Torabhaig 2018 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel

Samhain Pronounced "SOW - IN" The origins of Samhain are rooted in ancient. Each whisky in the Samhain Series tells a tale steeped in local legend, with evocative labels designed by Edinburgh-based artist and designer Steven Shand, who has over 13 years of experience in the Scottish whisky industry. Shand's intricate artwork and storytelling complement the atmospheric whiskies, capturing a haunting essence of Scotland's past.

●      ‘The Quiraing, Playground of the Giants’ – Torabhaig Distillery, 7 years old, 60.4%, 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel, limited to 215 bottles.

The nose immediately takes you to the west coast. Classic peat and smoke but with lots of creaminess beneath with notes of vanilla, chocolate nuts and custard. Soft and sweet to taste initially before it takes a citrus twist with notes of barbecued lime, lemon pork and cracked black pepper. Long lingering smoky finish with a chocolate coffee bean and salted liquorice character.

On the Isle of Skye, the Quiraing, named from the Old Norse for "pillared enclosure" is said to be the arena of battling giants. The scars of their epic, pitched confrontations still mark the island, with stramashes so violent that their clashes shook the earth, causing landslides that sculpted the jagged rock formations seen today. One tale speaks of a fallen giant on the Trotternish Peninsula, where the iconic Old Man of Storr is said to be the remains of his thumb, or according to some, a rather more private part of his anatomy.