::: Islay whisky distilleries ::.

Islay is currently home to eight active whisky distilleries (and one pending distillery).

This page contains short summaries on each of the Islay whisky distilleries. Further information about each Islay distillery can be found by clicking on the link to their website.

There have been a number of other distilleries which have operated on Islay in the past, but since closed. The Closed distilleries page has some information on these distilleries.

Ardbeg website

Ardbeg was built in 1815 on the south coast of the Isle of Islay. The distillery was mothballed in 1981 and production ceased. Production recommenced on a very small scale from 1989 until 1996. Glenmorangie plc purchased Ardbeg in 1997 and full production was resumed.

Ardbeg whiskies are often bottled at a higher alcohol by volume (ABV) than the minimum required 40%. Many of their whiskies are also non-chill filtered, providing for a richer flavour profile. Ardbeg has produced whiskies that are heavily peated (Supernova for example) and also very lightly peated (Blasda for example). Typically though, Ardbeg whiskies are considered to be highly peated. In addition to their main product offerings, Ardbeg has also released whiskies of various ages since resuming full production in 1997, with the Very Young (6 years, released in 2003), Still Young (8 years, released in 2006), Almost there (9 years, released in 2007) and Renaissance (10 years, released in 2008).

Bowmore website

Established by local merchant David Simson, Bowmore is the oldest distillery on Islay and one of the oldest in Scotland. Although the distillery was first mentioned in 1779, the distillery was likely established prior to this, shortly after David Simson moved to the village of Bowmore in 1766. Bowmore is located on the shore of Loch Indaal. Bowmore is owned by Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd, a holding company owned by Japanese beverage company Suntory. Like many other distilleries in Scotland, Bowmore was closed during the second world war and rather than making whisky, Bowmore hosted the RAF Coastal Command for most of the war. Bowmore resumed production when the war ended.

Bowmore is one of very few distilleries to still do traditional floor malting of the barley. However, floor malting capacity is not high enough to satisfy production needs and so additional malted barley is brought in. Bowmore is typically less peated than other Islay whiskies such as Ardbeg, Laphroaig and Lagavulin. The Bowmore range includes: Bowmore Legend, Bowmore 12 Year Old, Bowmore 15 Year Old, Bowmore 18 Year Old and the Bowmore 25 Year Old. There are also many other special bottlings, along with country specific product offerings and products for 'travel retail' outlets.

Bruichladdich website

Bruichladdich was founded in 1881 and is located on the shore of Loch Indaal, in the western part of the island. Bruichladdich and the recently opened Kilchoman are the only independent distilleries on Islay (privately-owned). Bruichladdich was purchased by Mark Reynier, Simon Coughlin and Gordon Wright of Murray McDavid in 2000. Following the purchase, Bruichladdich Distillery Company Ltd was formed - comprising 35 private shareholders.

All Bruichladdich whiskies are non chill-filtered and no colouring is used in the whiskies. Bruichladdich whiskies are typically very lightly peated in comparison to other Islay whiskies (with the exception of Bunnahabhain, which is also very lightly peated). However, despite Bruichladdichs preference for lightly peated whiskies; in 2008 Bruichladdich launched 'Octomore', billed as 'the most heavily peated single malt whisky in the world', with a peat level of 131ppm (parts per million). Following the release of the original Octomore, Bruichladdich has developed Octomore 2 - coming in at a monstrous peat level of 140ppm. It is possible for members of the public to purchase casks of Bruichladdich, with buyers able to make some choices in order to tailor the style of whisky to their liking, including the type of cask used for maturation.

Bunnahabhain website

Bunnahabhain was founded in 1881 and is Islay's most remote and northerly distillery. Bunnahabhain is owned by Burn Stewart Distillers Ltd, who also own the blended whisky 'Black Bottle' - of which Bunnahabhain forms an integral component.

Bunnahabhain is typically the 'mildest' of the Islay whiskies, with very light peating. The Bunnahabhain range includes: Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old, Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old and the Bunnahabhain 25 Year Old.

Caol Ila website

Caol Ila was founded in 1846 by Hector Henderson. Caol Ila is located near Port Askaig, overlooking the strait between Islay and Jura. Other than a three-storey warehouse still in use today, the entire distillery was demolished in 1972. A larger distillery was built in its place and production resumed in 1974, with six stills rather than the original two. Caol Ila is owned by Diageo plc.

Caol Ila is used extensively in blended whiskies, such as Johnnie Walker and Black Bottle. Caol Ila single malt whiskies are usually considered to be amongst the lighter of the Islay whiskies, thought they still exhibit pronounced peat characters. The Caol Ila single malt range includes: Caol Ila 12 year old, Caol Ila 18 year old, Caol Ila Cask Strength, and the Caol Ila Distillers Edition.

Kilchoman website

Kilchoman was established in 2005, the first to be built on Islay for 124 years. Kilchoman is situated on the western side of Islay, near the small town of Kilchoman. The Abhainn Dearg Distillery on the Isle of Lewis is the only distillery in Scotland more westerly than Kilchoman. Kilchoman and Bruichladdich are the only independent distilleries on Islay (privately-owned). Kilchoman is owned by Kilchoman Distillery Company Limited.

