Island Whisky reviews by WhiskyRant!

Whiskies from the Island regions of Scotland.

Arran	Highland Park	Isle of Jura
Scapa	Talisker	Tobermory

June 28, 2024

Isle of Jura Red Wine Cask Finish

Jura Red Wine Cask Edition comes from the Isle of Jura distillery and like the name states, it’s been finished in wine casks. Before its wine cask finish, aged in American white oak bourbon barrels. This expression really intrigued me since I’ve never been able to fully enjoy Jura whiskies. Whether […]

May 22, 2023

Torabhaig Allt Gleann Legacy 2nd Release

Torabhaig distillery is a new exciting addition to Scottish whisky landscape, coming from the islands region. They are located in Isle of Skye and started making small batches of whisky in 2017. I had a pleasure of trying this Second Release of Torabhaig Allt Gleann Legacy at our local tasting. […]

October 20, 2020

Ledaig 10 year old single malt review

Ledaig whisky is the peated single malt by Tobermory distillery, located in the Isle of Mull in Scotland. Founded in 1798, the distillery went a number of periods of closure and was formerly known as Ledaig (Gaelic for Safe Haven). I really like the Tobermory 10 year old single malt […]

June 16, 2020

Ledaig 18 year old single malt review

Whisky under the Ledaig brand is peated single malt by Tobermory distillery from the Isle of Mull in Scotland. The distillery founded in 1798, having undergone a number of periods of closure, was formerly known as Ledaig. Tobermory’s malt whisky is being used for blends Scottish Leader and Black Bottle. […]

June 15, 2020

The Famous Grouse Toasted Cask review

The Famous Grouse Toasted Cask is their original Famous Grouse blend after resting in freshly toasted new oak casks. So this whisky is one of the world’s most popular blends with a twist. The original blend consists of Glenrothes, Macallan and Highland Park malt whiskies and unknown grain whisky. It’s […]

June 15, 2020

Talisker 18 year old single malt review

Talisker 18 year old single malt whisky comes from Isle of Skye region in Scotland. Talisker distillery is something you either love or hate. They produce whisky that has strong character, very powerful coastal notes. I’m kind of in the middle of my love and hate relationship. Originally I hated […]

May 12, 2020

Dark chocolate with single malt liquid center

My spouse gave these as a Christmas gift. A delightful surprise I must say. By the way, if you’re looking for gift ideas for whisky lovers, please read my article about the subject from the link in question. So, back to my original post about dark chocolate filled with famous […]

May 7, 2020

Arran Single Cask – bottled for Viskiryhmä Turku

This Private Cask Arran was bottled for Viskiryhmä Turku, which is a small but vibrant whisky community in Turku region (held in Facebook). Located in Lochranza village in the Isle of Arran, the Arran Distillery was built in 1995. It’s become one of the favorite distilleries of key people in […]

July 11, 2019

Scapa Skiren The Orcadian Single Malt review

This is “The Orcadian Single Malt” called Scapa Skiren, a NAS (non-age stated) whisky from Scapa distillery. Released in 2015, distilled in the only remaining working Lomond Still in Scotch whisky industry. Scapa Skiren has been aged in refill American oak casks. The one I got to taste was Batch […]

July 10, 2019

Orkneyinga Legacy Highland Park 12YO 46% ABV

Highland Park 12YO Orkneyinga Legacy review

I have to call this one a legend right away. This is the regular Highland Park 12 year old single malt whisky on steroids. Orkneyinga Legacy is a rarity you can usually get straight from the distillery. Yes, no retail possibility for this beauty. 2018 spring being the exception when […]

July 7, 2019

Highland Park 14YO Loyalty of the Wolf review

This 14 year old Highland Park is another exclusively for travel retail market produced whisky by the Orcadian distillery. They introduced a trio of single malts for duty free shops in 2018. The other two would be Voyage of the Raven and Spirit of the Bear. All animals important in […]

July 7, 2019

Highland Park Voyage Of The Raven review

Voyage of the Raven single malt comes from Highland Park distillery. This dramatically named NAS (non-age statement) whisky was released for the travel retail market. I guess this one’s a marriage of old sherry and bourbon casks like Highland Park whiskies usually are, but it’s been aged in high proportion […]

July 5, 2019

Highland Park Sydäntalvi 15YO Single Cask review

Sydäntalvi is a 15 year old single cask Highland Park distilled in 2001, bottled in 2017 for the Finnish retail market. Since their first single cask release for Finnish retail market in 2016, Highland Park has continued to launch new ones because of their success. The first four releases, including […]

June 24, 2019

Highland Park Sisu 13YO Single Cask review

This 13 year old single cask Highland Park called Sisu was distilled in 2003, bottled in 2017. Made specially for Finnish retail market during Finland’s 100 years of independence anniversary year. According to Highland Park’s brand ambassador Martin Markvardsen, Sisu single cask whisky was named after some dog. The definition […]

June 6, 2019

Talisker Dark Storm review

Whiskies created for travel retail market tend to have a bad reputation. Let’s face it, usually they are mediocre. Talisker Dark Storm is exception. This intense creation from the distillery which creates heavy character whiskies, is (with today’s prices) a real bang for buck single malt. Especially because you’ll get […]

