Whisky on Islay

Founded in 1745 by two brothers Laphroaig has a varied history rife with family rifts and competitive spirit.

Suggested to be the oldest distillery on the island with records dating back to 1742 when illicit distilling was first recorded.

Famous for selling a 1975 one-of-a-kind cask for £16 million.

Cutting-edge distillery reborn after four decades of closure, learn more about "experimentation and innovation" at Port Ellen distillery.

Bowmore is the oldest distillery on the island and a 10 minute drive from The Machrie. On the shores of Loch Indaal, Bowmore is the capital of Islay and home to almost one-third of the island’s population. The Bowmore Whisky Tasting Bar is open from Tuesday to Saturday 11am – 4.30pm.

Bruichladdich’s character is sweet, honeyed and floral with a lemon-butter note and an unmistakable freshness. Since 2000 medium-peated Port Charlotte and the heavily-peated Octomore are now also available. It’s the only distillery to be B Corp accredited, offers guided distillery tasting tours and is about a 30-minute drive from The Machrie.

The only farm distillery on Islay and the only distillery on Islay where you can see, touch, smell and taste every part of the whisky-making process, from barley to bottling.

Pronounced 'Bunn-na-ha-venn' meaning mouth of the river, this distillery is the most remote on the shores of the sound of Islay. It offers various tasting experiences.

One of the newer distilleries on the island with first distillation beginning in 2018, Ardnahoe became the ninth distillery on the island.

Overlooking the Paps of Jura and with views across the Sound of Islay, Coal Ila is pronounced 'Cull-Eela' and owned by Johnnie Walker.