The Land 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. Find out more information about whisky, how it’s made, what foods to pair it with and more: www.visitscotland.com/whisky For more information on travelling in Scotland: www.visitscotland.com/travel Search and book accommodation: www.visitscotland.com/accommodation Islay BUNNAHABHAIN Islay is one of many small islands barley grown by local crofters. off Scotland’s west coast but it certainly stands out from the The former is perhaps the crowd. Just 25 miles in length, element that most dramatically its rocky bays and sheltered inlets distinguishes Islay’s unique single house eight active distilleries. malts from the rest of Scotland’s It is perhaps only fair then that whisky producing regions. Burned industrious Islay has long been in kilns to dry the malted barley crowned Scotland’s ‘whisky island’. used in the distillation process, the CAOL ILA island’s peat has been formed Most of Islay’s original distilleries over millions of years, rich in – some long since lost to history decaying mosses, heather and – started as farm distilleries, lichens and very different in KILCHOMAN retreating to secluded glens and composition to mainland peat. caves when excise duty was first introduced on whisky in the Frequently lashed by Atlantic 17th century. In actual fact, the storms, salty spray blown over the BOWMORE exciseman didn’t dare set foot on island for centuries has penetrated BRUICHLADDICH Islay for over 150 years because the deep layers of peat and of the fearsome reputation of the seeped into the warehouses islanders, who were regarded of maturing casks, ultimately at the time as wild and barbaric. affecting the taste and aroma Nothing could be further from the of the dormant Scotch whisky. truth nowadays, with Islay being The resulting malts are pungent, well noted for its warm hospitality. powerful and characterful. Typically, Islay single malts are According to legend, monks first renowned for their smokiness brought the art of whisky distilling on the nose and palate with faint ARDBEG to the island from Ireland – which notes of sea air and seaweed. on a good day you can see from Islay’s south west coast. On Browse the listings in this guide arrival, they found it to be more to find out more information about than suitable for the purpose of the distilleries in the Islay region, distilling aqua vitae – the water of how to visit them or simply which life – thanks to its abundance of of their drams to sample. LAGAVULIN LAPHROAIG peat, fresh spring water and Be sure to check out our guides for the other four whisky regions: Campbeltown, Highland, Lowland and Speyside. www.visitscotland.com/distilleries-guides If you’ve already visited a few Laggan to produce a wide variety as Bunnahabhain single malt, many Ardbeg whisky distilleries, and want Bowmore of whiskies of different ages and Bunnahabhain casks produced in the distillery will something a bit different, Ardbeg different finishes. Thanks to its be used in Black Bottle, a blended Distillery offer a great Deconstructing the Distillery location, some of the distinct Distillery whisky which features a quantity of Dram tour from April to October, characteristics of the Bowmore spirit from every distillery on Islay. Tours available priced at £35. Use all your senses Tours available malts include smoke, salt and Tours available to deconstruct Ardbeg’s famous seaweed. Excess heat from the OPENING TIMES LOCATION whiskies on this two hour in-depth LOCATION distillation process is used to LOCATION Tours are by appointment only, Port Ellen. tour, from learning about Ardbeg’s Bowmore. warm the waters of Bowmore Port Askaig. please see website for more production process to taking part village’s nearby public swimming information. The shop is open HOW TO GET THERE in a fun nosing quiz. Along the way HOW TO GET THERE pool which is housed in one of the HOW TO GET THERE Monday to Friday 10am – 4pm. Visit the island by air or ferry. You you’ll also sample some of Ardbeg’s To get to the Isle of Islay, daily distillery’s former warehouses. To get to the Isle of Islay, daily could even take your own car finest whiskies, including a cask ferries operated by Caledonian ferries operated by Caledonian SAMPLE to get around or simply use the strength tasting in the warehouse. MacBrayne depart from Kennacraig OPENING TIMES MacBrayne depart from Kennacraig • Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old island’s fantastic taxi companies. on the mainland to Port Ellen/Port Opening times vary – please on the mainland to Port Ellen/Port • Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old Askaig. Alternatively, you can fly check the website. Askaig. Alternatively, you can fly • Bunnahabhain 25 Year Old OVERVIEW OPENING TIMES from Glasgow or Oban. from Glasgow or Oban. • Bunnahabhain 40 Year Old Founded in 1815, Ardbeg Distillery Opening times vary. SAMPLE • Bunnahabhain Ceobanach is one of Islay’s oldest whisky OVERVIEW • Bowmore 12 Year Old OVERVIEW • Bunnahabhain Eirigh distilleries. Ardbeg whiskies are SAMPLE Bowmore is the first recorded • Bowmore 15 Year Old Bunnahabhain has been part of Na Greine deep, complex and steeped in • Ardbeg Ten Years Old distillery on the Isle of Islay and • Bowmore 18 Year Old Islay’s whisky heritage since 1881. • Bunnahabhain Toiteach peat smoke, a distinctive property • Ardbeg Uigeadail one of the oldest in the whole • Bowmore 25 Year Old Nestled into the north east tip of that has come to characterise • Ardbeg Corryvreckan of Scotland, dating back to 1779. • Bowmore Legend the island, it overlooks the Sound WHERE TO BUY many Islay whiskies, due to the • Ardbeg Supernova Like other Islay malts, Bowmore is • Bowmore Small Batch of Islay and the neighbouring Isle Both these bottlings and other abundance of peat on the island. • Ardbeg Blasda renowned for its peaty smokiness, of Jura. The name Bunnahabhain Bunnahabhain whiskies are the result of traditionally smoking WHERE TO BUY derives from Gaelic word for available to purchase from a Although Islay is only 25 miles WHERE TO BUY the malt using peat-fired kilns. The Available online and from ‘mouth of the river’ and the distillery number of retail outlets and from long, it boasts no fewer than eight Available at most major retailers distillers keep to the time-and- some retailers. draws its water from the nearby the website shop. distilleries (with two pending), and online. tested methods, and the process Margadale Spring. This remote making it easy for you to go on has scarcely been changed in over distillery produces a fine range a whisky exploration between 200 years of production. of malts which are not quite as them. At Ardbeg Distillery you can heavily peated as other Islay choose from four different tours Lying on the south eastern shore malts, and with each bottling some Looking along the coastline to with tastings, starting from £5 for the Looking across fields to of Loch Indaal, the distillery uses distinctive characteristics. As well Bunnahabhain Distillery on Islay standard Ardbeg Tour and Tasting. the Ardbeg Distillery water sourced from the River 06 07 blends an interesting mix of old OPENING TIMES Bruichladdich and new; much of the equipment Opening times vary - used dates back to the Victorian please see website. Distillery 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.