harport, overlying the Black Cuillin Mountains since 1830. Talisker keeps the distinctive island tradition and charm at the very soul of their whisky, and this can be seen whenever you get the chance to book a whisky tour or dram tasting.
Their tour offers guests the chance to break open one of the Talisker Distillery oak casks and enjoy the smooth Scotch whisky that’s been aged for years. The centuries of history permeating throughout Talisker make it one Isle of Skye whisky distillery where the stories surrounding it are of epic proportions.
Come and see one of the oldest Isle of Skye distilleries on the largest island in the Outer Hebrides the next time you plan to tame the wild seas and reach this famed Isle.
Isle of Skye Experimental Spirits
On your way to the Isle of Skye, the Isle of Skye Experimental Spirits offers a wide excellent of limited batch release gins and other spirits from distilleries all over the region. Many big and small distilleries throughout the hidden valleys of Mainland Scotland and the Isle of Skye sell their spirits through this store, making it a great stop along your journey through Scotland.
Smooth Speyside malts are the premier Isle of Skye Experiment Spirits product. Still, if single malt grain whiskies aren’t your drink, you can always purchase one of their delicious gins, vodkas, rums, or other spirits you regularly drink.
The Distillery at Torabhaig
Like many of the whisky distilleries we’ve mentioned, the Distillery at Torabhaig is very much shaped by the untamed landscape that surrounds it. Torabhaig uses the spring waters of the Isle to produce a whisky that is both smooth on the way down and also offers a depth of flavour thanks to years of experience.
These years of experience end up with a complex dram worthy of an award, or at least the opportunity to enjoy a second dram along with it. That’s all the seal of approval that many need, so don’t hesitate to pay a visit to Torabhaig when visiting the Isle of Skye.