TORABHAIG - Legacy Series No.4 - Sound of Sleat Batch Strength - 60.2%
The Torabhaig distillery is one of the recent gems of the Isle of Skye, the island's second distillery after Talisker, located in a 17th-century former farm restored stone by stone. Nestled on the edge of the Sound of Sleat, it benefits from a wild environment combining sea winds, peat, mist, and Highland herbs, all elements that shape the personality of its single malts. Torabhaig established itself from its first bottlings thanks to a demanding artisanal philosophy: long fermentation, slow distillation, precise cut selection, and mastery of peat in an elegant and structured style. Its Legacy Series range traces the progressive construction of its aromatic identity, each chapter being a cornerstone of the future house style. With the Legacy Series No.4 Sound of Sleat Batch Strength 60.2%, the distillery delivers a powerful, maritime, and deeply expressive whisky, a true testament to its island terroir.
Sound of Sleat Batch Strength 60.2% is made from heavily peated malted barley, whose fennel and herbal smoke is Torabhaig’s signature. The extended fermentation develops a fruity and floral complexity that balances the intensity of the peat. The pot still distillation is carried out with great precision, seeking a balance between oily richness and aromatic tension. The maturation mainly takes place in first-fill bourbon casks, whose soft, vanilla, and woody notes form an ideal base for the raw expression of the distillate. Bottled at natural strength, without reduction or chill filtration, it preserves the whisky’s integrity and offers remarkable density. This Batch Strength version reveals the distillery in its purest, deepest, and most vibrant form, while foreshadowing its definitive style.
On tasting, Torabhaig Legacy Series No.4 Sound of Sleat 60.2% shows a bright pale gold color. The nose opens with elegant maritime peat, blending damp smoke, seaweed, wood fire, and a hint of engine oil, before revealing lemony, floral, and slightly malty nuances. On the palate, the strength is immediately apparent, but the alcohol is perfectly integrated, revealing a broad and oily texture. This is followed by notes of cold ash, white pepper, candied citrus, baked apple, and a saline touch evoking the sea spray of the Sound of Sleat. The bourbon wood brings subtle balance, with notes of vanilla and light caramel that soften the structure without ever overpowering the peat. The finish is long, vibrant, marked by persistent smoke, a return of lemongrass, warm stone, and a herbal hint that signs Torabhaig’s identity. This whisky is ideally enjoyed neat, possibly with a few drops of water to open its aromatics, and pairs brilliantly with smoked salmon, grilled meat, blue cheese, or a dark chocolate dessert.
