Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Whisky Distilleries Guides Islay
Whisky Distilleries Guides Islay
of Whisky
A visitor guide to one of
Scotland’s five whisky regions.
Islay
Whisky
The practice of distilling whisky No two are the same; each has
has been lovingly perfected its own proud heritage, unique
throughout Scotland for centuries setting and its own way of doing
and began as a way of turning things that has evolved and been
rain-soaked barley into a drinkable refined over time. Paying a visit to
spirit, using the fresh water a distillery lets you discover more
from Scotland’s crystal-clear about the environment and the
springs, streams and burns. people who shape the taste of the
Scotch whisky you enjoy. So, when
To this day, distilleries across the you’re sitting back and relaxing
country continue the tradition with a dram of our most famous
of using pure spring water from export at the end of your distillery
the same sources that have been tour, you’ll be appreciating the
used for centuries. essence of Scotland as it swirls
in your glass.
From the source of the water and
the shape of the still to the wood Home to the greatest concentration
of the cask used to mature the of distilleries in the world,
spirit, there are many factors Scotland is divided into five
that make Scotch whisky so distinct whisky regions. These
wonderfully different and varied are Islay, Speyside, Highland,
from distillery to distillery. Lowland and Campbeltown.
Be sure to check out our guides for the other four whisky regions:
Campbeltown, Highland, Lowland and Speyside.
www.visitscotland.com/distilleries-guides
Ardbeg Bowmore Bunnahabhain
If you’ve already visited a few Laggan to produce a wide variety as Bunnahabhain single malt, many
whisky distilleries, and want of whiskies of different ages and casks produced in the distillery will
06 07
OPENING TIMES
Bruichladdich
blends an interesting mix of old
and new; much of the equipment Opening times vary -
Distillery
used dates back to the Victorian please see website.
era but this distillery is famed for
taking innovative approaches when SAMPLE
Tours available it comes to the whisky-making • Bruichladdich The Classic
process. Self-styled as ‘progressive Laddie Scotch Barley
LOCATION Hebridean distillers’, Bruichladdich • Bruichladdich Port Charlotte
Bruichladdich. has released the Octomore, an Heavily Peated Scottish Barley
experimental whisky made from • Bruichladdich Octomore 06.1 5
HOW TO GET THERE super heavily peated barley and Year Old Scottish Barley
To get to the Isle of Islay, daily said to be the most heavily peated
ferries operated by Caledonian single malt whisky in the world. As WHERE TO BUY
MacBrayne depart from well as whisky, the distillery started These single malt and other
Kennacraig on the mainland producing gin, named The Botanist, Bruichladdich whiskies are
to Port Ellen/Port Askaig. in 2011. available to purchase from
Alternatively, you can fly from a number of retail outlets
Glasgow or Oban. In addition to standard daily tours, and online.
the Warehouse Experience offers
OVERVIEW something a bit special. Participants
In a sheltered spot on the shores get the chance to try three single
of Loch Indaal lies Bruichladdich, malt whiskies which are not
home to a distillery which dates available for general sale straight
back to 1881. Bruichladdich from the cask in the setting of the
distillery’s operation and ethos cathedral-like maturation room.
08 09
OVERVIEW OPENING TIMES OTHER NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
Caol Ila
Upon arrival, absorb the
Located just north of Port Askaig, outstanding panoramic views Opening times vary - IN ISLAY
Distillery
Caol Ila (pronounced Cull-eela) is across the Sound of Islay to the please see website. • Machrie Golf Links
set in a sheltered bay surrounded Paps of Jura, before taking a • RSPB Loch Gruinart Reserve
by gorgeous Hebridean scenery. behind-the-scenes tour of the SAMPLE • Dunyvaig Castle
Tours available It is the biggest distillery in Islay, distillery. Watch the distillers hard • Caol Ila 8 Year Old • Cultoon Stone Circle
producing a jaw-dropping excess at work tending the six copper stills • Caol Ila 12 Year Old • Persabus Pottery Ceramic Café
LOCATION of 2 million litres of spirit per year, on one of three tours which invite • Caol Ila 18 Year Old • Bowmore
Port Askaig. and boasts a whisky-making you to witness first-hand the time- • Caol Ila 25 Year Old • Port Ellen
heritage that stretches back to tested process behind the spirit • Caol Ila Cask Strength • Port Askaig
HOW TO GET THERE 1846. Back in the day steamboats, produced at Caol Ila. • Caol Ila Dstillers Edition • Port Charlotte
Visit the island by ferry or by plane known as ‘puffers’, would deliver • Caol Ila Stitchell Reserve
to Islay Airport from Glasgow cargoes of malting barley, coal and Discover how Islay peat imbues
International Airport. Get around empty casks to the distillery. They the whisky distilled here with WHERE TO BUY
using the local bus services or hire would return with these casks full its distinctive, smoky character, Available at Caol Ila Distillery
a taxi or car once here. of whisky to the mainland through sample a selection of its different Shop, most major retailers and
the Sound of Islay, the straight ages and maturations, and discover online.
which separates the island from the unexpected flavourings of
neighbouring Jura. its finest malts during a special
tasting session accompanied with
delectable chocolates – a truly Port Askaig on Islay
unique whisky-tasting experience.
