For our third and final Distillery Reserve of the year, we went back across to our friends at Isle of Skye Brewing Co - only this time it's stout casks doing the work, not porter. We wanted to know what that swap actually meant for the whisky, so we sat down with the two people closest to it: our Director of Group Whisky Production, Alan Philp, and Mike Williams over at the brewery.
For Alan, the pleasure was in the pairing of two different, but familiar, approaches :
"One of the things I enjoyed most about this project was that it brought together two Skye producers with a shared commitment to flavour, provenance and patience. Although whisky and brewing are closely related, they approach flavour development in different ways, so working with Isle of Skye Brewery always creates an opportunity to explore something new. Having previously worked together on the Porter Finish, it was interesting to compare how the stout cask influenced the whisky.
What impressed me most was the balance achieved during maturation. Finishing casks can sometimes dominate a whisky, but that was never the intention here. The goal was to complement rather than overwhelm, using the stout-seasoned wood to add another dimension while retaining the coastal, lightly smoky and fruit-led characteristics that define our whisky.
Collaborations such as this also highlight the natural connection between brewing and distilling on Skye. Both crafts begin with grain, both rely on fermentation to create flavour, and both are shaped by the local environment and the people behind them. Seeing two island producers work together to create something distinctive is immensely rewarding, and I think the finished whisky reflects that shared sense of place and craftsmanship."
And from across at Isle of Skye Brewing Co, here's what Mike had to say:
"At the Isle of Skye Brewing Co we are always delighted to collaborate with the exceptional team at Torabhaig distillery. Bringing together the experience of Torabhaig's master distillers and our own expert brewing team always results in exciting products with real island provenance.
Our first collaboration resulted in Skye Black Whisky Cask Edition, which was hugely popular with our customers. This time around we have made a Whisky Cask Aged Stout, packed with heavily roasted barley malts, and finished with the essence of finest Torabhaig Malt Whisky, a truly flavourful combination."
Two producers, two crafts, one island - and a whisky that's come home with a bit of both. Distillery Reserve Stout Cask Finish is live now for Club members first, from the webshop and the distillery shop. Go on, pour yourself a dram and give it a go.
Slàinte.
