Torabhaig The Distillers Series Iona's First Edition

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 60.9% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

With Iona's First Edition, Torabhaig explores a different side of its distillery. Iona MacPhie chose unpeated Concerto malt as the base and added 10% Chocolate Malt, a dark speciality malt. The whisky matured in first-fill bourbon casks and refill Sherry Butts. Despite the unpeated malt, this release has a light smoky note.

Iona MacPhie was inspired to use Chocolate Malt in her whisky during a visit to a maltings. For her release, she chose a long fermentation and set a low final cut point during distillation to retain robust, dark flavours in the spirit. Limited to 5,250 bottles, the edition was bottled at 60.9% ABV. The whisky is not chill-filtered, contains no added colouring and comes in gift packaging.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Vanilla and creamy cocoa butter open the aroma. Dark chocolate and malted grain follow, lifted by citrus and subtle tropical fruit notes.
• Palate: Clove and a cool hint of peppermint appear first on the palate. The spice builds as caramel and toffee meet redcurrants, raisins and toasted oak. Ginger joins them and carries through to the finish.
• Finish: The long finish holds on to the ginger and brings in peppercorns and cinnamon. Returning vanilla softens the spice, while a fresh note lingers.

Distillery/Bottler:

Torabhaig stands on the Sleat peninsula in the south of the Isle of Skye. An old farmstead was converted for the distillery, where distillation has taken place since 2017 in copper stills made specifically for the building. The Douglas fir washbacks were also tailored to the site.

Torabhaig trained local people to work at the distillery. Iona MacPhie has been part of the distilling team since 2017; before that, she worked as a visitor guide at Talisker. The Distillers' Series gives the distillers room to pursue their own ideas about ingredients and production. This sets the series apart from the smoke-led house style that Torabhaig is developing in its Legacy Series.

Facts: