Our Story - The Character of Islay Whisky Company
Hello friend,
We are The Character of Islay Whisky Company. An independent bottler with an ambition to create peat-forward whiskies, informed in some way by Islay’s stories and legends. You see, we can’t create expressions that are rooted in the identity of a distillery - we simply don’t have one. Instead, we take our inspiration from the island itself, its culture, its natural environment and of course, people like you, because this is often where the best stories come from.
So, allow us to introduce you to our range. It includes a whisky that references Islay’s rugged and mysterious nature, an expression that honours a Scottish cultural icon, and a bottling made to inspire you to make new memories and write your own stories - for these are the most alluring of all.
Aerolite Lyndsay 10 Year Old
The whisky
This seemingly mysterious Islay single malt is a delightfully light, sweet and peaty whisky that was sourced from an undisclosed distillery on the island. The liquid was aged for 10 years in a mixture of bourbon barrels and Spanish oak sherry quarter casks before it was bottled without any additional colour or chill-filtration at 46% ABV. Aerolite Lyndsay 10 Year Old is not only an introduction to our brand, but to Islay whisky in general. It’s an approachable option if you’re new to whisky as it showcases the Hebridean island’s finest export, while if you’re a connoisseur, it offers you a session-able, mixable treat.
The story
The creation of Aerolite Lyndsay (it’s an anagram of the words ‘ten-year-old Islay’, we know you were wondering) wasn’t inspired with any specific story. Instead, the concept behind it was to create a dram that provided you with the chance to add your own chapter to the rich tapestry of Islay tales. Not every story in Scotch is confined to the distilleries or the label on the bottle; some narratives you create with great company and a glass in-hand. Aerolite Lyndsay is an invitation to pour a dram, gather round the campfire and make some memories.
The Taste
Nose: Lots of maritime peat, with notes of iodine intertwined with honey sweetness, paprika, salted caramel and old bookshelves.
Palate: Smoke returns alongside mint dark chocolate, espresso and new leather, with honey and soy sauce mixed together.
Finish: Boiled mint sweets, Liquorice Allsorts, bonfire smoke and toffee penny, with a pinch of salt.
Grace Île 25 Year Old
The whisky
An old and rare Islay single malt whisky, Grace Île was matured for a quarter of a century in American oak before it was bottled without any additional colour or chill-filtration at 40% ABV. The 25-year-old single malt Scotch whisky was distilled on Islay and, though the distillery responsible is a mystery, what we can tell you is that this deliciously fruity, coastal and peaty expression has already picked up a Gold medal at The Scotch Whisky Masters 2020, and is a perfect demonstration of how good older Islay whisky can be with careful cask maturation.
The story
Say the name Grace Île out loud and you should notice something. See? Grace Île sounds a lot like the name of the cheeky hook-nosed sea pigs you’ll see poking their heads out of the water on the shores of Islay. Why reference the charming grey seal? Well, for one, because they speak to that playful joy we try to instil in all our whisky, but more importantly because we wanted to create something that honoured the island’s remarkable nature. Distilleries are not Islay’s only attraction; its wildlife and the spectacular scenery draw in tourists every year who want to experience a rugged environment that’s teeming with rare species and habitats. Grace Île is the story of spirit and character tamed only by nature.
The Taste
Nose: Sea spray, malty maturity, hints of rubber with smouldering ash. Slight shellfish sweetness among wild heather and oily oak. Browning apples, nectarines and lemon-vanilla, butterscotch, crisp bacon and jasmine tea.
Palate: Over a note of firewood there’s chewy vanilla toffees, apricot jam, juicy wood spices and a little dried barley. Elements of sour citrus and maritime salinity percolate among these flavours, while smoked almonds and grass clippings reside pleasantly underneath.
Finish: Swirling complexity, the finish leaves a juicy impression, an almost Agricole-esque note which rises through the sweet smoke.
The Legend of Fiona Macleod 33 Year Old
The whisky
This is a 33-year-old Islay single malt from an undisclosed distillery. Yes, you read that correctly. The Legend of Fiona Macleod is a 33-year-old Islay single malt. You won’t see many whiskies around like this. That’s because this well-aged beauty was distilled in an era when Islay whisky was scarce and the industry as a whole was struggling. More than three decades of rest has led to a complex, exotic and moreish expression, which was bottled without any additional colour or chill-filtration at 46.3% ABV.
The story
Fans of Scottish literature will already have an idea of the inspiration behind the story for this whisky, as Fiona Macleod was the pen name used by 19th-century Scottish poet, novelist and biographer William Sharp. A true Victorian man of mystery, Sharp penned numerous traditional Hebridean tales while retaining his anonymity, even going as far as to dictate to his sister, whose handwriting could be passed off as Fiona's manuscript. We felt this story resonated with this whisky as it too retains some mystery, given that its distillery is undisclosed. It also relates to Sharp because the expression was distilled during a time of great uncertainty in the industry when Islay whisky was underappreciated. So is the legacy of William Sharp, a pioneer and key contributor to the Celtic Revival whose works have sadly failed to receive the attention of the likes of his contemporaries like W. B. Yeats and Lady Gregory. Fiona Macleod 33 Year Old is a celebration of the storyteller.
The Taste
Nose: Ripe tropical fruits with hints of barbecued banana, giving way to smoky vanilla and a pervasive peatiness.
Palate: Opens with salty iodine, damp wood smoke and develops into sweet mango and candied ginger. Develops with a briny character, citrus and dried fruits.
Finish: Sweet, barley sugar, dried pineapple and bonfires extinguished by ale.