Torabhaig 2017 Legacy Series Inaugural Release - 46%
Picture taken somewhere in Stuttgart
It's a shame we didn't manage to visit this newborn distillery on our last trip to Skye. We were actually too busy toiling up the Old Man of Storr. Beside Talisker, it's the second official whisky distillery that was ever installled on Skye. Let's just assume away all those Moonshiners in the past centuries. Distilled with heavily peated barely (55-60 PPM) and matured in a first Fill Bourbon Cask, those are specifications that leap our hearts with joy.
Nose
Crushed granite, fresh oxygen and smoked apples are leading the dance. There is a nice minerality which remotely reminds us of Springbank. But even if there's a big Skye sign displayed on the front label, most of the time we feel like moving on Islay terroir. It's pretty shy at the beginning. After a while some gentle notes of vanilla cake, almonds and fresh bread are shining through. A humble and elegant fellow, but not a complex one.
Palate
Let's start with a rounded and smooth, lightly bodied spirit that comes with a distinct peatiness, brine-y petrol drops and a very delicate sweetness of lemon cake. No sign of sharpness and youth, which indicates that the team really masters their heads and tales. It's lacking a bit of power though, meaning that it would tremendously benefit from a higher abv. We are really curious for their future cask strength expressions, because the basic spirit is quite promising.
Finish
Quite long for it's young age, with plenty of bitter lemon and grapefruit peels, which were fermented in brine. The finish is actually the highlight of the journey.
Rating
How to judge a whisky that is perfectly produced, without any rough edges, but doesn't really leave one impressed. It smells and tastes like an Islay Whisky, which is actually a good sign, yet not what we've expected. Well, maybe we're too much affected by the distinctive and maritime uniqueness of their famous neighbours. But that would be an unfair comparison, considering the enormous time difference in history and experience. We hope and believe that the team will evolve their solid basic destillate to something unique and stand-alone. The potential is huge indeed.
