An Cuan, Distilleries

Some of Islay's distilleries, visitor centres, shops, cafés and restaurants are still closed to visitors. Please double check availability directly with the distilleries you like to visit.

Ardbeg

Heavily peated

Open five days a week for tastings. Must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.

Founded	1815
Owner	Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy
Capacity	1,250,000 litres
No. of stills	1 wash (18,000 l) 1 spirit (17,000 l)
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 tastet 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

Re-opened the Visitor Centre and café on Monday, 20th July

Founded	2018
Owner	Hunter Laing & Co Ltd.
Capacity	900,000 litres
No. of stills	1 wash (12,500 l) 1 spirit (7,500 l)
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 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 gin. Tours

Bowmore

Beautifully balanced Single Malt

Bowmore Gift Shop Experience can be booked online.

Founded	1779
Owner	Beam Suntory, Inc.
Capacity	2,000,000 litres
No. of stills	2 wash (20,000 l) 2 spirit (12,000 l)
Water source	River Laggan

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. Tours

Bunnahabhain

Visitor Centre and shop is now open - no tours or tastings

1881 - unpeaded

Tours

Bruichladdich

1881 - 1,500,000 L

Caol Ila

1846 - 6,500,000 L - unpeated

Kilchoman

Re-opened Visitor Centre on Wednesday 15th July

2005 - 221,000 L

Lagavulin

Visitor centre is reopened. Bookings can be made by phoning 01496 302749 or emailing lagavulin@malts.com

1816 -

Laphroaig

Great phenolic character

The souvenir shop is open Thursday - Monday from 11:00 to 16:00. It is necessary to reserve a time for the visit.

Founded	1815
Owner	Beam Suntory, Inc.
Capacity	3,3000,000 litres
No. of stills	3 wash (10,500 l) 4 spirit (4,900 l)
Water source	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. Tours

And close by Gleich nebenan

Jura

1810 - unpeated