Island vs. Island

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Overview

Scotland has approximately 900 offshore islands, while Scotland itself is the northern third of a much larger island.

As an island dweller, I've felt compelled to instigate a wee showdown between some of those lovely whisky-producing offshore islands.

For an extra bit of fun, I've thrown Tasmania into the mix because they meet the criteria of an offshore island producing excellent single malt, and also because I wanted an excuse to open what I've been told is a particularly mental whisky (Cradle Mountain 23yr from Cadenhead's).

These single malt whiskies aren't necessarily the obvious choices when thinking about these particular islands, but I think they're interesting, exceptionally delicious choices.

This theme could really be called “Island off an Island vs. Island off an Island” or perhaps “Island2 vs. Island2”, but I'm not ready for inception-level / fractal tastings yet.

In keeping with the highlander cliché that "there can be only one", let's find out which island's offering rises above the rest.

The Lineup

The Lineup

1. Arran 15yr 1996 55.4%

  • Representing the Isle of Arran 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

  • Single cask #1410, ex-bourbon (likely 1st-fill)

  • Produced during first 12 months of Lochranza Distillery production

  • Distilled on 30th September, 1996

  • Bottled on 10th October, 2011

  • 132 of 181 bottles

Tasting Notes:

Quite spiritous on nose and palate. Fragrant. Somewhat unripe yellow orchard fruit. Citrus peel and pith. Wet slate and stone. Bitter lime peel. Good viscosity. Medium length finish.

2. Scapa 17yr 2005 56.4% "Connoisseurs Choice" from Gordon & MacPhail

  • Representing the Orkney Islands 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

  • Single cask #483

  • 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel

  • UK exclusive bottling

  • Bottled on 18th August, 2022

  • 1 of 186 bottles

Tasting Notes:

Coastal, sea spray, brightness, juicy tropicality. Toffee. Minerals. Coconut. Banana cream/custard. Buttery. Good viscosity. Slightly nutty finish with lime juice, good length.

3. Jura 21yr 1998 54.2% from Adelphi

  • Representing the Isle of Jura 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

  • Single cask #2146

  • Refill sherry (likely oloroso)

  • UK exclusive bottling

  • Bottled in 2020

  • 1 of 265 bottles

Tasting Notes:

Brazil nuts, red and black currant, orange zest, fresh damp dirt, winey. Smoky cocktail cherries. Metallic. High viscosity. Long, dirty finish.

4. Cradle Mountain 23yr 1996 53.2% from Cadenhead's

  • Representing Tasmania 🇦🇺

  • Fully matured in a Cabernet Sauvignon cask

  • Single cask

  • Distilled at the Small Concern Distillery in Tasmania

  • 1 of 7 casks purchased by Cadenhead's from the distillery in 1995

  • Bottled in May 2019

  • 1 of 198 bottles

Tasting Notes:

Very red winey. Alcoholic liquified peanut butter & jelly sandwich. Red boiled fruits, strawberry syrup, dunnage funk, swampy, diesel fumes. High viscosity and chewy. Very long, vaporous finish.

5. Talisker 10yr 2009 48.4% "Old Particular" from Douglas Laing

  • Representing the Isle of Skye 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

  • Refill ex-bourbon hogshead

  • Single cask DL14410

  • Distilled in November 2009

  • Bottled in October 2020

  • 1 of 376 bottles

Tasting Notes:

Fresh! Coastal breeze, orange juice, puffs of extinguished beach bonfire white smoke, marmalade, husky, sparkly, tide pools, rubber. Decent viscosity. Medium-long finish, emphasizing white coastal smoke and citrus.

6. Laphroaig 20yr 2005 54.4% "Unphorgettable Madeira Release"

  • Representing the Isle of Islay 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

  • Finished in a Madeira cask

  • Single cask #3

  • Distillery exclusive bottling

  • Released on 15th August, 2025

  • 162 of 247 bottles

Tasting Notes:

Rich, stock toffee, sooty, gray smoke, distant cigar, integrated medium-intensity peat, dried orange peel, dehydrated red apple, coastal, seaweed, apricot juice. Decent viscosity. Medium length finish with some dried fruits and lingering smoke.

7. Ledaig 13yr 2009 54% "Rum Cask Finish" hand-fill

  • Representing the Isle of Mull 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

  • Matured in an ex-bourbon cask for 10 years

  • Finished in a rum cask for 3 years

  • Distillery exclusive hand-fill

  • Filled on 15th June, 2022

  • Probably a small batch rather than a single cask

Tasting Notes:

Juicy tropical fruits, banana, guava, burning tires, kippers, shipwreck, old pier, active bonfire smoke, nectarine, smoldering peat, vibrant. Good viscosity. Long finish with tropical fruit and smoke.