Brian Crook established bottling company Vintage Malt Whisky Co. Ltd in 1992 upon leaving Morrison Bowmore Distillers, launching the business with new brands such as Finlaggan and Glenalmond.
The Ileach wasn’t launched until 1997, when Crook created Highlands & Islands Whisky Co. Ltd as a sister company. The single malt’s cask strength expression was introduced three years later, and the brand given a redesign in 2013.
Located in Milngavie, Glasgow, The Highlands & Islands Scotch Whisky Company Ltd. focuses its production on three brands, all single malts from undisclosed distilleries.
The Ileach is a peated Islay single malt whisky bottled at both 40% abv and at a cask strength of 58% abv.
Black Cuillin is an eight-year-old Hebridean Island single malt bottled at 40% abv, its name referring to the Cuillin Hills on the Isle of Skye, so quite possibly the whisky is from Talisker.
The Pibroch is Highlands & Islands third brand, another Islay single malt named after the famous diesel puffer that once carried grain to Islay on behalf of Scottish Malt Distillers. It is bottled at 43% abv, and is currently awaiting a full redesign and relaunch.
Highlands & Islands also owns independent bottler CS James, a holding company that produces the Islay Storm single malt. |
