The Islands
Maritime malts from Arran to Skye
Officially part of the Highlands, unofficially a world of their own: the scattered isles from Arran in the south to Skye in the north-west each make whisky shaped by wind and salt water. Skye gives peppery smoke, Jura and Mull their own quiet accents, Arran a bright modern freshness. No two island malts agree — which is exactly the point.
- Character
- Scattered isles from Arran to Skye, each shaped by its own wind, rock and sea.
- Style
- No two agree: Skye pepper and smoke, Mull's twin faces, Arran's bright orchard freshness.
- Span
- Arran to Skye
- Signature
- Salt air, soft smoke, sea spray
- Distilleries
- ~9 across 7 islands
- Top houses
Tip · Treat each island as its own region in miniature — 'Island style' tells you even less than 'Highland style'.
Value pick
Arran 10 · ~$45
Clean island freshness, honestly priced and unchill-filtered.
Collector pick
Talisker 18 · ~$200
The pepper mellowed into honeyed smoke — repeatedly awarded.
Test yourself
Question 1 of 40/4
Distilleries
Which island distillery was Robert Louis Stevenson's 'king o' drinks'?