Torabhaig launches first core expression
Skye-based distillery Torabhaig has launched Taigh as the first single malt in its core range, in collaboration with Scottish poet Iona Lee.
Taigh is crafted in small batches and matured in first-fill and refill Bourbon casks with the addition of Madeira casks. It is described as an expression that 'defines the distillery's house style'. The release follows the distillery's Legacy Series, which includes Allt Gleann, Cnoc Na Mòine, and Sound of Sleat. Bottled at 46% ABV with no chill filtration or added colour, the single malt offers gentle smoke notes alongside vanilla custard, toasted almonds, sweet dried fruits, and warming spices on the palate. For Torabhaig, 'Taigh' (pronounced 'tie'), meaning 'house' in Scottish Gaelic, represents more than just the restored 19th-century steading that holds the stills; it embodies a broader sense of home. The word reflects the land, sea, and community of Sleat, as well as the people involved in making the whisky. Established in 2016 by Mossburn Distillers, with distillation commencing the following year, Torabhaig is one of two single malt distilleries located on the Isle of Skye. Neil MacLeod Mathieson, Torabhaig whisky maker, said: "Taigh is the heart of Torabhaig. It captures everything we've been working towards since we first started distilling – a whisky with elegance, balance and character, where smoke enhances the flavour rather than dominating it. "First-fill Bourbon barrels have always been the signature of Torabhaig and allow our 'smoke with taste' philosophy to shine. But the addition of Madeira in this expression brings a softening roundness to the spirit that we think makes this whisky especially welcoming." Torabhaig Taigh is now available globally with a suggested retail price of £40 (US$52) for a 700ml bottle. Artistic collaboration To celebrate a new chapter for the distillery, Torabhaig has collaborated with Scottish poet Iona Lee on an original piece inspired by its island home on the Sleat Peninsula. The partnership is said to embody the distillery's belief that whisky is influenced by culture as much as by the casks in which it is aged. In the coming months, Lee's poetry will be showcased through performances, film, and editorial content, extending Torabhaig's sense of place beyond Skye. Lee commented on the partnership: "Taigh is a word that carries warmth, memory and responsibility. Writing about Torabhaig's home on Sleat has been about listening closely to the land, the weather, the people and the stories that live there. "Poetry, like whisky, takes time, attention and care. It was important to me that these poems reflect the home of Torabhaig honestly, as a living, working whisky distillery shaped by those who know it best and whose influence can be tasted in every dram."
