Whisky Focus - Isle of Skye Limited Edition 18 and 21 Year Old

Isle of Skye blended whisky has its origins in one of Scotland's most celebrated Islands, Skye, which is the home of the Clan Macleod so it is very appropriate the whisky is produced by Ian Macleod, who is justifiably proud of his family’s 19th century Isle of Skye blended whisky recipe. The island is also home of the Talisker single malt whisky distillery but just how much influence the Talisker single malt has in the Isle of Skye range of blended whiskies which contain carefully selected Island and Speyside malts we shall never know. The Isle of Skye blend is known for its sugar and spice and its gentle touch of smoke.

Fans of the blend will be pleased to hear that to toast the start of Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink, Isle of Skye Blended Scotch Whisky have announced the launch of two new limited edition expressions, an Isle of Skye 18 year old and Isle of Skye 21 Year Old.

They have introduced the two additional limited edition expressions as an extension to the range that currently features the popular 8 year old  blend which was described by Jim Murray as a ‘superstar whisky that gives us all reason to live’. A fruity and well-balanced 12 year old  and a limited edition, elegant 50 year old , of which only 400 bottles were ever produced.

Ian Macleod tell me the new Isle of Skye 18 year old has an enticing coastal air with gooseberry, cinnamon bread and gentle peat on the nose with a light smoke and fresh fruitiness on the palate and a malt and dark chocolate finish.

The Isle of Skye 21 year old they describe as having a nutty, dried banana and brown sugar nose with a rich full body on the palate, honeyed porridge and tropical fruit. The finish is wonderfully long and of dry rich oak.

Neil Boyd, Commercial Director of Malts for Scotland’s leading, independent, family-owned distillers, Ian Macleod Distillers, owners of the Isle of Skye Blended Scotch Whisky commented: "The Isle of Skye Blended Scotch Whisky range was created based on a 19th century family recipe that blends distinctive peaty Island and mellow Speyside malts. Unusually for blends, each whisky in the recipe has been aged for a minimum of eight years. The addition of the 18 and 21 year old whiskies will provide consumers with a superb high quality alternative to the standard 8 and 12 year old within the range."

The Isle of Skye 18 year old has a RRP £85 and the Isle of Skye 18 year old has a RRP of £125, both are available from Harrods and the Isle of Skye Blended Scotch Whisky online shop.
 

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