This week, we take a look at the only unofficial Scotch Whisky region, The Islands.

The Islands as an unofficial whisky producing region includes Arran, Jura, Mull, Orkney and Skye. These islands – hidden away amongst 800 islands off the coast of mainland Scotland – represented a real opportunity for distillers in the days of illegal whisky production, with easy access for smuggling in materials and smuggling out the finished product.

Of the current active distilleries, Highland Park is the oldest, dating back to 1798 by an illicit distiller and smuggler, Magnus Eunson, a colourful character who also worked as a butcher and church officer. The reality is that the distillery was active long before that year, but it was its official founding date as that’s when Eunson got caught by the authorities and was forced to start paying taxes.

Perhaps unsurprisingly given their disparate locations all around the north and east of Scotland, the whiskies produced by distilleries on The Islands are highly varied in flavours with the only unifying factor being that they are generally smoky and peaty, with a briny note that echoes their coastal locations.

To learn more about any of these fantastic bottles or to purchase them from Hard To Find Whisky, please click the images of the bottles below!

Tasting Notes:

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Smoked fudge, eucalyptus oil and carbolic soap.

Taste: Burning heather and pine cones. Grape skins and melons, wood smoked meats.

Finish: As the smoke drifts, some floral notes develop and finally Lime pastilles.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Maritime in feel, with light spice-prickle, the first impression suggests a beach bonfire of dry seaweed, then deep-seated notes of maritime saltiness and marine engines take over, on a base of drying fresh linen. All these scents hold
together well at reduced strength.

Palate: Smoothly oily in texture, while the taste is gloriously sweet throughout and smoky-spicy, with a distinct fruity hint, all of which evokes an orchard seen through smoke and sea mist. A fine salty balance in the middle leads the spiciness on into a powerful chili pepper catch as you swallow. With a drop of water, the sweet fruitiness and saltiness come into their own.

Finish: Long, sustained and lightly smoky, with lingering warming spice.

To learn more about these incredible whiskies, please click the images above where you will be taken to our partners Hard To Find Whisky’s dedicated product pages. Alternatively, you can discover more of our top picks from the other Scotch Whisky regions including Islay, Lowlands, Campbeltown, Speyside, and the Highlands by clicking the relevant links.

Slainte mhath!