The Spring of our ninth year, here at Torabhaig Distillery, brings with it a further edition of our exploratory Legacy Series, ‘Sound of Sleat’.
In these releases we have been examining the flavours drawn from various barrels laid down in our warehouses, from year one. As these initial years have passed, we have grown to appreciate the effect that the American Oak, Quercus Alba, has on our spirit as it matures. Here in our new release, we have used it at three ages with differing seasoning… …First-fill freshly charred barrels shipped directly from the cooperage, first-fill Bourbon barrels typically 4-6 years old from Kentucky and refilled Bourbon barrels that may have had 10 years+ use from our own warehouses.
As part of the ageing process, the extractive aspects of American oak become more evident. Although we aim to avoid the fresh sawn wood and tannic notes first-fill oak can have, by using a majority of bourbon and refill casks, we do look to include the exciting elements a fresh barrel can bring. These tend in q.Alba to be lipid-derived whisky lactones and lignin compounds which break down into coconut and hazel nut aspects, vanillins which impart sweeter rounding notes, and some of the lighter tropical fruit families.
The delicate ember-led peat notes and coastal brine that form the core of our peated whisky react very well to addition of the nutty, light oak spice, with the fruity notes hinting a little more towards orange and apricot than in our previous blends.
The character of Skye with its clan history and geographical morphology implies a deep psyche and I am delighted that this is evident in our Sound of Sleat as the layers reveal complexity and depths that rise and ebb as you enjoy the flavour this ancient isle has imbued in our spirit.
Slainte!