June 5, 2019

Highland Park Dark Origins review

This was just a result of fast sampling in a Finnish restaurant during a business trip, so my review of Highland Park Dark Origins might not be the most accurate one you’ll end up finding on the internet. Like the name states, this HP is a dark character. For maturation […]

April 22, 2017

Highland Park 10 year old review

Highland Park 10 year old comes from the most northerly whisky distillery in Scotland, the Highland Park distillery in Kirkwall, Orkney Island. This distillery has found its way to my heart, being one of my favorite distilleries. Never disappointing, always delivering top quality whiskies like their core range 12 and […]

February 20, 2016

Ola Dubh 12 review – amazing ale aged in whisky casks

Ola Dubh Special Reserve 12 review

This is probably the greatest, or at least one of the greatest ales I have ever tasted. Ola Dubh Special Reserve 12 comes from the Harviestoun Brewery in Clackmannanshire, Scotland. Based in the town of Alva, their brewing story began in 1983 – known for beers like Schiehallion Lager and […]

September 10, 2015

Talisker 10 year old review

Talisker 10 year old is truly a seaside dram. Powerful single malt whisky from the Isle of Skye, filled with coastal notes and strong character – classic Scottish Island dram. I am not a big fan of seafood and if you have to name one whisky that resembles seafood, Talisker […]

July 11, 2015

Highland Park Freya 15 year old review

I haven’t tasted the first two, but I got a chance to try the third release of Highland Park’s Valhalla Collection: Freya, a 15 year old single malt whisky. This one was named after the Norse Goddess of Love. Freya the Goddess was sensitive and wise – a valiant protector of human […]

July 6, 2015

Highland Park Einar review

Highland Park has released six NAS (no age statement) whiskies for their Warrior Series, made for European travel retail market: Svein, Einar, Harald, Sigurd, Ragnavald and Thorfinn (in order of price). Named after Einar, one of the most feared vikings of his time. Einar was tough and successful, making lots […]

July 6, 2015

Highland Park Svein review

For the European travel retail market, Highland Park released 6 different NAS (no age statement) whiskies: Svein, Einar, Harald, Sigurd, Ragnavald and Thorfinn (in order of price). Named after a legendary Viking leader Svein, who was also known for his generous nature and hospitality, as well as his fiery temper. Highland […]

July 6, 2015

Highland Park Harald review

Highland Park released six NAS (no age statement) whiskies for the European travel retail market: Svein, Einar, Harald, Sigurd, Ragnavald and Thorfinn (in order of price). Named after the Norwegian king, Harald Fairhair, who established the Orkney earldom. King Harald also had a well-known victorious army. Highland Park Harald has […]

June 30, 2015

Highland Park 12 year old review

I haven’t bumped into any confirmed info about the maturation of Highland Park 12 year old single malt whisky, but I’m guessing it’s Ex-Bourbon and Ex-Sherry casks. Probably re-fill sherry casks. They do talk about the usage of Oloroso sherry casks, so probably those and some American oak. But I […]

June 28, 2015

Isle of Jura 10 year old review

Isle of Jura 10 year old is a steady executor, smooth from the start until the finish. Matured in Ex-Bourbon casks, not at all a complex single malt whisky. Bit spicy but nothing like Jura Superstition in spiciness. I’d say that Jura 10YO is a safe option. A nice afternoon starter for example. […]

March 13, 2015

The Naked Grouse blended malt whisky review

This BIRD is hard to comprehend, yet it’s rich The Naked Grouse is a blended malt whisky from The Famous Grouse brand by The Edrington Group. The malts are from Highland Park and Macallan, matured in first-fill Sherry casks. It has a higher proportion of above-mentioned malts, than in the […]

March 13, 2015

The Black Grouse Alpha Edition review

The Black Grouse Alpha Edition is a peated version of the Famous Grouse. This is a little bit peatier than the ordinary Black Grouse whisky released in 2007, developed for Swedish market. In the label, there’s that grouse again, this time it’s a black one (tetrao tetrix). Miss Whisky has a […]

March 13, 2015

The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky review

Matthew Gloag & Son Ltd. started the Famous Grouse production in 1897 and nowadays it’s been made by The Edrington Group. Named after the famous British moorland bird called red grouse (lagopus lagopus scoticus), which is Scotland’s national game bird. “It has been the highest selling whisky in Scotland since […]

March 4, 2015

Highland Park 18 year old review

Edit 7/7/2019: I’ve kept my old bottling of Highland Park 18 year old stashed away in my cabinet. In fear of too much oxidation, I’ve transferred it to a smaller bottle after halfway through. Then, in autumn of 2018 we decided to have a Highland Park tasting with the 18YO […]

February 24, 2015

Mackinlay’s Shackleton Rare Old Highland Malt review

In 2006, The New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust found three cases of Chas Mackinlay & Co’s whisky in the ice under Ernest Shackleton’s hut. Shackleton made an expedition to Antarctic in 1907-1909. The expedition didn’t go well, forcing Shackleton to abandon their hut and leave stuff behind – including the whisky […]