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
Founded | 1815 |
Owner | The Glenmorangie Company (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton) |
Capacity | 2,400,000 l/a |
No. of stills | 2 Wash (11,750 l) 2 Spirit (13,000 l) |
Malt Spec. | 50-55 ppm |
Water Source | Loch Uigeadail |
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
Founded | 2017 |
Owner | Hunter Laing & Company |
Capacity | 1,000,000 l/a |
No. of stills | 1 Wash (12,500 l) 1 Spirit (7,500 l) |
Malt Spec. | 40 ppm |
Water Source | Loch Ardnahoe |
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.
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
Founded | 1779 |
Owner | Morrison Bowmore Distillers (Beam Suntory) |
Capacity | 2,150,000 l/a |
No. of stills | 2 Wash (20,000 l) 2 Spirit (12,000 l) |
Malt Spec. | 25-30 ppm |
Water Source | River Laggan |
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.
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
Founded | 1881 |
Owner | Bruichladdich Distillery Company (Rémy Cointreau) |
Capacity | 3,500,000 l/a |
No. of stills | 2 Wash (16,800 l) 2 Spirit (15,500 l) |
Malt Spec. | Non peated | 40 | 80+ ppm |
Water Source | An Toran |
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
Founded | 1881 |
Owner | The Bunnahabhain Distillery Company (Distell Group) |
Capacity | 3,500,000 l/a |
No. of stills | 2 Wash (16,800 l) 2 Spirit (15,500 l) |
Malt Spec. | Non peated | 35-45 ppm |
Water Source | Margadale Spring |
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
Founded | 1846 |
Owner | Diageo |
Capacity | 6,500,000 l/a |
No. of stills | 3 Wash (20,000 l) 3 Spirit (12,000 l) |
Malt Spec. | Peated |
Water Source | Loch Nam Burn |
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.
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
Founded | 2005 |
Owner | Kilchoman Distillery Company |
Capacity | 650,000 l/a |
No. of stills | 2 Wash (3,000 l) 2 Spirit (1,600 l) |
Malt Spec. | 50 / own malting 20 ppm |
Water Source | Surface water collected in small dam close to 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.
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
Founded | 1816 |
Owner | Diageo |
Capacity | 3,000,000 l/a |
No. of stills | 2 Wash (10,500 l) 2 Spirit (11,500 l) |
Malt Spec. | Peated |
Water Source | Lochan Sholum |
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.
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
Founded | 1815 |
Owner | D Johnston & Company (Beam Suntory) |
Capacity | 3,300,000 l/a |
No. of stills | 3 Wash (10,500 l) 3+1 Spirit (4,900 l) |
Malt Spec. | Phenols minimum 35 ppm |
Water Source | The Kilbride reservoir |
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
Founded | 1810 |
Owner | Whyte and Mackay Group (Emperador Distillers Inc) |
Capacity | 2,500,000 l/a |
No. of stills | 2 Wash (24,150 l) 2 Spirit (4,500 l) |
Malt Spec. | 0-0.5 ppm |
Water Source | Market Loch |
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.
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