West Highland Malts
There are five distilleries in the West Highlands, three on islands and two on the mainland. The island distilleries are: Jura (Isle of Jura), Ledaig/Tobermory (Isle of Mull) and Talisker (Isle of Skye). The mainland distilleries are: Oban (in Oban) and Ben Nevis (at Fort William).

Smoky-pepper
If they share a characteristic it is smoky/peppery, not as strong as Islay malts, and very much depending upon age.

Jura
Jura Distillery was opened in 1963 - the brain-child of two landowners, seeking to find employment for the islanders. When its product first came on the market, in 1974, it was mild, pale and delicate - quite unlike the rugged island that gave it birth. It bears comparison with the lighter style of Islays, and is the mildest of the West Highland malts.

Ledaig was built in 1798, of a date with Tobermory, the fishing port it stands within. It has been in and out of production in recent years, but can produce an excellent malt if well aged. It is rare at the moment.

Lava of the Cuillins
Skye has the mighty Talisker, called 'the lava of the Cuillins' [the famous mountains of Skye]. Long celebrated - even Robert Louis Stevenson mentioned it. Its flavour is hot and peppery, oily - like Irish whiskey.

Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis Distillery takes its name from, and stands in the shadow of, the highest mountain in Great Britain. It was built by 'Long John' Macdonald, a redoubtable figure of 6'4", who presented a cask of his whisky to Queen Victoria. She had it laid down for ftfteen years, and broached it on the Prince of Wales' 21 st birthday. Now revived by a Japanese distilling company, its whisky is excellent.

Oban
Oban is also an old established distillery (1794). Like Ledaig, it has had a somewhat chequered career, and like Talisker its future is now secure, since it has been selected for promotion as one of the 'Classic Malts'

West Highland Malts' Characteristics
West Highland malts are much less peated than their southen cousins in Islay, although they all have at least a whiff of smoke and a mildly phenolic flavour. If there is a uniting factor it is the sweet start and the dryish, peppery finish of these whiskies, particularly Talisker and Oban (and one might add Highland Park, from Orkney, but I have included this in the next section). Ben Nevis is a one off; sweet, with a remarkable aroma and flavour of coconuts. The brand Tobermory is a vatted malt, not a single malt.