Thompson Bros. - Torabhaig 7 Year Old 2018

Torabhaig

Torabhaig is located in the southern part of the Isle of Skye, Scotland, and is one of only two legal whisky distilleries on the island. Built within a 19th-century farmhouse, it was restored over several years before officially starting production in 2017. Torabhaig’s whisky-making philosophy centers on heavily peated malt, with long fermentation and copper pot distillation to create rich layers of smoke, sea salt, and floral notes. Its inaugural release, launched in limited quantities, quickly gained attention and brought a fresh image to Skye’s whisky scene.

The distillery uses soft water from the island’s natural sources and follows traditional hand-crafted methods to preserve local character in every batch. For maturation, Torabhaig employs various oak casks, including Bourbon casks and Sherry casks, adding sweetness and fruitiness to complement the smoky core. As an emerging distillery, Torabhaig has developed a youthful yet distinctive style, steadily earning a place in whisky lovers’ hearts as the “new generation Skye flavor.”

Thompson Bros.

Thompson Bros is the driving force behind Dornoch Distillery, founded by brothers Simon and Philip Thompson who are passionate about old-style whiskies. Their journey began at the family-run Dornoch Castle bar, where they developed a deep appreciation for pre-1960s whiskies. This passion led them to start as independent bottlers under the name “Black Isle Whisky Company,” eventually establishing Dornoch Distillery in 2016 with a mission to revive the golden era of whisky.

Dornoch Distillery follows a distinctive production philosophy, using floor-malted organic barley (such as Plumage Archer), extended fermentation of up to 216 hours, and custom-built wooden mash tuns with tiny stills. The distillery also matures its spirits in traditional-style warehouses to create complex and refined whisky. The Thompson Bros bottling range reflects their love for historic styles and has earned them a respected place in the world of independent bottlers.