Kilchoman is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland with an annual production of 100,000 litres of alcohol. Kilchoman is one of very few distilleries to carry out traditional floor maltings; and unlike other distilleries that purchase barley from around Scotland, Kilchoman uses barley grown on the farm at the distillery. Some additional malted barley is also sourced from Port Ellen Maltings on Islay. Kilchoman filled it's first casks in December 2005. The whiskies released by Kilchoman thus far have been highly peated. Kilchoman's first whisky was the Kilchoman Inaugural Release; a single malt whisky aged for 3 years in fresh bourbon barrels and finished for 5 months in oloroso sherry butts. This was followed by the Kilchoman Autumn 2009 Release. Kilchoman also intends to offer 5, 8, 10 and 12 year old single malt whiskies.

Lagavulin website

Lagavulin officially dates back to 1816, although whisky was illegally produced on the site long before that date (as early as 1742). Lagavulin is located in a small bay near the south coast of Islay, within view of the Dunyvaig Castle ruins. From 1847 to 1907 Lagavulin acted as agent for nearby distillery, Laphroaig. From this arrangement emerged several legal battles between Lagavulin and their neighbour Laphroaig. Laphroaig maintains that Lagavulin attempted to copy Laphroaig's style. Lagavulin is owned by Diageo plc.

Lagavulin is usually regarded as being heavily peated, though well-balanced and smooth. Lagavulin undergoes the slowest distillation of the Islay whiskies - around five hours for the first distillation and more than nine hours for the second. The Lagavulin range includes: Lagavulin 12 Year Old, Lagavulin 12 Year Old Cask Strength, Lagavulin 16 Year Old, Lagavulin 21 year old, Lagavulin 25 year old, Lagavulin 30 year old, and the Lagavulin Distillers Edition.

Laphroaig website

The Laphroaig distillery was officially established in 1815 by Donald Johnston and his brother Alexander Johnston; although it's widely believed that distillation was taking place illegally before then. Donald Johnston bought out his brother in 1836 and became sole owner of Laphroaig. However, Donald died in 1847 when he fell into a vat of partially-made whisky - leaving eleven year old son Dugald Johnston as owner of Laphroaig. Given Dugald's age, Laphroaig was leased out to Alexander Graham of Lagavulin. This agreement went sour and was terminated by Laphroaig in 1907, the catalyst for a series of bitter court battles between Laphroaig and Lagavulin. In 1907 Lagavulin (owned by Mackie & Co at the time) blocked up and diverted Laphroaig's water source, effectively preventing Laphroaig from producing whisky. The courts intervened and Mackie & Co were required to "put things right" and restore the water supply. In 1908 Mackie & Co enlisted the assistance of Laphroaig's former head brewer to copy Laphroaig's stills. Lagavulin unsuccessfully attempted to buy Laphroaig a number of times. Despite copied stills and inside-knowledge leaks to Lagavulin; Laphroaig and Lagavulin have their own individual and very distinct characteristics. Laphroaig is owned by Beam Global Spirits & Wine Inc.

Laphroaig owns its peat fields that stretch over Machrie Moor. The peat is hand cut in spring, then left to dry on the lands until late summer when it is taken to the distillery peat shed. Laphroaig is one of very few distilleries to still do traditional floor malting of the barley. However, floor malting capacity is not high enough to satisfy production needs and so additional malted barley is brought in. Laphroaig whiskies are usually highly peated and considered to have a full body, with pervasive peat smoke characters. The Laphroaig range includes: Laphroaig 10 Year Old, Original Cask Strength Laphroaig (10 Year Old), Laphroaig Quarter Cask, Laphroaig Triple Wood, Laphroaig 15 Year Old, Laphroaig 18 Year Old, Laphroaig 25 Year Old, Laphroaig 27 Year Old, Laphroaig 30 Year Old, Laphroaig 30 year old Cairdeas, and the Laphroaig 40 Year Old.

:: Port Charlotte Distillery ::

Bruichladdich intend to breathe life back into the former Lochindaal Distillery which closed in 1929. Named after a long-defunct Islay distillery, it is located in the centre of Port Charlotte village, just two miles southwest from the Bruichladdich Distillery.

The former Lochindaal Distillery operated for 100 years from 1829 until 1929, under various owners. Although the distillery has not operated for many years, the buildings still remain and are currently being renovated.

The distilling equipment was sourced from the former Inverleven Distillery (Dumbarton, Scotland) which was demolished in 2003. The entire distillery plant was dismantled bolt by bolt and shipped by barge to Islay.

Bruichladdich hope to build Port Charlotte as an entirely green distillery with a zero carbon footprint.

While Port Charlotte Distillery is being established for future operation, Bruichladdich have released a 'Port Charlotte' range of whiskies. These whiskies were distilled at the Bruichladdich Distillery, not the new site.

Information on closed Islay distilleries can be found here: Closed distilleries

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