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Isle of Skye has been delivering on this since Ian Macleod started his blend back on the island in 1933, more of that in another blog! This whisky, born on that dramatic island more than 90 years ago, drew on its soul-stirring surroundings, so there was no way this was going to be a bland affair.
It was always a combination of island and mainland whiskies, the best of Scotland in a glass. The rich, sweet and robust Speyside’s and Highlands with the smoky maritime notes of the islands. Here in the 8-year-old it is that peated island influence which shines. This means that our blending team opted to marry more island malt whisky into our blend giving it those salty, smoky maritime notes that so many people love. I look at whisky blending like a chef assembling a Michelin starred plate of food. The smoke flavor here is the succulent piece of steak in the middle of the plate while the mainland whiskies are the sides, building the depth and complexity of the dish by adding that range of flavors and accompanying mouthfeel. If you like your whisky with the unmistakable phenolic character of campfire, tobacco and liquorice then this most certainly is for you.
Next, let’s talk about versatility. With summer just around the corner vodkas, gins, rums and tequilas are usually the go-to drinks of choice to mix up for a refreshing cocktail. Fruity and sweeter whiskies as well as bourbons all get swirled around a cocktail shaker but look at poor old peated whisky. This often gets left on the shelf. Who wants those warming, smoky flavours in summer eh?
Don’t think of this just as a fireside sipper – get it into an Old Fashioned with citrus bitters of your choice and don’t forget a slice of lemon or lime. Or pour a glug into a shaker and make my favourite whisky cocktail, a sour with some fresh lemon juice and an egg white. Just think sipping on that while the barbeque sizzles in the background adding to your summer smoky heavenliness.
Remember this is a blended Scotch whisky. The smoother grain whisky and mainland malts reign in the smoke preventing it from taking over. This isn’t the punch in the face that certain single malt peated whiskies deliver, and that can be good, but to harmoniously coexist in a cocktail with fellow ingredients means you don’t want to overpower, and that’s the secret to using Isle of Skye 8 Year Old in a cocktail. It’s got the peat, and it will marry and mix and still be heard but won’t dominate. A wonderfully versatile cocktail component.
