Much is Islay’s scotch is peated, meaning the malted barley is dried over burning peat rather than burning wood. The peat, Islay’s form of coal, has a very specific and unique flavor and imparts heavy smoke, moss, and salt to the barley flavors.

The Island of Islay sits just off the west coast of Scotland. Slightly south of the other islands, the temperatures do not reach freezing and are milder than say, the Highlands. Get on every social media platform and follow all the whisky shops. The amount of discount codes, competitions and giveaways they run, can provide plenty of bottles of joy for bargain prices. Skimming my shelves I’d say I’ve less than five bottles I’ve paid RRP or more for. The seaweed and sea salt combined with other vegetation helps dry out the peat and adds a marine, sea salt note.The issue isn’t beginner vs. expert, it’s more about flavor profiles. If you love the smoke-forward campfire flavor, you’ll like peated scotch. However, if you’re a beginner trying a peated who hates it, don’t give up! Move on to something else you like more (a Speyside might be a nice choice). Our Service is an online platform which provides Members with information (e.g. bottle facts, market-indices, market values and prices) on (mostly) whisky and allows Members to add information to the platform. We do not sell, nor does the Service provide any option to buy, any alcoholic products. The other distilleries on the island make whisky in a variety of styles. Bunnahabhain makes much lighter whiskies which are generally lightly peated. Bowmore, which started business in 1779, produces a whisky which is well balanced, using a medium-strong peating level (25 ppm) but also using sherry-cask maturation. The Kilchoman distillery started production in late 2005; in location it is unlike the other distilleries, which are all by the sea. The newest distillery is Ardnahoe, the island's ninth, which opened in 2019. [10] Distilleries of Islay as of 2011, not yet including Ardnahoe

Some sources indicate that Irish monks may have been the first to distill whisky on the island in the early 1300s. [5] According to Visit Scotland, "most of Islay's original distilleries [some no longer in business] started as farm distilleries and retreated to secluded glens and caves during the 17th century when the excise man came calling." [6] Islay is one of the major regions of Scotland, and one of the largest producers of single malt scotch in the world.No matter what you try or where you travel, you’ll never find anywhere quite like Islay with its storm-swept coasts and mild climate.The mild climate allows the grain to mature into a rich fruity flavor. Many Islay whiskies, especially the unpeated ones, have strong fruit and notes. Seaweed and Sea Salt Spray If we decide not to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these Terms, such decision shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. In 2020 Elixir Distillers broke ground on a new distillery, which is to be known as Portintruan, on the road between Port Ellen and Laphroaig. [27] Closed distilleries [ edit ] Whiskies from eight distilleries on Islay. When this photograph was taken in August 2004, one of the distilleries had ceased production. It is one of the newest distilleries, just built in 2004 and the last of three with its own malting floor. Their entire process is done on the island, from growing to bottling! Bruichladdich Peat: Perfectly blended, present but not overwhelming, like being within the perfect distance of a campfire.

Nose: Campfire smoke definitely evident, but with a hint of evergreen and mint. It light and appetizing.

To open Soon

The distillery itself is closed, although plans to reopen it were revealed in 2017. Supposedly production begins in 2020. Old bottle versions are considered collectibles.

After drying the malt is combined with water and this mash is fermented. The fermented liquid is drained off into stills to go through first and second distillation. The distilled liquors are then blended and place in barrels to age. Some for 5 years, some for decades! Another source is more specific: "Islay’s past is pervaded by innumerable tales of home distilling, smuggling and illegal whisky production" and adds that the eight older distilleries all began as small, illicit producers. All were built near water since grain was shipped on boats and the finished whisky was transported via water. For centuries, the whisky was usually aged in sherry casks but bourbon casks from the U.S. are now also frequently used. [7] The Service has been prepared by us solely for information purposes to Members and the Service is based on information we consider reliable and we obtain the contents of the Service from a number of different third party sources (including Contributions), but we do not endorse, support, represent, warrant or guarantee the completeness, truthfulness, accuracy, or reliability of the Services and any information therein.Yes and no. There is nowhere quite like Islay in the world. But there are a few distilleries that have similar characteristics. And some that are quite near to Islay that surprisingly don’t!