Review: Isle of Skye
We have a serious Scotch Review Deficit around here. We need to remedy that. Let start with Isle of Skye. A very fine Scotch that may have a one-up on your usual dram.
Most of us have an "Everyday Whisk(e)y." This is the bottle you drink every day without thinking about it and serve to your guests. Since it's been with you a long time, you may have a bit of an emotional attachment to it that others find a little creepy. Maybe it's Glenlivet, Glenmorangie, Glenfiddich, or another scotch with an obligatory "Glen", "Old" or "THE" in the name. You buy it because you've always bought it and while you might flirt with other bottles, you always come home to old-glen-faithful. In this analogy, Isle of Skye is the new floozy in town trying to drive a wedge between you and your one, true scotchy-love. Slut.
And Scotch loves you, Ron Burgundy.
Isle of Skye is one of the few blended Scotches you'll find that bares any kind of age statement. Why? Is it because the other Scotches have something to hide??!?!?! No...probably not. But it feels like a comforting little guarantee that you're not getting the cheapest stuff they had lying around. Age statements require you to put the youngest Scotch in the blend on the bottle. Isle of Skye's youngest Scotch used in their blend is 8 years old which a lot of it is much older Scotch.
But none of that matters. Because the whole thing comes down to taste, luckily Isle of Skye has it in spades. Even though you may not have heard of Isle of Skye, I'd say it easily beats the living hell out of more popular brands like Chivas Regal or Dewars White Label. I'm not one for simply taking the words of others on this kind of thing, but if anyone has an informed opinion on Scotch then it's the man who brought enjoyment of Whisky closest to a religion - Jim Murray (The Whisky Bible). He called it:
"A textbook blend and an absolute must for any Islay-philes out there - in fact, a must for everybody! Your tastebuds are beaten up and caressed simultaneously. One of the most enormous yet brilliantly balanced whiskies in the world"
If you'd like a much more humble opinion (mine), I'd tell you that it's simply a great bottle of Scotch that deserves a shot at becoming your new "Everyday Whisk(e)y. Nothing busts your friend's balls more than a little bit of friendly Scotch-you've-never-heard-of-envy, "Oh...you're still drinking Dewars huh? That's nice."
Our Grade: 4 Burgundys Price: $30 Buy it online here: www.isleofskyewhisky.com
November 17th, 2010 - 21:27
Islay, too smoky. Reminds me of Boy Scouts. Why would anyone have an “everyday Scotch”? The only reason I have Scotch is that 1. people gave it to me so it remains untouched. 2. For the heathens that come over that do not recognize the absolute superiority of bourbon. 3. Because for some reason my Mother-In-Law likes Scotch and it makes her a much friendlier in-law. Other than that, why do they waste distilling on non-corn products? We will probably never know. And don’t backtalk me. I’ll gie ye a skelpit lug!
November 18th, 2010 - 00:20
I used to be in the same non-scotch camp, Erik. Now that I’ve expanded my Scotch tasting resume I’m really starting to like it. You can only drink so much bourbon after all. I should have put “everyday whisky”. Though i’m sure plenty of people have an everyday scotch. You should try Cardhu if you get a chance. I’m going to be reviewing it tomorrow and it has a taste profile a lot similar to bourbon. Thanks for the comments. Update: – just bettered the post, thanks again.
November 18th, 2010 - 14:44
“You can only drink so much bourbon after all”? Balderdash!
November 18th, 2010 - 16:14
In fairness to Dewar’s, their 12 yo, which can actually be found cheaper than Isle of Skye in some places, is a damn decent dram for the price. In terms of cheap erm…value Islay blends, Black Bottle is also a nice find.
November 18th, 2010 - 19:44
I found Isle of Skye about two years ago and have appreciated it for it’s value ever since. This is the only blend I have tasted that comes close to a single malt. And for the money, a fantastic value. Erik, I can appreciate burbon and like several (Four Roses Small Batch), but the complex flavors you get from scotch whisky has so much more depth and dimension. And my Mother-In-Law only drinks Bourbon. That’s great,…. more Isle of Skye for me.
November 19th, 2010 - 16:37
What we should all take away from this is that getting your mother-in-law a little clobbered is always a good idea.