Distilleries

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!
Tours

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 will 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.
Tours

Bowmore distillery has alwasy been known for making a less smoky Whisky than some other Islay distilleries.
The Distillery has it’s 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 Bowmore tasting bar to enjoy a relaxed tasting overlooking Loch Indaal (open until 4pm).
Tours

Since Bruichladdich was taken over by Mark Reynier in 2001, the barley beeing 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 varietes 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.
A highlight are the two barrels for filling your own bottle.
Tours

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).
Special feature: Here you can fill your own bottle directly from a barrel.
Tours

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.
Tours

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.
Tours

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
Tours

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.
Tours

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
Tours