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.
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Ardbeg
As close to perfection as makes no difference
Open five days a week for tastings. Must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.
| Founded | 1815 |
| Owner | Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy |
| Capacity | 2,400,000 litres |
| No. of stills | 2 wash (18,000 l) 2 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!
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 local gin. Tours
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
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
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
Bruichladdich
Progressive hebridean distillers
| Founded | 1881 |
| Owner | Rémy Cointreau |
| Capacity | 1’500’000 litres |
| No. of stills | 2 wash (11,500 l) 2 spirit (9,000 l) |
| Water source | An Toran |
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 Scottland, 40% even comes from Islay.
There are three whisky varietes that are being produced: unpeated Bruichladdich (60%), peated Port Charlotte (20%) and havely 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
There are three whisky varietes that are being produced: unpeated Bruichladdich (60%), peated Port Charlotte (20%) and havely 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
Bunnahabhain
For lovers of unpeated whisky
Visitor centre and shop is open - tastings / no tours
| Founded | 1881 |
| Owner | Distell Group Ltd. |
| Capacity | 2,7400,000 litres |
| No. of stills | 2 wash (16,800 l) 2 spirit (15,500 l) |
| 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).
Special feature: Here you can fill your own bottle directly from a barrel. Tours
Special feature: Here you can fill your own bottle directly from a barrel. Tours
Caol Ila
Balance between distillery character and maturity
| Founded | 1846 |
| Owner | Diageo plc |
| Capacity | 6,500,000 litres |
| No. of stills | 3 wash (20,000 l) 3 spirit (12,000 l) |
| 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. Tours
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
Kilchoman
Single Farm Single Malt
Re-opened Visitor Centre on Wednesday 15th July
| Founded | 2005 |
| Owner | Kilchoman Distillery Co. |
| Capacity | 480,000 litres |
| No. of stills | 2 wash (3,000 l) 2 spirit (1,600 l) |
| Water source | Surface water |
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
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
Lagavulin
Intensely flavoured, smoky and rich
Visitor centre is reopened. Bookings can be made by phoning 01496 302749 or emailing lagavulin@malts.com
| Founded | 1816 |
| Owner | Diageo plc |
| Capacity | 2,400,000 litres |
| No. of stills | 2 wash (10,500 l) 2 spirit (11,500 l) |
| 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.
Try the Jazzfestival-Edition
Tours
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
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
Lightly peated whisky with a gentle Island character
| Founded | 1810 |
| Owner | Whyte & Mackay (Emperador Inc) |
| Capacity | 1,250,000 litres |
| No. of stills | 2 wash (24,500 l) 2 spirit (15,500 l) |
| 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.
Watch out for the Festival Edition
Tours
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
