Glengoyne
Dumgoyne distillery and visitors centre.
Isle of Skye Profile
Blended Scotch Whisky
Isle of Skye is a renowned, historic blend incorporating Speyside and Island malts no doubt around a Talisker core, for many years the only distillery on the Isle of Skye.
The brand is thought to have been created in the 1930s by Ian Macleod, the Skye-born blender whose family owned the Torgorm estate in Inverness-shire. The blender and bottler created Isle of Skye in homage to Clan Macleod, which has long associations with the island dating back to the 14th century.
The brand’s core bottlings are 8- and 12-year-olds, although Isle of Skye is also available in 18-, 21- and, remarkably, 50-year-old expressions. A 5-year-old Elgol edition is sold exclusively in travel retail.
Isle of Skye History
Isle of Skye was a mainstay brand of Ian Macleod & Co. before Peter J Russell & Co. Ltd acquired the company in 1963. This consolidated the Russell family as blenders and bottlers having previously been whisky brokers.
Always a popular dram on the island after which it was named, Isle of Skye has been gradually developed by its owner over the years and now has a full range (including limited editions) that’s widely available.
The brand launched its first 50-year-old expression in collaboration with Skye restaurant Three Chimneys in 1999, alongside a limited edition 21-year-old bottled in a blue and gold wade decanter.
Isle of Skye has been a firm supporter of Scottish Mountain Rescue since 2013, and in 2014 released a limited edition label for its 8-year-old bottling, 15p from the sale of each went directly to the charity.
The brand’s high-end 18- and 21-year-old expressions were introduced in 2015.
Timeline
- 1933 Ian Macleod & Co Ltd, creator of the Isle of Skye blend, is established
- 1963 Whisky broker Peter J Russell & Co. Ltd acquires Ian Macleod & Co. Ltd
- 1999 Isle of Skye introduces a 50-year-old whisky, launched in collaboration with Skye’s Three Chimneys resturant
- 2013 Isle of Skye begins a three-year sponsorship of Scottish Mountain Rescue
- 2015 The 18-and 21-year-old expressions of Isle of Skye are launched
Owner
Current owner
Contact
- Address
-
Isle of Skye
Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd
Russell House
Dunnett Way
Broxburn
EH52 5BU
United Kingdom - Phone
- +44 1506 852205
- Visitor Opening Hours
- Not open to the public
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