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Torabhaig Sound of Sleat Batch Strength (AKA Legacy Series Chapter 4) is the second batch strength offering from this Isle of Skye Distillery on their journey to their first age statement whisky. The standard Sound of Sleat and this batch strength, bottled at 60.2% ABV, are both available to buy now at Fareham Wine Cellar.
The tech-y bit, from Torabhaig: crafted from Concerto and Laureate malted barley, fermented over 72 hours using Pinnacle MG+ yeast, and matured exclusively in Quercus Alba American Oak – including a mix of first-fill bourbon, refill bourbon, and freshly toasted virgin oak barrels from the cooperage.
Bottled at 60.2% with no chill-filtration or colouring.
Maturation
Torabhaig is a new distillery on the island of Skye. It was founded in 2013 and is believed to be only the second distillery opened on Skye in over 190 years (the other, Talisker, was founded in 1930). The distillery is owned by Mossburn Distillers, which is part of Swedish pharmaceutical billionaire Frederick Paulsen’s empire.
Torabhaig Distillery is located in a listed, 19th century traditional stone farm steading which has been painstakingly restored using local materials. The renovation project began in 2014, the stills and washbacks were commissioned and installed in 2016 and the first spirit flowed from the stills in 2017.
The distillery features a specially designed removable slate roof which allows easy access to the two stills for repairs or should they need to be replaced. These are two traditional copper pot stills custom-made by Forsyths of Rothes. A long fermentation in eight 8000L Douglas Fir washbacks and plenty of copper interaction during distillation provide a fruit-forward spirit.
The distillery uses only the purest island spring water from Allt Gleann Torabhaig and Allt Breacach and will have a capacity to produce around 1.5 million bottles of whisky each year.
There is no head distiller at Torabhaig; instead, a team of nine distillers, many of them new to the industry, but now accomplished brewer-distillers, began work on this new release in January 2017. They have served their apprenticeship under a team of whisky industry mentors and veterans, including consultant brewers, distillers and maltsmen, who have over 200 years of know-how between them.
The Sound of Sleat is the narrow sea channel that separates the Sleat Peninsula on the Isle of Skye from the mainland areas of Morar, Knoydart, and Glenelg. This wild and rugged stretch of water sits behind the distillery.
The label and box for this fantastic whisky release feature artwork by local artist Ellis O’Connor, which captures the essence of the Sound of Sleat. It is slightly different from the standard bottling.
From Torabhaig:
Nose: Introducing itself with a balanced blast of smoke, brine, and sweet oak spice; this batch strength expression of Sound of Sleat Batch Strength has subtle tones of fragrant tobacco, orange barley sugar and touches of apricot and seaweed behind the peat reek.
Palate: A big but elegant whisky: zesty oak spice, bonfire embers and a waxy mouthfeel combine with hints of sweet vanilla, white pepper and a little whiff of oriental smoke.
Finish: Long and elegant with a youthful fiery spirit kick; the lingering well-knit structure comes through in abundance to give spice, capsicum and more than a little coastal nod that leaves you in no two minds of its island origins.
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