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The Islands region encompasses all Scottish whisky-producing islands except Islay. This includes Skye (Talisker), Mull (Tobermory), Jura, Arran, Orkney (Highland Park, Scapa), and Lewis (Abhainn Dearg). Though officially grouped with Highland whiskies for classification, the Islands are often treated as their own category due to their distinctive maritime character.
“Maritime and varied. Each island brings unique characteristics, but common threads include sea salt, iodine, and coastal influence. Smoke levels vary—Talisker offers pepper and smoke, while Arran is lighter and fruity. Highland Park balances heather smoke with honey. The diversity makes generalisation difficult, but expect some maritime influence across all expressions.”
First legal distillery on Isle of Lewis, traditional methods
Isle of Benbecula single malt
traditional Scotch whisky
Balanced with peat smoke and sherry sweetness
Fruity, approachable island malt
Light and floral with a hint of sweetness
Lightly peated with rich fruit, unique six-cask maturation
Light, delicate island malt with exceptionally tall pot stills
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Heavily peated Arran sister distillery