Distilleries

„Angels always smile“

Distilleries

„Angels always smile“

It is advisable to book distillery tours in advance to avoid disappointments!

Ardbeg

As close to perfection as makes no difference
Founded1815
OwnerThe Glenmorangie Company (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton)
Capacity 2,400,000 l/a
No. of stills2 Wash (11,750 l)
2 Spirit (13,000 l)
Malt Spec.50-55 ppm
Water SourceLoch Uigeadail
Ardbeg Distillery
Ardbeg distillery has been closed twice (between 1981-1989 and 1996/1997) and had various owner during these years. For that reason, it wasn’t always easy to find enough high-quality Whisky. So instead of a huge core range, Ardbeg has produced a lot of limited editions over the years, some of them can still be tasted at some of the distillery’s tours.
Look out for Wee Beastie, 47.4%, it’s a monster of a dram!

Ardnahoe

Classic peaty Islay whisky
Founded2017
OwnerHunter Laing & Company
Capacity 1,000,000 l/a
No. of stills1 Wash (12,500 l)
1 Spirit (7,500 l)
Malt Spec.40 ppm
Water SourceLoch Ardnahoe
Ardbeg Distillery
Islay's first new distillery for nearly 15 years is located on the island's north east coast between the Caol Ila and Bunnahabhain distilleries.
The distillery make a peated spirit for maturation in used bourbon barrels and Spanish sherry casks.
Everything’s is brand new except the 100 year old Vickers Boby mill. Specially to note are the unusually long descending lyne arms which allows the vapour plenty of copper contact. Unique for Islay are also the traditional style of worm tub condenser.
The bar and shop offers whisky from all over Scotland as well as rum and local gin.
Perhaps there are still a few bottles left from the festival bottling?

Bowmore

Beautifully balanced Single Malt
Founded1779
OwnerMorrison Bowmore Distillers (Beam Suntory)
Capacity 2,150,000 l/a
No. of stills2 Wash (20,000 l)
2 Spirit (12,000 l)
Malt Spec.25-30 ppm
Water SourceRiver Laggan
Ardbeg Distillery
Bowmore distillery has always been known for making a less smoky Whisky than some other Islay distilleries.
The Distillery has its own malting floor, where 30% of the needed malt is produced.
The famose Vault No 1., dating back to the 1700s, is probably the oldest whisky warehouse in Scotland that is still in use.
I appreciate the tasting bar upstairs to enjoy a relaxed tasting overlooking Loch Indaal (open until 4pm).

Bruichladdich

Progressive hebridean distillers
Founded1881
OwnerBruichladdich Distillery Company (Rémy Cointreau)
Capacity 3,500,000 l/a
No. of stills2 Wash (16,800 l)
2 Spirit (15,500 l)
Malt Spec.Non peated | 40 | 80+ ppm
Water SourceAn Toran
Ardbeg Distillery
Since Bruichladdich was taken over by Mark Reynier in 2001, the barley being used for the production has been in focus. They not only use different sorts, but also take an interest where the barley has grown. All barley used is grown in Scotland, 40% even comes from Islay. There are three whisky varieties that are being produced: unpeated Bruichladdich (60%), peated Port Charlotte (20%) and heavily peated Octomore (20%). Since a few years the botanist Gin is also produced here.
The two barrels for filling your own bottles are a real highlight

Bunnahabhain

For lovers of unpeated whisky
Founded1881
OwnerThe Bunnahabhain Distillery Company (Distell Group)
Capacity 3,500,000 l/a
No. of stills2 Wash (16,800 l)
2 Spirit (15,500 l)
Malt Spec.Non peated | 35-45 ppm
Water SourceMargadale Spring
Ardbeg Distillery
The whisky from Islay usually has a smoky and peaty note. Bunnahabhain traditionally produces unpeated whisky. However, since a few years about 15% of the total production is also produced as peated whisky (35 - 40ppm).
Large selection of hand-filled bottles - even in smaller sizes!

Caol Ila

Balance between distillery character and maturity
Founded1846
OwnerDiageo
Capacity 6,500,000 l/a
No. of stills3 Wash (20,000 l)
3 Spirit (12,000 l)
Malt Spec.Peated
Water SourceLoch Nam Burn
Ardbeg Distillery
The biggest distillery on Islay, in terms of capacity, is Caol Ila. It currently produces almost as much as Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Bowmore and Ardbeg put together.
Caol Ila is known for its peated whisky but an increasingly part of unpeated, nutty new make has been produced in the last years.
The Johnnie Walker Black Label - Islay Origin is a bargain

Kilchoman

Single Farm Single Malt
Founded2005
OwnerKilchoman Distillery Company
Capacity 650,000 l/a
No. of stills2 Wash (3,000 l)
2 Spirit (1,600 l)
Malt Spec.50 / own malting 20 ppm
Water SourceSurface water collected in small dam close to distillery
Ardbeg Distillery
After more than 120 Years Kilchoman was the first distillery to be newly built on Islay.
As a farm distillery, a quarter of the barley requirements comes from the fields surrounding the distillery. Kilchoman has it‘s own malting floor, where the malt is peated to 20ppm. The distillery takes an interest in producing locally with ingredients coming from Islay and there is a 100% Islay edition that is regularly released.
Ask for the distillery exclusive bottling

Lagavulin

Intensely flavoured, smoky and rich
Founded1816
OwnerDiageo
Capacity 3,000,000 l/a
No. of stills2 Wash (10,500 l)
2 Spirit (11,500 l)
Malt Spec.Peated
Water SourceLochan Sholum
Ardbeg Distillery
In 2016 Lagavulin celebrated their bicentenaries. Twohundred years of legal distilling, but already in 1742 whisky was produced on site through dozens of illegal stills, so called bothies.
The sudden interest in smoky Islay whisky that startet in the 1990s, can be largely attributed to Lagavulin and the fact that it was marketed as one of the Classic Malts.
Try the Jazzfestival-Edition

Laphroaig

Great phenolic character
Founded1815
OwnerD Johnston & Company (Beam Suntory)
Capacity 3,300,000 l/a
No. of stills3 Wash (10,500 l)
3+1 Spirit (4,900 l)
Malt Spec.Phenols minimum 35 ppm
Water SourceThe Kilbride reservoir
Ardbeg Distillery
One of the most famous single Malts is Laphroaig. The distillery produces a heavily peated whisky with medicinal notes. Laphroaig has its own malting floors and produces 20% of its requirement at 40-60ppm. Around 70% of the production is reserved for producing single malt. Laphroaig has a great visiter center with tours at various levels.
A Tripplewood with plenty of water is worth a try - don't grumble, just try it out.

Jura

Lightly peated whisky with a gentle Island character
Founded1810
OwnerWhyte and Mackay Group (Emperador Distillers Inc)
Capacity 2,500,000 l/a
No. of stills2 Wash (24,150 l)
2 Spirit (4,500 l)
Malt Spec.0-0.5 ppm
Water SourceMarket Loch
Ardbeg Distillery
Islay’s neighbouring Island is Jura, with its distillery of the same name.
The distillery has two pairs of stills, which are the second largest in Scotland.
The sales volumes for Jura single malt have increased rapidly since 2010 and is ist now the third most sold single malt in the UK.
Watch out for the Festival Edition