Torabhaig Sound of Sleat Batch Strength Legacy Series Chapter 4 5 yo

 

 

 

60,2°

Distillery : Torabhaig - Islay

1st Fill, Refill Bourbon and Virgin Quercus Alba American Oak Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 78 ppm

 

 

 

Alongside the reduced version of Sound of Sleat, this Cask Strength version was launched a few months later. There had already been a Batch Strength version for Allt Gleann, the chapter two, but none for the chapter three. For this one, the maturation was very slightly different, as new casks were used, which is not the case for the reduced version. However, the barley used is exactly the same, Laureate and Concerto, as well as the yeast, Pinnacle MG, and the fermentation, 72 hours. The peat level is very high, but the measurement is taken from the barley. In the glass, it is much lower, at 19 ppm. The age is officially stated on the distillery's website as 5 to 6 years. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, the peat is as balanced as ever, generously revealing cream, honey and yellow fruit. However, there are also coastal, mineral, maritime and salty notes, smoke, oysters, shellfish, iodine and seaweed. On the palate, it's not bad at all, citrus fruits, juicy pears, salted caramel, a good layer of peat and limestone, vanilla icing, measured spices, dark chocolate. The finish is long and with just the right amount of power, honey and roasted nuts, coarse sea salt, scallops, razor clams, just a hint of mud. 

 

In Short, 

Not only is it more powerful, it is actually better than the reduced version, with more fruitiness, but above all more character and variety of flavours. This is yet another success for Torabhaig, which already has quite a few under its belt. What's more, the price is really attractive if you shop around, so it's another bottle to add to my shopping list. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Domhain - Talamh Lom

Torabhaig Sound of Sleat Legacy Series Chapter 4

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Torabhaig - Islands

1st Fill and Refill Quercus Alba American Oak Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 78 ppm

 

 

 

In a couple of years, Torabhaig will be able to release its ten-year-old whisky, but in the meantime, we can enjoy this Legacy Series, now in its fourth chapter, a succession of fairly young limited editions that showcase the various qualities of the distillate. According to some websites, this one is aged between five and six years and is a blend of Quercus Alba American Oak Casks, some heavily toasted, others 1st Fill from Kentucky, and others reconditioned in the distillery's cellars. The ppm level is very high, but this is not apparent in the glass. The barley varieties used are Concerto and Laureate, and the yeast is Pinnacle MG.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :   

The limestone marries well with sweet vanilla, the peat is not too strong, quite mineral and full-bodied, slate, caramelised wood, salt crystals, wildflower honey. Beautiful power, mirabelle plums, hazelnut cream, coconut pearls. Very light lemon. Rocky, chalky, creamy on the palate, then some fruit, Conference pears, controlled spices. Almond paste. Relatively long finish, touch of woody bitterness, lychees, macerated almonds, lemon peel. A pinch of salt, tall grasses. Pepper and cloves. 

 

In Short, 

I must say that after the first two expressions in the series, which didn't really thrill me, this one is starting to look promising. It's still a little young, but there's a nice salinity and mineral notes combined with light fruit, everything is well controlled, it's nice. That said, I really liked the nose, but the palate is disappointing, still too light. And the finish is a little bitter. So it's not perfect, even if it's really interesting. At this stage, it can only get better. The price is about right. 

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Rosa Damask - The Sun

Torabhaig 2018 Special Reserve 5 yo

 

 

 

61,1°

Distillery : Torabhaig - Islands

Bourbon, Olroros and Pedro Ximénez Sherry, Virgin American Oak Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

 

 

 

As we've been kind and generous customers of the distillery, they've reserved this special bottling for us French, limited to 2,400 bottles and aged for 5 years. Distilled and bottled in the same month as Allt Gleann Batch Strength, it also has exactly the same alcohol content. But it is not matured in the same way, as some Sherry casks have also been used. However, the peat content is not known, which is surprising from Torabhaig, who has always been meticulous on this point.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is rounder, but also more austere, then more mellow and velvety. The Sherry has a slight influence, which intensifies with aeration, bringing complexity and fruits, quinces, apricots, mirabelles, a bit candied. Jammy. Bourbon vanilla is also present, but thicker and more pastry-like. A very discreet hint of iodine. On the palate, the vanilla is more prominent, with muscat grapes. The spices are fairly controlled and pleasant. The finish is softer, but long and strong nonetheless, honeyed, with yellow plums and banana.

