In February of this year the BUMS did a tasting of Award Winning Blends, and Isle of Skye was one of those blends tasted. The rating for that whisky went like this: The Isle of Skye is my new go-to whisky for casual sipping. I love the overall balance and the pricing cannot be beat. To rate this high and cost about $29 is like going back in a time machine for pricing of 15 years ago. On the nose it is malty, nutty with a hint of milk chocolate. On the palate it is slightly oily, dark chocolate, raspberry, sugar cookie, slight black pepper and hazelnut. The finish is long with dark chocolate and coconut. Very nice! I’d rate it a 90-95.

Well as far as I’m concerned, the Isle of Skye 12-year old, 43% ABV is another winner. In color it is a bit more dark golden than its younger brother. With a bit more age, if it is good whisky to begin with, it gets a bit more complex, without losing too much of the youthful vigor that made the younger whisky so nice. On the nose it is slightly floral, malty, slightly smoky with rich plum and peach flesh underpinnings. On the palate, very balanced a bit oily, malty, raisin and almonds. A slow black pepper spicy finish with some butterscotch caramel settling on the tongue. There is a bit more dark chocolate bitterness than the 8 but overall more complex. 90-95. Its character, the bottler suggests, is derived from an original 19th century recipe which contains a unique selection of the finest Island and Speyside single malt whiskies. And once again the pricing is fantastic at a suggested retail of about $39.

Tasting Notes by Dave Broom in WHISKY MAGAZINE (Issue 22)

NOSE: Ripe, fruity and well balanced. Sherry, dried fruits and a hint of smoke. Water brings out a butter edge. A lot going on.

PALATE: Overall, a little drier than the nose suggests but with excellent, soft, mid-palate weight. Light smoke all the way through.

FINISH:Ripe and soft. COMMENTS: Very well balanced. A lovely blend.

The 12-year old, like the 8 has been available in the UK for several years. Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd are the brand proprietors of Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Isle of Skye Blended Scotch Whisky, Lang’s Blended Scotch Whisky, Hedges & Butler, King Robert II, London Hill Gin, The Chieftain’s and Dun Bheagan Ranges, Smokehead Islay Single Malt, Six Isles Island Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, Wincarnis Tonic Wines and Macleod’s Single Malt Whiskies and recently acquired the Tamdhu Distillery.

Impex Beverages, the exclusive importer for the US, will feature the new Isle of Skye in its Fall Tastings/Seminars. Lynn Kohl of ImpEx Beverages commented: “We’re delighted to be introducing Isle of Skye 12-Years Old in the Fall of 2011. With a high percentage of single malts and its age statement, Isle of Skye has often been referred to as "the blend that thinks it's a Single Malt". Whether a seasoned whisky “Malthead” or perhaps more importantly, the new Scotch drinker, there is fresh demand to balance high quality with affordability. Customers are proactively seeking out unique new blends that offer a richness that far surpasses their old, familiar choices. They do not want their father's drink. Isle of Skye is a unique Scotch Blend and they are now claiming ownership of that uniqueness.”

Whisky expert, Jim Murray, describes Isle of Skye as “an absolute must for any Islay-philes out there – in fact, a must for everybody. Your taste buds are beaten up and caressed simultaneously. One of the most enormous yet brilliantly balanced whiskies in the world.” He gives Isle of Skye 8 a 94 in the 2011 Whisky Bible. Yeah baby!