View source for Islay single malts

{{short description|Scotch whisky distilled on Islay, Scotland}}

[[File:Scotch regions.svg|thumb|275px|Whisky producing regions of Scotland]]
[[File:Distilleries Islay updated 2011.png|thumb|275px|Distilleries on Islay as of 2011]]

'''Islay single malts''' are the [[Single malt whisky|single malt]] [[Scotch whisky|Scotch whiskies]] made on [[Islay]] ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|aɪ|l|ə}} {{respell|EYE|lə}}) or ''Ìle'' in [[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic]], one of the southernmost of the [[Inner Hebrides|Inner Hebridean Islands]] located off the west coast of [[Scotland]]. Islay is one of five [[Scotch whisky|whisky]] distilling localities and regions in Scotland whose identity is protected by law.<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/2890/contents/made "The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009"]. The National Archives. Retrieved 22 April 2012.</ref>

The region is characterised by whiskies with a peat smoke aroma, such as [[Laphroaig]], [[Lagavulin distillery|Lagavulin]] and [[Ardbeg distillery|Ardbeg]].<ref name="visitscotland1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitscotland.com/things-to-do/food-drink/whisky/distilleries|title=Scotland's Whisky Map - The Best Distilleries|website=VisitScotland}}</ref> In total, there are ten active distilleries on this island which measures only {{convert|25|x|15|mi|km|abbr=off}}, and the industry is Islay's second largest employer after agriculture.<ref>Newton (1995) p. 32</ref><ref>[http://www.scotch-whisky.org.uk/understanding-scotch/whisky-regions-tours/ "Whisky Regions & Tours"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726201832/http://www.scotch-whisky.org.uk/understanding-scotch/whisky-regions-tours/ |date=26 July 2018 }}. Scotch Whisky Association. Retrieved 22 April 2012.</ref> Islay is a centre of "whisky tourism", and hosts a "Festival of Malt and Music" known as ''Fèis Ìle'' each year on the last week of May, with events and tastings celebrating the cultural heritage of the island.

==History==
Some sources indicate that Irish monks may have been the first to distill whisky on the island in the early 1300s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.islayinfo.com/islay_whisky_distilleries.html |title=Islay Malt Whisky and Islay Whisky Distilleries Map |publisher=Islayinfo.com |access-date=2019-12-16}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.visitscotland.com/see-do/food-drink/whisky/distilleries/islay/ |title=Islay Distilleries - Whisky Tours, Tastings & Map |publisher=VisitScotland |access-date=2019-12-16}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/islay-whisky-single-malt-peat-smoke-a8066081.html|title=Peat, bog and world-class whisky – why Islay remains the jewel in Scotland’s single-malt crown|date=15 December 2017|website=The Independent}}</ref>

In 1806, the Right Hon. [[Allan Maconochie, Lord Meadowbank]] at the Circuit Court at Inverary heard the case against Donald, Duncan and Neil, sons of Dugald Mackiachan, ''all residing in the island of Islay, accused of [[Breaking and entering|breaking into]] a room or cellar possessed by Benjamin Campbell, activing supervisor in said island, and stealing from thence 125 gallons of whisky, and they failing to appear to stand trial, sentence of [[failure to appear|fugitation]] was pronounced against them''.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Inverarary | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000045/18060929/009/0003 |newspaper=Caledonian Mercury |location=Scotland  |date=29 September 1806 |access-date=30 August 2021 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription  }}</ref>