 

In Short, 

Slightly better than the Allt Gleann Batch Strength, the Sherry casks add a little extra, but soften the finish, so much the better perhaps. We're in luck, because this bottling is one of the distillery's best, and at a very good price. I wouldn't be surprised if it runs out quickly.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The War on Drugs - Under the Pressure

Torabhaig Allt Gleann The Legacy Series Batch Strength 5 yo

 

 

 

61,1°

Distillery : Torabhaig - Islands

1st Fill, Refill American Whiskey and Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated arouund 78 ppm

 

 

 

This, the distillery's first Batch Strength, is also the last Batch of Allt Gleann, the expression that was the distillery's benchmark for two years. Before the team embarked on a new adventure, they wanted to release something remarkable so that Allt Gleann would be remembered. The maturation hasn't really changed in two years, but this time the juice is older, at least 60 months, that is 5 years, which is starting to look respectable. The peat content after grain malting is 78 ppm, but only 22.8 ppm after distillation, which follows a specific process to soften the peat and make it more palatable. I would have liked to know the number of bottles produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A creamy, mille-feuilles nose, almost pastry-like, with vanilla, peat is very present, unctuous, warm, and the iodine character is slightly subdued. Shortbread biscuits, liquid honey, some white fruits, plums and grapes. Pleasant on the palate, velvety, cooked apple, pear coated in white chocolate, egg yolk. Not much spice, but some cloves. The finish is strong, very peppery, long as it should be, iodised lemon, limestone, bushes and heather. A touch of grapefruit. Citrus tart.

 

In Short, 

It's much better than the previous editions I tasted. The juice is more mature, rounder and more balanced. It's starting to have a character of its own, more mellow than Talisker, even if the resemblance is still there. What's more, the finish is really well done. The price is quite right, and I'd recommend buying it without reservation.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Geese - Disco

Torabhaig Allt Gleann The Legacy Series 3 yo

 

 

 

46° 

Distillery : Torabhaig - Islands

1st Fill Bourbon and Refill Whiskey Barrels

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021 

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 77 ppm

 

 

 

After a very first bottling in January 2021, which was quickly sold out, the distillery released this one the following August. It is a blend of 30 casks of Bourbon and American whiskey. The barley used is a blend of Concerto and Laureate peated at 77 ppm, with a residual peat after distillation of 17 ppm.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

From the outset, there's coarse salt, sea foam, tide, seawater-laden sand and the sea breeze. The rest is dominated by the influence of Bourbon casks, especially creamy vanilla and a few grains of Italia grape. On the palate, it's very light, with vague hints of bourbon, a good pile of vegetal peat and a pinch of salt. Rustic spices. The finish is pleasant, earthy and iodised, not very long but decent. Flower of salt. Mirabelle plum. Hazelnuts and almonds.

 

In Short, 

Like its predecessor, it's not bad, but it's still very young and lacks a bit of personality. At the moment, I'd say it's a bit too much like Talisker, only not as good. It'll be a few years before it looks like anything else.

Score : 85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Richie Havens - Going Back To My Roots

Torabhaig 2017 The Legacy Series The Inaugural Release 3 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Torabhaig - Islands

1st Fill Bourbon Barrels

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition

Single Malt

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated from 55 to 60 ppm

 

 

 

February 2021 sees the release of the very first bottling from the young Torabhaig distillery, located on the Isle of Skye and opened in 2017. Maturation is fairly straightforward, in first-fill bourbon casks. 32,000 bottles went on sale and collectors flocked to it.

Let's Taste It : 

Salt flower, sea breeze. The beach at low tide. The weather is stormy. Iodine and relatively light peat. Heather, holly. The wind from the open sea. A few rocks, cliffs. A beach of fine sand on a winter's day. Then the peat becomes more insistent. The vegetal note comes through. A hint of vanilla and a few white fruits. Light on the palate at first, then a few spices, paprika, pepper and cumin. Barely fruity, a little watery. Quite strong, warm finish. Apricot juice. Cereals and wood. Chestnuts.

In Short, 

It's amazing how similar the profile is to that of Talisker, the neighbouring distillery. However, it is less maritime, more rocky and sandy. For now, this whisky is a fine promise, but nothing more. It has great potential, but it's still far too young for us to fully appreciate it. The prices are well above the required tolerance threshold.

Score : 85

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                                     Still Corners - The Trip