Scotland’s small islands, from Arran, Jura and Mull in the West, to Orkney in the North, produce whiskies of various styles offering huge diversity, partly due to the fact that there are nearly 800 islands, of which only a few are inhabited. Islay, the whisky capital, is considered a region of its own.

Island whiskies have very different characters, born from the individuality of the Island itself. They, like the beautiful countryside from where they spring, provide something to suit everyone’s taste. Proximity to the sea and the coast has a large bearing on the flavour and character of the spirit and there can be some generalisations dependant on the location of the island. For example, Highland Park and Scapa in the northern island of Orkney are coastal distilleries but produce very different styles of whisky - malty and smoky and herbal/citrus respectively. The Isle of Skye distillery, Talisker, produce whiskies that are big and punchy with plenty character. Isle of Arran whiskies are rich and malty and finally Mull and Jura have a huge diversity of style of whiskies, dependant on distillery - thick, nutty and maritime can be used to describe them.

This is a hugely varied region and one which deserves to be explored!  So come island hopping with us and taste for yourself!