==Styles of whisky==
[[File:Scotland Argyll Bute Islay Lagavulin Distillery 01.jpg|thumb|The Lagavulin distillery  (2015)]]
The whiskies of the distilleries along the southeastern coast of the island, [[Laphroaig]], [[Lagavulin Single Malt|Lagavulin]], and [[Ardbeg distillery|Ardbeg]], have a smoky character derived from [[peat]], considered a central characteristic of the Islay malts, and ascribed both to the water from which the whisky is made and to the peating levels of the barley. Many describe this as a "medicinal" flavour. They also possess notes of [[iodine]], [[seaweed]] and [[salt]].<ref>Jackson, Michael, ''Michael Jackson's Complete Guide To Single Malt Scotch'', (Running Press Book Publishers, 2004), 48.</ref> [[Caol Ila]], on the northern side of the island, across from [[Jura, Scotland|Jura]], also produces a strongly peated whisky. Trees, other than plantations, on these islands are scattered and the peat is free of rotting wood. (Normal peat bogs are invaded by trees and periodic fires kill the encroaching tree line.) Islay peat is reputedly the best flavoured for scotch production.
[[File:Scotland Argyll Bute Islay Bunnahabhain Distillery 02.jpg|thumb|The Bunnahabhain distillery (2015)]]
The other distilleries on the island make whisky in a variety of styles. [[Bunnahabhain Distillery|Bunnahabhain]] makes much lighter whiskies which are generally lightly peated. [[Bowmore Single Malt|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 distillery|Ardnahoe]], the island's ninth, which opened in 2019.<ref name=Ardnahoe_BBC />
[[File:Distilleries Islay updated 2011.png|thumb|Distilleries of Islay as of 2011, not yet including Ardnahoe]]
In general however, the whiskies from this island are known for a "pungent peaty, smoky and oily flavours, with just a hint of salty sea air and seaweed" because of the use of peat and the maritime climate.<ref name="visitscotland1"/> The Island's own web site is more specific. Distilleries in the south make whisky which is "medium-bodied ... saturated with peat-smoke, brine and iodine" because they use malt that is heavy with peat as well as peaty water. Whisky from the northern area is milder because it is made using spring water for a "lighter flavoured, mossy (rather than peaty), with some seaweed, some nuts..." characteristic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.islayinfo.com/do/distilleries-and-tours/islay-distilleries|title=Islay distilleries|website=Islay Info}}</ref>

In future however, the whisky industry on this island may be moving to a broader range of products, some less peaty than the current majority as well as new types of whisky.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scotchwhisky.com/magazine/features/25668/islay-s-turbulent-whisky-history/|title=Islay’s turbulent whisky history &#124; Scotch Whisky|website=scotchwhisky.com}}</ref>