10 11
Kilchoman While other distilleries rely on
Distillery
specialist malting companies to
supply them with malted barley for
their whiskies, Kilchoman is one
Tours available of the few distilleries in Scotland
who malt their own barley on-
LOCATION site, meaning you can start your
Bruichladdich. tour right at the beginning of the
whisky making process.
HOW TO GET THERE
Visit Islay by air or ferry. Take Tours range from the standard
your own car on the ferry to get Distillery Tour (£6), which includes
around or simply use the island’s two free drams, to the Manager’s
taxi companies. Tour (£30), where you will learn
about what it takes to run Islay’s
OVERVIEW farm distillery from one of the
Opened in 2005, Kilchoman managers themselves, before
Distillery is the youngest of all tasting a unique expression
the Islay distilleries and was the straight from the cask.
first distillery to be established
on the island for over 124 years. OPENING TIMES
Visit this authentic farm distillery Open all year though
and discover how it manages opening times vary.
every stage of the whisky making
process on-site – they even grow SAMPLE
their own barley on the farm’s • Machir Bay
fertile land. • 100% Islay
• Loch Gorm
Join your expert tour guide as
you journey through every stage WHERE TO BUY
of the production process, you Specialist retailers and online.
can even see how Kilchoman malt
their own barley on the farm’s
traditional malting room floor. Looking over to the lighthouse
at Port Charlotte on Islay
12 13
OPENING TIMES
Lagavulin
From March to September, visitors
All year round except Christmas can help the distillery staff cut the
Distillery
and New Year’s Day with seasonal peat by hand at Glenmachrie ready
opening hours. for drying as part of the Water to
Whisky Experience tour, one of
Tours available SAMPLE several different tours operated
• Lagavulin 12 Year Old by the distillery staff.
LOCATION • Lagavulin 16 Year Old
Port Ellen. • Lagavulin Distillers Edition The taste of Laphroaig also has a
lot to do with its location. Nestled
HOW TO GET THERE WHERE TO BUY in a cove from which it gets its
Islay sits off the south west coast Available at most major name (translated from Gaelic as ‘the
of Scotland. Daily ferries operated retailers and online. beautiful hollow by the broad bay’),
by Caledonian MacBrayne depart it is in the direct path of strong salty
from Kennacraig on the mainland sea winds from the Atlantic Ocean.
Laphroaig
to Port Ellen and Port Askaig. The moisture in the air gets into the
Alternatively, you can fly from warehouse walls and casks, which
Distillery
Glasgow or Oban. gives the whisky a maritime taste
profile.
OVERVIEW
Lagavulin is one of three distilleries Tours available OPENING TIMES
that sit on the southern coast of All year round except Christmas
Islay. Much like its neighbours LOCATION and New Year’s Day with seasonal
Laphroaig and Ardbeg, the site Port Ellen. opening hours.
occupies the shores of its own
secluded cove, Lagavulin Bay. As HOW TO GET THERE SAMPLE
is also the case for many of the Islay sits off the south west coast • Laphroaig 10 Year Old
distilleries on Islay, its whitewashed of Scotland. Daily ferries operated • Laphroaig 18 Year Old
storehouse is proudly emblazoned by Caledonian MacBrayne depart • Laphroaig 25 Year Old
with the distillery name, which can from Kennacraig on the mainland • Laphroaig Triple Wood
be seen from the decks of the to Port Ellen and Port Askaig. • Laphroaig Quarter Cask
arriving ferry from the mainland. Alternatively, you can fly from
Glasgow or Oban. WHERE TO BUY
The tradition of whisky distilling Available at most major
started on the spot where the OVERVIEW retailers and online.
current distillery buildings stand Said to be the definitive taste
long before it was built. As far back of Islay, Laphroaig (pronounced
as 1742, there was anywhere up ‘La-froyg’) has been distilling on
to 11 illicit stills making whisky in Scotland’s whisky island for two
Lagavulin Bay. The current distillery, centuries. Perhaps the smokiest of
sitting in the shadow of the ruined the Islay whiskies, it uses hand-cut
Dunyvaig Castle – once the peat from the nearby Glenmachrie
seat of the Lord of the Isles – wasn’t bogs to dry malted barley in on-site
built until 1816. The hallmark of kilns.
Islay whiskies is peat smoke, and
Lagavulin is not one to shy away Did you know that Laphroaig was
from this distinct characteristic. Its the only spirit not banned during
signature expression, Lagavulin 16 Prohibition in 1920s America? It was Lagavulin Photograph © James Gray
Year Old, is appreciated the world sold as a medicinal spirit because (Migrated) [GFDL]
over for its intense peat smoke of its iodine taste, a characteristic
notes – a superb accompaniment to derived from the moss and roots in Laphraoig Photograph © Ayack
a fine blue cheese. the peat. (Own Work) [GFDL]
14 15
Driving around Scotland is a great way to see more of the country but before you head
out exploring by car, there are a few rules and regulations you should be aware of:
www.visitscotland.com/travel/information/driving-in-scotland
Be sure to check out our guides
for the other four regions. Drink responsibly: find useful information about drinking: www.drinksmarter.org
16