First time buying an Isle of Skye. I usually don’t buy blend malt, but i heard good things about this one and the price was very good! So, I’m trying new stuff to open my mind to things that I usually don’t buy. Although the ABV is low and not on my preference, this turned out very good! It does look low on ABV when you pour on the glass and look at the legs. They disappear too fast to small drips on the glass, typicall of low alcohool concentration. But it doesn’t disappoint on the nose and palate. On the nose it seems like a Rye Whisky with a strong presence of cinnamon, some ginger and lime, more like a limoncello. There are hints of toffee as well and sugary cereal, but the cinnamon is very present with some sweet notes and lemon. On the palate is very different and the citrus notes are not there. Instead, it’s a lot more rich in toffee, chocolate and some walnut. But the finish is full with dark chocolate. You instantly want the next sip to figure out further and it doesn’t disappoint. More of that comes with a tad of smoke, but very lightly. The influence of Speyside as mentioned in the bottle is noticeable. If only it would come with a bigger ABV and this one would be a champ! Slainte Mha!
About this bottle
The Isle of Skye is a blended Scotch whisky brand from Ian Macleod Distillers, one of Scotland's independent, family-owned distillers, blenders, and bottlers. In fact, it was Ian Macleod who created Isle of Skye whisky on the island in 1933. IMD creates the blend using malt whisky from Skye as well as malt & grain whiskies from the mainland of Scotland. This 18 Year bottling is one of six whiskies in the brand's core portfolio which as of June 2023 has been made available in the US. The Isle of Skye packaging has received an update to its packaging with each bottle featuring the islands famous Cuillin Ridge hills. (SRP $64.99)
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 7 parsed reviews.
A rich, blended Scotch whisky by Ian Macleod Distillery crafted with a blend of Island & Speyside malts aged for a minimum of 18 years in oak casks before being bottled at 40% ABV. It has notes of grain, wood, fruits, nuts, herbs & spices; while a rich life adds notes of toffee pudding, honied citrus, gingerbread & fruit cake; that led to a balanced death of medium length with notes of black pepper, oak, almond, sherry, peat smoke & sea spray. August / October 2025
Nose: A lot of ethanol initially, some time in the glass allows butterscotch, malt, pastry, apple and pear notes through. Palate: Somewhat harsh at first, subsequent sips mellowed it a little, a bit creamy with malt, apple, pear, honey, vanilla, caramel and shortbread notes. Finish: Warming and lengthy with malt, vanilla, barrel spice and a hint of smoke. Sits nicely between the 12 year and 21 year.
N: citrus, cherries, hay, and cinnamon M: Caramel, malt, slight smoke F: dark chocolate, seaweed, malt Overall, a decent dram. Tastes like it's trying too hard to appeal to everyone. 80 proof has a bit of a watered down oily viscosity
Nose of berries, fruitcake, oak, smoke, lime and lime peel, musty basement, toffee. On the palate toffee, a hint of smoke, charred oak, lime peel, a touch of peat. Finishes balanced with some mild heat, sweet malt and bitter chocolate.
Great scotch. Rivals JW Blue blended scotch. A bit more smoke but probably more consistent flavor. The Isle of Skye 25 year easily surpasses both JW Blue and this scotch. Still a great bottle
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