==Distilleries==
===Active distilleries===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Distillery
! Pronunciation<sup>'''†'''</sup>
![[Scottish Gaelic]] form<sup>††</sup>
! style="width:200px;"| Meaning of Gaelic form
! style="width:130px;"| Years active
! style="width:200px;"| Location
! style="width:200px;"| Ownership
|-
| [[Ardbeg distillery|Ardbeg]]
| <!--ard-bég-->{{IPAc-en|ɑːr|d|ˈ|b|ɛ|g}}  {{respell|ard|BEG}}
|An Àird Bheag
| small promontory<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ainmean-aite.scot/placename/ardbeg/|title=Ardbeg|website=www.ainmean-aite.scot|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-12-17}}</ref>
| 1815–1981, 1990–1996, 1997–
|Ardbeg village, on the south-east coast of the island
| [[Glenmorangie|Glenmorangie Company Ltd]], a subsidiary of [[LVMH]]
|-
|[[Ardnahoe distillery|Ardnahoe]]
|
|àirde an t-slèibh
|height of the hollow<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Process |url=https://ardnahoedistillery.com/pages/our-process#:~:text=Ardnahoe%20Distillery%20takes%20its%20name,in%20which%20the%20distillery%20lies. |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=Ardnahoe Distillery |language=en}}</ref> 
|2019 – 
|At the road between [[Port Askaig]] and [[Bunnahabhain]]
|Hunter Laing
|-
| [[Bowmore distillery|Bowmore]]
| <!--bo-moore-->{{IPAc-en|b|oʊ|ˈ|m|ɔər}}  {{respell|boh|MOR}}
|Bogh Mòr
| the big bend<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ainmean-aite.scot/placename/bowmore/|title=Bowmore|website=www.ainmean-aite.scot|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-12-17}}</ref>
| 1779 –
| In the town of [[Bowmore]], the island's largest settlement on the eastern shore of [[Loch Indaal]]
| Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd, a subsidiary of [[Suntory Global Spirits]]
|-
| [[Bruichladdich distillery|Bruichladdich]]
| <!--broo-kladd-ee-->{{IPAc-en|b|r|ʊ|x|ˈ|l|æ|d|i}}  {{respell|bruukh|LAD|ee}}
|Bruthach a' Chladaich
| [[Brae (disambiguation)|brae]] of the shore<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ainmean-aite.scot/placename/bruichladdich/|title=Bruichladdich|website=www.ainmean-aite.scot|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-12-17}}</ref>
| 1881–1995,<sup>‡</sup> 2001–
| Bruichladdich village, on western shore of [[Loch Indaal]]
| Reopened as an independent distillery in 2001 and purchased in 2012 by [[Rémy Cointreau|Remy Cointreau]]<ref name="jhb">{{cite web|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/remy-cointreau-to-buy-scotlands-bruichladdich-2012-07-23 |title=Remy Cointreau to buy Scotland's Bruichladdich |publisher=Wall Street Journal |access-date=26 July 2012}}</ref>
|-
| [[Bunnahabhain distillery|Bunnahabhain]]
| <!--bū-na-ha-venn-->{{IPAc-en|ˌ|b|uː|n|ə|ˈ|h|æ|v|ən}}  {{respell|BOO|nə|HAV|ən}}
|Bun na h-Abhainne
| mouth of the river<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ainmean-aite.scot/placename/bunnahabhain/|title=Bunnahabhain|website=www.ainmean-aite.scot|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-12-17}}</ref>
| 1880/1883–
| Bunnahabhain Bay, on the north-east coast of the island
| [[Distell|Distell Group Limited]]
|-
| [[Caol Ila distillery|Caol Ila]]
| {{IPAc-en|k|ʌ|l|ˈ|iː|l|ə}}  {{respell|kuul|EE|lə}}
|Caol Ìle
| The [[strait|Sound]] (Strait) of Islay<ref>{{cite web|url=https://learngaelic.scot/dictionary/index.jsp?abairt=Caol%20%C3%8Cle&slang=both&wholeword=false|title=LearnGaelic - Dictionary|website=learngaelic.scot|access-date=2017-12-17}}</ref>
| 1846–1972,<sup>‡</sup> 1974–
| Close to [[Port Askaig]], on the north-east coast of the island
| [[Diageo]]
|-
| [[Kilchoman distillery|Kilchoman]]
| <!--keel-choman-->{{IPAc-en|k|ɪ|l|ˈ|x|oʊ|m|ə|n}}  {{respell|kil|KHOH|mən}}
|Cille Chomain<ref>{{cite web|url=https://learngaelic.scot/dictionary/index.jsp?abairt=Kilchoman&slang=both&wholeword=false|title=LearnGaelic - Dictionary|website=learngaelic.scot|access-date=2017-12-17}}</ref>
| St. Comman's church
| 2005–
| On the western side of the [[Rhinns of Islay]], near the settlement of Kilchoman and Machir Bay
| Independently owned and established in 2005 as the first new distillery on Islay since 1881<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://kilchomandistillery.com/our-farm-distillery/distillery-history|title=Distillery History|date=2012-04-17|work=Kilchoman Distillery|access-date=2017-12-18|language=en}}</ref>
|-
| [[Lagavulin distillery|Lagavulin]]
| <!--lahk-a-voolin-->{{IPAc-en|ˌ|l|ɑː|k|ə|ˈ|v|uː|l|ɪ|n}}  {{respell|LAH|kə|VOO|lin}}
|Lag a' Mhuilinn
| the hollow of the mill<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ainmean-aite.scot/placename/lagavulin/|title=Lagavulin|website=www.ainmean-aite.scot|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-12-17}}</ref>
| 1742/1816–
|[[Lagavulin]] village, on the south-east coast of the island
| [[Diageo]]
|-
| [[Laphroaig distillery|Laphroaig]]
| <!--la-froyg-->{{IPAc-en|l|ə|ˈ|f|r|ɔɪ|g}}  {{respell|lə|FROYG}}
|Laphraoig
<small>(Believed to be [[Gaelicisation|Gaelicised]] [[Old Norse]])<ref name=":0" /></small>
| slope of broad-bay<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.ainmean-aite.scot/placename/laphroaig/|title=Laphroaig|website=www.ainmean-aite.scot|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-12-17}}</ref>
| 1815–
| Laphroaig village, on the south-east coast of the island
| Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd, a subsidiary of [[Suntory Global Spirits]]
|-
| [[Port Ellen distillery|Port Ellen]]
| 
|
| 
| 1825–1929, 1967–1983, 2024–
| Port Ellen village, at the southern coast in Kilnaughton Bay
| Diageo
|-
|colspan="6"| <sup>‡</sup> Except during the [[Great Depression]] (~1930–1937) and [[World War II]] (~1940–1945)
|}
<small><sup>†</sup> ''These reflect what are often [[Anglicisation|anglicised]] re-spellings of Scottish Gaelic. Pronunciation of the Scottish Gaelic from which they are derived may be different.''</small>

<small><sup>††</sup> ''The Scottish Gaelic from which the distillery's name was anglicised if applicable, according to [[Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba]].'' ''Not necessarily an official name of the distillery.''</small>

===New distilleries===
Hunter Laing's Ardnahoe Distillery, located between [[Port Askaig]] and [[Bunnahabhain]], opened in April 2019, becoming Islay's ninth distillery.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ardnahoedistillery.com/ |title=Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky |publisher=Ardnahoe Distillery |access-date=2019-12-16}}</ref><ref name=Ardnahoe_BBC>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-47893755 |title=Ardnahoe Distillery on Islay officially opens |publisher=BBC |date=12 April 2019 |access-date=13 April 2019 }}</ref> 

