Torabhaig 2017 The Legacy Series

This distillery is the most recent addition from the Isle of Skye (another favorite of mine is a classic distillery from that island). It's a very young spirit, produced starting in 2017, and this single malt hints at peat and robust flavors. The packaging appears somewhat inexpensive, and the marketing falls short compared to other new distilleries like Raasay or Waterford. In my opinion, this is a positive sign, as I've always felt that if the presentation isn't fancy, the contents must be exceptional. It's bottled at 46% ABV and has a pale straw color. The nose is very earthy, with notes of mud and grass, and peaty characteristics. It's quite spicy on the nose, with hints of white wine and bananas. It presents a tropical, peaty profile, featuring chili and coconut. After the first taste, it offered a pungent yet appealing earthy scent, with undertones of chocolate. The palate was very pleasing. Grassy notes, vanilla, coconut, and sand were present, evoking a beach-like sensation. Some very good American oak casks were clearly used. The aftertaste is very satisfying, with prominent herbal notes. It's salty and very grassy, with hints of green tea and ginger. The peat is not overwhelming; it's quite herbal. Overall, I loved this whisky. Unlike the first release from Raasay, this dram successfully conceals its youth, offering something very well-rounded and enjoyable. For a spirit of only 3 years old, it certainly suggests that a well-known Skye distillery might face some competition in the future. A beautiful single malt, a great experience, I rate it 90 out of 100.

While it's a young, non-age-statement spirit from a new Skye distillery, it's more intricate and engaging than its age implies. I'm genuinely curious about what this distillery can achieve with more resources in future releases, allowing them to craft unique and complex aged whiskies without market pressure. The nose presents Ardbeg-like smoke mingling with pineapple, mango, and pear fruit, along with vanilla and toffee sweetness. Beneath these initial notes lies a malty cereal character, a hint of citrus, and a subtle mineral-rich, peaty bog aroma, bordering on Laphroaig's medicinal quality, with a touch of damp wood. The taste deviates somewhat from the lighter, sweeter nose. You still get the sweet tropical fruit, smoke, and light but dry oak, plus the vanilla toffee sweetness. However, the mid-palate and extending through the finish is a powerful black pepper note (suggesting significant rye bourbon cask influence, similar to certain bourbons) and an almost Tabasco-like slow red pepper burn, not from alcohol but from the peppery elements. The finish is characterized by sweet and malty notes accompanied by dominant pepper spice. This whisky seems to draw inspiration from Ardbeg 10, Laphroaig 10, Tobermory, and Talisker's red pepper notes, adding a substantial amount of Ardbeg Corryvreckan's spicy black pepper to create a complex blend. Hopefully, they continue this approach.

This distillery's claim of being the newest on the Isle of Skye is questionable. I suspect these gentlemen may have sourced young malt from Talisker and simply labeled it as Torabhaig. I was curious about this, but also skeptical, primarily because it's a 3-year-old and the prices I saw in UK/EU retailers were exorbitant ($200), which seems unreasonable for an untested 3-year-old. US prices were more sensible at $60-70, but at that cost, I could buy a proven Isle of Skye distiller that's 7 years older. However, a friend kindly sent me a sample. And needless to say... the $60-70 price point is justified for this (avoid the ridiculous auction prices of $200+). This is a really good imitation of a young Talisker, but with less intensity and more refined elegance. Being young, you experience astringency on the nose immediately. Allow it to rest, and you'll be greeted with grassy aromas and hints of brine. The taste includes salted meats and grilled lemons, leaving a long, lingering citrusy heat. For $60-70, get this... it's the most affordable inaugural release I've seen hit the market. And it's remarkably good. In fact, I bought one right away. Thanks to a friend for the pour!

My apologies for the subpar photo of an empty bottle; it disappeared quickly within days due to my enjoyment and numerous requests for samples. It's been lauded as the most promising debut since a particular Campbeltown release, and I agree the comparison is fitting. While that Campbeltown newcomer took time to reveal its full potential, this three-year-old offering arrives complete, suggesting the second Skye distillery is a worthy counterpart to a well-known island producer. The nose is vibrant with crushed seashells, salt, and lemon. After allowing the bottle some air, the liquid reveals a captivating blend of tangy peat, salt, and grapefruit on the palate, leading to a citrusy finish. It lacks the grassy off-notes or faintness often found in young spirits. The balance and intensity of the flavors suggest some kind of magic is happening on Skye; for a moment, I wondered if they were pilfering barrels from their neighbor. I don't want to overstate its qualities – the initial pours were somewhat underwhelming beyond the aroma. However, once it opened up, it became incredibly compelling. That empty bottle will be refilled promptly.

The aroma begins with a lightly peated lemon-lime soda with sea salt, followed by vanilla extract, then tangy barbecue-sauced tender jackfruit, salted orange, and red grapefruit. It transitions to steamed mussels with white wine broth and a mild ethanol burn. The taste has a thin mouthfeel, starting with a moderately bitter and slightly sour spice that slowly fades to charred lemon and lime. It then develops a moderate minerality reminiscent of sea waves crashing over shore rocks, followed by vanilla meringue. Next, tangy barbecue-sauced tender jackfruit, salted orange, and red grapefruit pith appear, transitioning to baked stuffed clams and light ashy oak with a mild ethanol burn. The finish is medium length, featuring baked stuffed clams, light peat, lemon-frosted angel food cake, and lightly ashy oak. For a 3-year-old spirit, this came together well, offering a mix of citrus, green vegetal notes, light peat, and seafood. However, the taste is thin and leans towards a moderately bitter and sour spice, which disrupts the balance for me. This expression shows genuine promise for their future releases with more age, and a huge thank you to a friend for the generous sample to try.

I was expecting a Talisker imitation, but that's not what this is. Many members whose opinions I value seem to like this a lot. I'm unsure if they're using a different standard because this is a new distillery, but I'm not impressed. It typically sells for around $55-60, but I found it on sale for $33. Poured neat, it's the palest color whisky I've ever seen, just a shade above clear. The nose is smoky, like a sweet BBQ pit by the sea, with notes of wet graham cracker, cardboard, and salty oak, but it lacks depth. The palate is smoky, salty, and sweet, yet generic and thin. The traditional smoke fades in the finish, with hints of ash, tobacco, and pepper. There's nothing inherently wrong with this malt; it just doesn't stand out. Perhaps it's its youth, but even Wee Beastie, which is young, has more impact. I don't dislike it, but I'd compare it more to Ardmore than the top-tier ones. The $33 I paid represents good value, but $60 is definitely too much. I can't give low marks to any peated scotch, as they're quite good even when not performing at their best. Score: 83/100