The island of Islay (pronounced eye-la)Â lies in the southern Inner Hebridean isles of Scotland and boasts 8 producing single malt distilleries: (Ardbeg, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Kilchoman) and one closed (Port Ellen). Islay is home to some of the most famous distilleries in Scotland, and while the majority produce a heavily peated and pungently smoky whisky, there are excellent un-peated styles made here too.
The distinctive smoky aroma and flavour is imparted by the drying of barley over smouldering peat fires, with this character diminishing and softening with time in the cask. Islay whiskies are connected strongly to where they are made, and a visit to the island is among one of the best whisky experiences available in the world.
The Whiskies of Islay
Lagavulin 21 years old 56.5%
Lagavulin 21 years old 56.5%
Region: Islay
Strength: 56.50%
Volume: 700ml
$4,708.00
This 21 year old Lagavulin was originally released in 2007, and since that time it has become something of a legend. Matured in first-fill sherry casks, this is amongst the darkest Lagavulins ever released, offering a whisky that strikes a careful balance between the sherry and classic lagavulin peat smoke. This is now a staggeringly difficult w...
Kilchoman Sanaig 200ml 46%
Kilchoman Sanaig 200ml 46%
Region: Islay
Strength: 46%
Volume: 200ml
$45.00
Sanaig is the newest permanent addition to the Kilchoman range. Sanaig is predominantly bottled from Oloroso sherry Hogshead casks, and this influence is most obvious in its rich colour and flavour. The aroma is classic Kilchoman, with soft cooked fruits, full-bodied peat smoke with citrus notes and a lingering sweetness. A perfect balance of pe...
Oc5 - Elements of Islay 59.8% 500ml
Region: Islay
Strength: 59.80%
Volume: 500ml
$272.00
Islay's famously highly-peated spirit produced at the Bruichladdich distillery is named Octomore, and this bottling from the Elements of Islay has come from just a single cask filled with this spirit in 2011. Bottled at a natural cask strength of 59.8%, the aroma is layered and complex, going between striking peat smoke, malty cereal and plenty ...
Pl6 - Elements of Islay 55.3% 500ml
Region: Islay
Strength: 55.3%
Volume: 500ml
$212.00
From Bruichladdich distillery, this release has been maturing in three bourbon barrels from 2011 and has been bottled at 55.3%. The nose offers notes of burnt grass, camphor, malt loaf and peaches. The palate is oily and briny, with smoked ham, sherry, almond oil and green olives. Warming Christmas spices are found towards the end of the palate....
Lp10 - Elements of Islay 53.9% 500ml
Region: Islay
Strength: 53.9%
Volume: 500ml
$331.00
This independently bottled Laphroaig was distilled in 1998 and bottled at 53.9% after maturing in two ex-bourbon barrels. The nose is fruity and floral with peat, antiseptic, violets and black pepper notes. The palate has the expected notes of peat, along with grapefruits, melon, warming ginger, firewood smoke and dark chocolate. The finish is f...
Oc6 - Elements of Islay 58.1% 500ml
Region: Islay
Strength: 58.1%
Volume: 500ml
$314.00
Distilled from ultra heavily peated barley at the Bruichladdich distillery, this new small batch of ex-bourbon barrels was matured for over 8 years before being bottled at its natural strength of 58.1% by the fine folk at Elixir Distillers. On the nose this whisky starts with spicy peat smoke, burnt matches and orange peel. Sweet notes of tinned...
Finlaggan 'Eilean Mor' 46%
Finlaggan 'Eilean Mor' 46%
Region: Islay
Strength: 46%
Volume: 700ml
$84.00
Sweet peat smoke, medicinal notes and a touch of sea salt are all evident on the nose, leading to a full bodied palate with a light oiliness and flavours of sweet, spicy and peaty malt.
Ardbeg Uigeadail 54.2%
Ardbeg Uigeadail 54.2%
Region: Islay
Strength: 54.2%
Volume: 700ml
$144.00
A fine drop of Ardbeg bottled at high strength. A marriage of Ardbeg from bourbon barrels and sherry butts which gives a sweet and smokey finish to this malt. Uigeadail is the loch from which all Ardbeg's water flows. This year's batch of Uigeadail has more sherry influence and is an absolutely stunning whisky. Nose: the nose is deep and rounded...
Lagavulin 16 years old 43%
Lagavulin 16 years old 43%
Region: Islay
Strength: 43%
Volume: 700ml
$155.20
One of the most famous whiskies in the world, Lagavulin's 16 year old has a lovely balance between a tarry blast of peat smoke, touches of sweet honey and rich dried fruit that lingers on to a dry and mellow smokyness - a true Scotch whisky classic from Islay.
Smokehead 43%
Smokehead 43%
Region: Islay
Strength: 43%
Volume: 700ml
$82.00
Smokehead is a rich, seaweedy and intensely peaty single malt Islay whisky, produced at an undisclosed distillery. The flavour is fresh, fruity and immense, with notes of iodine, toffee, earthy peat smoke and sea salt all fighting for the upper hand. A vigorous whisky from the shores of the world's most famous whisky making island.
Kilchoman 'Sanaig' 46%
Kilchoman 'Sanaig' 46%
Region: Islay
Strength: 46%
Volume: 700ml
$95.00
Sanaig is predominantly bottled from Oloroso sherry Hogshead casks, and this influence is most obvious in its rich colour and flavour. The aroma is classic Kilchoman, with soft cooked fruits, full-bodied peat smoke with citrus notes and a lingering sweetness. A perfect balance of peat smoke and fruity sweetness, somewhere between Machir Bay and ...
