Isle of Skye distillery empowers its team with unprecedented creative freedom, launching two inaugural expressions from a new, highly anticipated collection.
The Isle of Skye is renowned for its dramatic landscapes and distinctive whiskies, and now, Torabhaig Distillery is adding another layer to its heritage with the launch of ‘The Distillers’ Series’. This innovative collection hands complete creative control of whisky production, from grain selection to maturation, directly to individual distillers within its team. For one month each year, two of Torabhaig’s nine distillers will craft their own unique expressions, marking a significant departure from traditional distillery practices within the Scotch whisky industry.
Situated in a beautifully restored 19th-century farmstead on the Sleat peninsula, Torabhaig itself is a relatively new player, having commenced distilling in 2017 as only the second licensed distillery on Skye since Talisker’s establishment in 1830. Owned by Mossburn Distillers & Blenders, a subsidiary of Marussia Beverages BV, the distillery was built on a vision originally held by Sir Iain Noble, who sought to contribute to the island’s economy. The new ‘Distillers’ Series’ aligns with a broader trend of innovation within the Scotch whisky market, which has seen a shift towards premiumisation and a desire for unique, provenance-driven spirits. Following a period of correction in 2025, the industry reported a return to growth in the first half of 2026, with single malt exports showing particular recovery and demonstrating increased value over time.
This pioneering initiative allows distillers to explore a diverse range of raw materials, processes, and styles, moving beyond Torabhaig’s established ‘Smoke with Taste’ philosophy. The series will delve into heritage grains, unusual malting styles such as chocolate and dark crystal, and varied fermentation times to unlock new flavour profiles. The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) relaxed its regulations in 2019, broadening the types of casks permitted for maturation, which has encouraged distilleries to experiment with different wood finishes, including ex-rum casks, as seen in this new series.
“Torabhaig has always believed that whisky is about stories, especially the stories of the people making it,” stated Neil MacLeod Mathieson, Torabhaig whisky maker. “The Distillers’ Series is where we let the people who make Torabhaig follow their own curiosity, with the freedom to make something entirely their own. The stills are the same, the island is the same, but the story changes with every maker. That is exactly the point.”
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Inaugural Expressions: Iona’s and Niall’s Creations
The series debuts with two distinctive whiskies, each a reflection of its creator’s vision and palate:
- Iona’s Expression: Crafted by Iona Macphie, who at 23 became the youngest distiller to participate in this process. Macphie’s whisky is built around chocolate malt, a speciality grain known for imparting rich, sometimes bitter, notes of cacao, espresso, and coffee. This malt also lends a darker hue to the spirit. Macphie adjusted distillation timings to capture the deepest chocolate characteristics. “I adore chocolate so I always knew I wanted to incorporate that in some way. The chocolate malt turned the wash black as stout but the final spirit is really rounded and rich,” she commented. Bottled at 60.9% ABV, this unpeated spirit (64% spirit cut point for unpeated, 5,250 bottles globally) offers a nose of vanilla, cocoa butter, dark chocolate, and a hint of citrus. The palate delivers warming clove, peppermint, caramel, toffee, redcurrant, and raisin, culminating in a long finish of ginger, peppercorn, and cinnamon, softened by vanilla.
- Niall’s Expression: Distiller Niall Culbertson aimed to produce a bright, coastal whisky, evoking childhood memories of the bay. He utilised a blend of brown malt and dark crystal malt with a low peat base malt. Dark crystal malt, produced by unique heating and roasting processes, contributes caramel, burnt sugar, and nutty flavours, adding sweetness and body to the spirit. Culbertson opted for part-maturation in ex-rum casks. Rum casks are increasingly popular in Scotch whisky finishing, known for enhancing tropical fruit notes and imparting a gentle sweetness, rather than directly contributing a rum flavour. “I knew what sort of spirit I wanted but this whisky is even better than I hoped. It has all the tropical fruit and maritime notes I was aiming for and brings it together in a way I didn’t think I would quite be able to capture,” Niall said. This peated expression (12-15ppm phenols, 66% spirit cut point for peated, 5,250 bottles globally) is bottled at 59.3% ABV. Its nose is vibrant with cooked pineapple, guava, pear-drop esters, vanilla, golden syrup, and a subtle ember ash. The palate presents juicy orange, sweet fructose, malty biscuit, vanilla, and a distinct coastal saline edge, leading to a long finish with complex spices and gentle ashy peat.
Both expressions in ‘The Distillers’ Series’ will launch across ten markets with a recommended retail price of £75. Reflecting a commitment to quality and natural character, neither whisky undergoes chill filtration nor has colour added. Torabhaig continues to champion local people and traditions, with its team of nine local distillers embodying the “Torabhaig Way.”
