Isle of Tiree Distillery launches single malt Scotch
THE Isle of Tiree Distillery has released its inaugural whisky – the first legal single malt produced on the Hebridean island in more than two centuries.
Folk musicians Alain Campbell and Ian Smith founded the Tiree Whisky Company in 2012 with the aim of reviving distilling on the island and promoting its whisky heritage.
Once known as Tìr an Eòrna, which translates from Gaelic to the ‘Land of Barley’, Tiree was home to no less than 50 illicit distilleries before the 1800s.
However, unlike other islands, it never re-established a distillery until 2019, when Campbell and Smith lit the stills of the Isle of Tiree Distillery for the first time.
As one of Scotland’s smallest whisky distilleries, it uses traditional whisky production methods. And Smith said: “This is an important moment in the island’s history as we reconnect with an industry that was once such an important part of island life.
“As well as providing local employment, we hope that our distillery will encourage visitors from all over the world to come to our home on Tiree.”
Campbell added: “We created our distillery to bring whisky production back to the island and this will be the first single malt whisky from Tiree in over 200 years. We have strived to keep our production methods true to our ancestors.”
The Isle of Tiree First Release is limited to just 800 700ml bottles that retail at £199.99 each. Last year, an initial pre-sale of 400 bottles sold out in less than two hours, so those who want to get their hands on this single malt Scotch will probably need to act quickly.
The first 10 bottles will be reserved and sold at auction from the 31st of January and 10% of profits from the auction will be donated to local island charities.
With an ABV of 47%, its tasting notes say sherry cask and virgin oak influence the colour, while there are hints of light vine fruit, wax, honey and sweet spices including ginger and cinnamon on the nose. The taste is described as “spicy, waxy, peppery and a little vinous” as well as having “drier herbal notes and ginger”.
Isle of Tiree Single Malt Scotch Whisky is available exclusively online at www.tyreegin.com/whisky.