Laphroaig 'Quarter Cask' 48%
Laphroaig 'Quarter Cask' 48%
Region: Islay
Strength: 48%
Volume: 700ml
$96.00
Laphroaig's 'Quarter Cask' is named after the use of casks that are a quarter of the size of the normal barrels used at Laphroaig. These small casks are only used at the end of the normal maturation period for a short amount of time due to the intense influence they have on the whisky. The hallmark Laphroaig smoke and pungent peat reek are joine...
Kilchoman 'Machir Bay' 46%
Kilchoman 'Machir Bay' 46%
Region: Islay
Strength: 46%
Volume: 700ml
$89.80
Fresh peat smoke mingles with a soft cooked stone fruit sweetness, with layers of smoke. On the palate there is a surge of tangy peat smoke and a vanilla pudding sweetness that leads to a sea-side, peppery smoke. The barley, oak and peat come together in harmony on the finish which is long and peaty. Consistently one of the best whiskies to come...
Laphroaig 'PX Cask' 48% 1 Litre
Laphroaig 'PX Cask' 48% 1 Litre
Region: Islay
Strength: 48%
Volume: 1000ml
$164.00
This 'triple matured' malt from Islay's iconic Laphroaig spent the first part of its life in ex Bourbon barrels before been transfered to their famous quarter casks. The final part of maturation is in large, European Oak Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks which impart a rich and robust character on this classic peaty dram.
Bunnahabhain 'Gordon & MacPhail' Discovery 11 years old 43%
Region: Islay
Strength: 43%
Volume: 700ml
$99.80
This new expression comes from Gordon & MacPhail's 'discovery' range, offering fine examples of some of the distinctive cask and spirit types in Scotland. Bottled from sherry casks from the Bunnahabhain distillery, this is not dominantly peaty at all - rich and sweet with sherry cask fruitcake notes, with vanilla, a touch of orange marmalade...
Kilchoman Bramble Liqueur 19% 500ml
Region: Islay
Strength: 19%
Volume: 500ml
$41.40
The latest edition to the Kilchoman portfolio is a bramble (blackberry) liqueur, made with blackberries that have been macerated with malt whisky, honey and a healthy dose of Kilchoman's new spirit. On the nose the smoke is obvious, but softens on the palate where the fruitiness starts to shine with a. This is a distinctive liqueur that will rea...
Ardbeg Corryvreckan 57.1%
Ardbeg Corryvreckan 57.1%
Region: Islay
Strength: 57.1%
Volume: 700ml
$147.00
Ardbeg Corryvreckan is one of two constantly available Ardbegs bottled at high strength. It is made up of a combination of Ardbeg matured in standard Ex Bourbon casks and in French oak casks. This maturation gives the Corryvreckan great balance of sweetness and spiciness backed up by a huge punch of drying, ashy smoke.
Bruichladdich 'The Classic Laddie' 50%
Region: Islay
Strength: 50%
Volume: 700ml
$111.90
The Classic Laddie from Bruichladdich is made using unpeated barley, matured mostly in American Oak, ex-boubon barrels and french oak, bottled at 50%. A refreshing dram with a palate of green fruits, brown sugar and sweet oak along with those classic costal notes. Packaged in a very unusual aqua blue bottle to match a fresh and lively dram disti...
MacLeod's Islay 40%
MacLeod's Islay 40%
Region: Islay
Strength: 40%
Volume: 700ml
$68.00
The Macleod's Regional Single Malts series features bottlings showcasing the regional styles of Scotland. The Islay expression is marked out by a rich, herbal, peat smoke along with plenty of salty coastal influence.
Kilchoman '100% Islay' 10th Edition 50%
Region: Islay
Strength: 50%
Volume: 700ml
$133.00
Made entirely from barley grown at the distillery, this is the 10th release of Kilchoman's famous '100% Islay' series. This limited edition was made from a combination of optic and publican barley grown at Rockside Farm, floor malted and lightly peated. There is great depth to this whisky, the age and lower peating level let the spirit character...
The Ileach 40%
The Ileach 40%
Region: Islay
Strength: 40%
Volume: 700ml
$65.00
This 'mystery malt' from the Island of Islay has been given the name 'The Ileach' - a term used for someone that comes from the island, as well as the name of the local newspaper.It is classic Islay style with pungent peat smoke flavours, chewy sweet malt, pepper, tar and a touch of iodine.
Bunnahabhain 12 years old 46.3%
Bunnahabhain 12 years old 46.3%
Region: Islay
Strength: 46.3%
Volume: 700ml
$100.00
Situated on the beautiful north east coast of Islay, looking out over the paps of Jura, Bunnahabhain is described as the 'gentle Islay', a more approachable style compared to the classic peat smoke characteristic the island is so well known for. The nose is aromatic with a subtle glimmer of smoke and a faint hint of seashore that continues into ...
Bunnahabhain 18 years old 46.3%
Bunnahabhain 18 years old 46.3%
Region: Islay
Strength: 46.3%
Volume: 700ml
$297.00
The nose on the Bunnahabhain 18 is truly incredible - huge notes of rich honey, nuts, old leather, dried fruits and a hint of sea-side smoke. A distinct umami (the Japanese word for 'savoury', think soy sauce and dried meat) character and a truly to-die-for rich dark chocolate flavour push this whisky in to a league far beyond what its age and p...
Kilchoman 'Sanaig' & two Glencairn Whisky Glasses
Region: Islay
Strength: 46%
Volume: 700ml
$115.00
Sanaig is the newest permanent addition to the Kilchoman range. Sanaig is predominantly bottled from Oloroso sherry Hogshead casks, and this influence is most obvious in its rich colour and flavour. The aroma is classic Kilchoman, with soft cooked fruits, full-bodied peat smoke with citrus notes and a lingering sweetness. A perfect balance of pe...
