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Island-hopping on the Drams

All aboard! We’re taking you on an excursion to discover three beautiful islands with equally inviting whiskies. We’ll be treating ourselves to a variety of citrusy and sweet island fruits. You may get some of that smoky undertone too. So hold on tight, you’re in for an adventure.

Isle of Jura Superstition

Type Scotch
Style Single Malt
Region Island
Country Scotland
Distillery Jura
ABV % 43
Aged NAS
NOTES:
RM489.00

Lessons in the Dram

Moonshine may sound magical but the word actually refers to illegal high-proof unaged whisky, done to avoid the excise tax. Individuals and groups would distil whiskies under the moonlit sky in the dark of night, hence the cover name moonshine. They do this to hide away from the authorities that roamed during the day.

Description

It’s no longer a mystery, the Jura really exists! But as one of the most remote and isolated distilleries on the planet, hence “Superstition.”

The distillery was first founded by Laird Archibald Campbell. Sadly, it was closed and dismantled after nearly 100 years due to a land dispute. In 1963, the Jura reappeared on the radar, formulating the infamous Superstition—a hybrid Single Malt made from whiskies (note the plural form) aged 13 and 21 years old, and heavily peated at 13%.

Interestingly, the Jura practice is an ingenious amalgam of modern and traditional distillation processes—the best of both method and craft. Could this secret be the reason for their isolation? Hmm… Curious indeed.

Awards

Silver Outstanding
Scotch Single Malt – Island – 2017 International Wine & Spirit Competition
Silver Outstanding
Scotch Single Malt – Island – 2014 International Wine & Spirit Competition
Silver
Distillers' Single Malts 12 Years and Under – 2014 International Spirits Challenge
Silver
Scotch Single Malt – Island – 2013 International Wine & Spirit Competition

Tasting Notes

Sight
Deep mahogany
Nose
Opens up with a grist of grain, leading the way to cereal and malty notes with smoke meandering in between. It’s creamy! So much so that it evokes the heavy, sweet scent of Chantilly cream.
Palate
One big bowl of sweet porridge with a dash of white pepper and a little bit of black forest honey. Paired with hot buttered toast for dipping. A light meal that's rather oily.
Finish
Medium length with a curious mix of cocoa and rice paper, then some leftover honey and spices towards the end.

Arran 10 Year Old - Isle of Arran

Type Scotch
Style Single Malt
Region Island
Country Scotland
Distillery Arran
ABV % 46
Aged 10
NOTES:
RM393.00

Lessons in the Dram

Has AI gotten to whisky? It’s beginning to. A Swedish distillery has started its attempt in making the ultimate whisky. How are they achieving this? They use AI to generate a recipe based on extensive data from past and current consumer trends. An AI-made whisky might be available sooner than we think. The real question is... can we accept it?

Description

If you’re new to the Isle of Arran, then you’d probably expect some peat due to the “Isle” in the distillery name, only to discover none of that. 

Instead, you’re getting a treasure trove of smooth fruity notes. For the medium-bodied 10-year-old, it’s grass and specifically citrus fruits, bottled splendidly at 46% ABV without chill-filtering.

Behind the Arran distillery was a man named Harold Currie, previously the senior director at Chivas. He was a fan of the island and thought he could make better whisky, which he did. He saved up, attracted investors, and started building the distillery in 1994. As the story goes, two golden eagles built a nest on site. Construction work came to a halt until the eaglets grew up. Following that, the Arran distillery flew high with a neat range of Single Malts, limited editions, special blends, and Scottish cream liqueur.

Awards

Gold
Scotch Single Malt – Island – 2019 International Wine & Spirit Competition
Gold
Islands Single Malt 12 Years and Under – 2018 World Whiskies Awards
Gold
Scotch Single Malt – Island – 2018 International Wine & Spirit Competition
Gold
Islands Single Malt 12 Years and Under – 2014 World Whiskies Awards
Silver
Distillers' Single Malts 12 Years and Under – 2014 International Spirits Challenge

Tasting Notes

Sight
Warm gold
Nose
Take in the summer’s air of green hedgerow and dried grass. There’s a waft of herbal and biscuit notes—maybe the neighbour’s enjoying their light afternoon tea.
Palate
Sweet, rather malty, and grows an appetite for digestive biscuits. The taste profile later develops into sour green fruits and Cox’s apple peels.
Finish
The ending is malty and a little bitter.

Tobermory 12 Year Old - Isle of Mull

Type Scotch
Style Single Malt
Region Island
Country Scotland
Distillery Tobermory
ABV % 46.3
Aged 12
NOTES:
RM477.00

Lessons in the Dram

Scots do not shout “cheers!” when they go round making a toast. They wish “sláinte!” – that’s pronounced as “slawn-che,” which is a short way of saying “to good health.”

Description

The perfect midsummer’s dram that is like a fruit punch, crafted by the sole distillery on the Isle of Mull. In 1798, John Sinclair founded the distillery in the small Scottish town of Tobermory, but he first named the distillery Ledaig.


The two names, Tobermory and Ledaig, also refer to two distinct ranges of whiskies produced by the distillery. Tobermory brands the unpeated Single Malts while Ledaig marks the robust peated barrels. The Tobermory is vibrant, reflecting the colourful houses that lined up the island’s waterfront. Every sip evokes memories of a wonderful summer holiday.

Awards

Silver Highlands & Islands up to 12 Year Old – 2019 The Scotch Whisky Masters (The Spirits Business)

Tasting Notes

Sight
Amber
Nose
Smells like a grand feast of pears, peaches, and apples lightly coated with brown sugar. At the end of the buffet is a humble tray of cinnamon pastries, with barley and Greek yoghurt on the sides.
Palate
Scoops a second serving of malt with a drizzle of oil. Can’t help but take another plate full of sweet fruits too.
Finish
A medley of orange peel, sweet toffee, chewy dates, as well as fine sawdust.
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