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Ian MacLeod
& Isle of Skye
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Isle of
Skye whisky
A
little pontification by the author:
Some years ago, back in the early 1990's if my memory serves me
correct, I took a holiday on Skye which included some days in B&Bs
followed by a week where I abandoned my car and just set off on
foot.
I managed to make my way right up to the North of the
island where I found a fantastic, newly opened hostel and each
evening I endeavoured to make full use of the facilities to cook
some wonderful dishes with local produce, including some
magnificent lamb from a local butcher.
Another example of
wonderful local produce was the whisky, not only Talisker, but a
nondescript-looking 8y Macleod's blended whisky called 'Isle of
Skye'. Was it the whole holiday circumstances which made this so
memorable, or was it indeed a really good dram? Let's see as I
now open the 8y & 18y minis which have been in my posession
since that time.
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Isle of Skye,
8y,
40%
blended Scotch
whisky
Original cost of
this bottle; €€€€€
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Glass: Spiegelau
Colour: Almost copper
Nose:
Slightly smoky Scottish moors with bracken, heather and moss. A
few wild herbs in there too.
Palate: Initially
slightly smoky, smooth and silky before opening out to include
those wild herbs and a little lavendar.
Finish: Quite long, smooth and slightly dry.
Overall impression: A
wonderful, easy-drinking blend. Do they still make it like
this? If so, I want more!
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Isle of Skye,
18y,
'Private Stock No. 45', 43%
blended Scotch
whisky
Original cost of
this bottle; €€€€€
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Glass: Spiegelau
Colour: Dark gold
Nose:
An immediate burst of leather, wood, nuts and an early morning
walk along Atlantic-coastal cliffs.
Palate: Silky,
creamy & luxurious. It has nuts, dark fruits, a little marzipan,
malt and possibly even a slight hint of banana overlaid with
soft orange, fading eventually to a floral delight.
Finish: Medium but silky and creamy with a fruity aftertaste.
Overall impression: My
goodness, I thought the 8y was good, this is magnificent.
I'll take a case please.
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Isle of Skye,
8y,
40%
blended Scotch
whisky, an older bottling.
Original cost of
this bottle; €€€€€
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Glass: Classic Malt
Colour: Oak
Nose:
Musty, malty and peppery.
Palate: Rich with
a suggested of malted biscuit. Mildly peppery and sweet with
hints of toffee which remind me immediately of those hard toffee
sweets I had as a child. Almost like butterscotch but not quite.
Finish: Medium to long.
Overall impression: I
first tried this whisky back around the early 90's during a
walking holiday on Skye and my goodness trying this now takes me
straight back again to when this and local lamb were my staples
for a week.
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Ian
MacLeod
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Other expressions
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Glass:
Classic Malt
Colour:
Liht yellow gold
Nose:
Very aromatic sweet malt, almost reminiscent
of that olde worlde sweet shoppe with all goodies open to the
elements, very floral and some light butterscotch.
Palate: Creamy
smooth with hints of white pepper leading into the finish.
There's also some light, slightly floral fresh-cut wood and
faint creamy toffee.
Finish: Long and floral with those white peppercorns.
Overall impression:
Thoroughly enjoyable, a fine blended whisky with a light, floral
character and plenty of complexity.
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