The island of Islay, located off the west coast of Scotland, is without doubt the most prolific of all the whisky-producing regions.
Its single malt whiskies are revered the world over and for good reason; quite simply the Isle of Islay produces some of the best whisky you could ever hope to enjoy.
With no fewer than 11 distilleries on the island, Islay could be considered a whisky mecca. Let’s take a look at some of those distilleries.
Ardbeg
Ardbeg whisky is the some of the peatiest whisky you will ever find and that’s really saying something given all Islay whiskies offer strong peat flavours.
The name is synonymous with rich, strong smoky flavours and the Ardbeg Ten Years Old has been described as the most complex single malt of them all.
Also of note from this distillery is Uigeadail – recently voted the favourite Ardbeg whisky by the Ardbeg Committee (a worldwide fan club with more than 100,000 members), Uigeadail has smoky raisin tones and is not for the faint hearted!
Ardbeg produce a staggering 40,000 bottles of whisky a week.
Bowmore
Bowmore is the oldest legal distillery on Islay, formed in 1779 by John Simpson.
Its range tends to be a little milder than the other southern distilleries of the island but, as with all Islay whisky, there’s those beautiful peaty flavours.
Bowmore whiskies also have distinctive salt and seaweed characters.
From the citrusy Bowmore Legend to the stunning toffee and hazelnut characters of the Bowmore Aged 25 Years, the range offers something for every single malt whisky fan.
There’s also some incredible limited editions including the Bowmore 50 Year Old and Bowmore Devil’s Cask – using first-fill sherry casks to bring out an intense, fiery finish.
Bunnahabhain
A stunning location deserves a stunning whisky and Bunnahabhain certainly manage that at their distillery near the Sound of Islay. Typically, their whisky has a lower PPM (phenol parts per million) in the peat, making for a slightly milder taste throughout the range.
For the whisky tourist to Islay, Bunnahabhain is a must-see, and the long and winding road to its location, offers breath-taking views of Jura and the most northerly point on Islay with Rhuvaal Lighthouse standing proud.
Islay locals are some of Bunnahabhain’s biggest fans with the 12 Year Old voted as their favourite tipple.
The range is comprehensive with the aforementioned 12 Year Old, 18 Year Old, 25 Year Old and 40 Year Old, not to mention four other special single malts.
Lagavulin
Founded by John Johnston in 1816, Lagavulin is one of the world’s most awarded distilleries and it’s not hard to see why.
Rich, smoky beyond belief and pungent, their single malt whisky is dark and intense.
The unmistakable Lagavulin distillery, with its big bold livery, dominates the shores of Solan Lochs where it draws in its water from.
Lagavulin boasts dizzying variety in its range but the 16 Year Old has, quite rightly, legendary status amongst favourites of peaty big hitters.
It’s rich and thick with spicy notes and a lingering sweetness that gives way to a finish of peat smoke and vanilla.
It’s the kind of whisky you would want to enjoy in front of a log fire on a wild winter’s night, a triumph of a single malt.
Laphroaig
Mention single malt whisky and almost everyone could tell you that Laphroaig is revered as one of the best.
The distillery nestles in the south of Islay and was established in 1815 by Alex and Donald Johnston who settled on the island and changed their names from McCabe after the failed Jacobite uprising.
Today, Laphroaig enjoys a position as one of the most sophisticated of single malts and is the tipple of choice for whisky connoisseurs in bars from London to Sydney and everywhere in between.
The 10 Year Old is a classic dark whisky. It’s smoky and iodine-rich with strong chilli and spice notes and deserves to be savoured.
Laphroaig Quarter Cask is an excellent addition to the range. It’s aged for five years before being finished in a smaller quarter cask – more popular in the early 1800s – for seven months.
Check out our extensive range of single malt whisky today!
Ardbeg Uigedail – A big powerhouse peat monster but incredibly balanced and complex. One of the true Islay greats.
Bowmore Darkest – Sherry Cask with the addition of a finish in fresh Oloroso sherry.
Bunnahabhainn 12 Year Old or our own cask bottling of a Bunnahabhainn 24 Year Old – The Bass (hardly any left, get in quick!).
Lagavulin 12 Year Old Cask Strength – A stunning and a more limited edition whisky from this giant of a distillery.
Laphroaig Quarter cask – still very peaty but more mellow than regular laphroaig due to more interaction and contact with the small oak casks.