A new distillery at Gartbreck Farm, just south of Bowmore, was planned in 2014 by Jean Donnay of Glann ar Mor Distillery<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glannarmor.com/gartbreck.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312004025/http://www.glannarmor.com/gartbreck.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=12 March 2017 |title=Gartbreck Distillery |publisher=Glannarmor.com |access-date=2019-12-16}}</ref> in [[Brittany|Brittany, France]], as a joint venture with Hunter Laing of Glasgow but as of December 2018 the project was stalled over a land and management dispute.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scotchwhisky.com/magazine/in-depth/15173/gartbreck-distillery-is-there-still-hope/ |title=Gartbreck distillery: is there still hope? |publisher=Scotch Whisky |access-date=2019-12-16}}</ref> 

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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://elixirdistillers.com/distilleries/ |title=Portintruan Distillery |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=Elixir Distillers |publisher=Elixir Distillers |access-date=20 August 2023 |quote=}}</ref>

===Closed distilleries===
[[File:Whiskies of Islay island, Scotland.jpg|thumb|Whiskies from eight distilleries on [[Islay]]. When this photograph was taken in August 2004, one of the distilleries had ceased production.]]

The oldest record of a legal distillery on the island of Islay refers to Bowmore in 1779 and at one time there were up to 23 distilleries in operation.<ref name=Newton33>Newton (1995) p. 33</ref> For example, [[Port Charlotte (distillery)|Port Charlotte distillery]] operated from 1829 to 1929<ref name=IslayinfoPortC>[http://www.islayinfo.com/islay_port_charlotte_distillery.html "Port Charlotte Distillery"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170528083514/http://www.islayinfo.com/islay_port_charlotte_distillery.html |date=28 May 2017 }}.  IslayInfo. Retrieved 22 April 2012.</ref>

In March 2007 Bruichladdich Distillery announced the reopening of the distillery at [[Port Charlotte (distillery)|Port Charlotte]] (''Port Sgioba'' in Gaelic), which was closed in 1929, and was also known as the [[Lochindaal distillery]].

*Ardenistle (1837–1849) / Kildalton (1849–1852) / Islay (1852–1852), subsumed by Laphroaig 1853
*Ardmore (1817–1835), taken over by Lagavulin 1837
*Daill (1814–1830), ruins on road between Port Askaig & Bridgend
*Freeport (1847–1847), location unknown
*Kildalton (1817–1837), merged with Lagavulin
*Killarow (c.1760–1818) / [[Bridgend, Islay|Bridgend]] (1818–1822), ruins in village
*Lochindaal/[[Port Charlotte, Islay|Port Charlotte]]/Rhinns (1829–1929), near Bruichladdich
*Lossit (1821) / [[Ballygrant]] (1826–1860), ruins south of the village A846
*Malt Mill (1908–1962), now part of Lagavulin<ref name=Lost>[https://www.islayinfo.com/lostdistilleries.html "Islay's "lost" Whisky Distilleries"]. Islayinfo.com. Retrieved 1 December 2012.</ref>
*Mulindry (1826–1827), at the junction of the Neriby Burn and the River Laggan, now in ruins<ref name=Lost/>
*Newton (1819–1837), ruins immediately south of A846 between Port Askaig & Bridgend<ref name=Lost/>
*Octomore (1816–1852), ruins near Port Charlotte
*[[Port Ellen distillery|Port Ellen]] (1825–1929, 1967–1983), large port village of Islay, converted to a malting.<ref name=Newton33/><ref name=Lost/> Reopened in 2024<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kiely |first=Melita |date=2024-03-19 |title=Port Ellen distillery back in business after 40 years |url=https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2024/03/port-ellen-distillery-back-in-business-after-40-years/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=The Spirits Business |language=en-US}}</ref>
*Scarabus (1817–1818), no evidence of production
*Tallant (1821–1852), Tallant farm south of Bowmore

==See also==
* [[Outline of whisky]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
* Newton, Norman (1995) ''Islay''. Devon. David & Charles PLC. {{ISBN|0-907115-90-X}}

==External links==
* [http://www.islaywhiskysociety.com Islay Whisky Society]
* [http://www.visitscottishheartlands.com/areas/argyll/index.cfm Argyll Tourist Board]

{{Islay}}
{{Whisky producing regions}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Islay Whisky}}
[[Category:Islay]]
[[Category:Whisky distilleries in Islay| ]]