On the Isle of Skye, where the sea and the weather write their own kind of poetry, Torabhaig Distillery has revealed Sound of Sleat, the fourth chapter in its ambitious Legacy Series. The whisky takes its name from the narrow strait of water that separates the Sleat Peninsula—the distillery’s home ground—from the Scottish mainland. It is both a geographical fact and a metaphor, a liminal space where smoke and salt air meet oak and time.
Fully matured in American oak, Sound of Sleat marries new oak casks with ex-bourbon barrels, yielding a whisky that plays in contrasts: citrus brightness against bonfire smoke, maritime salt against the quiet sweetness of vanilla and honey. At 46% ABV, unchillfiltered, and natural in color, it speaks directly to Torabhaig’s guiding principle—smoke with taste.
Torabhaig Sound of Sleat: A Whisky Born of Skye’s Rugged Beauty
The Sleat Peninsula is sometimes called “The Garden of Skye,” but its beauty has teeth. It is the southernmost point of the island, closest to the mainland, a place of shifting weather and restless seas. Torabhaig leans into that ruggedness. The new expression evokes the atmospheric mists, the peat fires, the sense of being at the edge of things.
Neil MacLeod Mathieson, whisky maker at Torabhaig, explains:
“For Sound of Sleat we’re returning to a classic ex-bourbon cask profile, enhanced by the crisp spice of new American oak. There’s plenty of oak spice, citrus, and maritime saltiness, alongside a newfound waxiness as our spirit continues to mature. Each wave of flavor is its own journey.”
The Art of Whisky, The Art of Skye
For this release, Torabhaig turned to the island’s creative community to reimagine its labels. Local artist Ellis O’Connor created the artwork for Sound of Sleat, her brushstrokes echoing the movement of tides and storms. The collaboration ties the whisky more closely to its place of origin, where landscape and spirit are never fully separate.
Tasting the Torabhaig Sound of Sleat
Nose: Orange zest and apricot, with sweetness from popcorn and boiled sweets. Maritime seaweed lingers, while subtle pipe tobacco adds depth to the smoke.
Palate: A balance of oak spice and Torabhaig’s signature bonfire smoke. Honey and vanilla lend softness to the maritime salt, while a waxy texture carries notes of seaweed and white pepper.
Finish: Long and elegant, with honey, ocean spray, and a lingering suggestion of storm light over the water.
Charting the Path to Ten Years
Sound of Sleat continues Torabhaig’s Legacy Series, a collection that maps the distillery’s path toward a 10-year-old flagship expression. It follows earlier releases including Torabhaig 2017, Allt Gleann, Allt Gleann Batch Strength, and Cnoc Na Mòine. Together, they trace the evolving character of a distillery still in its first decade, yet already known for shaping peat into something refined and resonant.
With 45,000 bottles available globally at a suggested retail price of $100, Torabhaig Sound of Sleat offers whisky lovers a chance to taste Skye itself: salt, smoke, oak, and time, bottled in a moment of transition.
For more information, head over to the distillery’s official website.
