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
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...
Bowmore 'Infrequent Flyers' 1997 / 22 years old 48.3%
Region: Islay
Strength: 48.3%
Volume: 700ml
$477.00
This wonderful new single cask release from the Infrequent Flyers series comes from Islay's oldest distillery, Bowmore. At 22 years old, the peat smoke has become very rounded and softened, coming through like cigar smoke, joining burnt toffee, fruit and earthy spice and a delicate touch of parma violets. The palate is big and viscous, with a so...
Ardbeg 'An Oa' Smoker 46.6%
Ardbeg 'An Oa' Smoker 46.6%
Region: Islay
Strength: 46.6%
Volume: 700ml
$110.00
From the iconic Ardbeg distillery on Islay, named after the southern point of the island known as the Mull of Oa (pronounced 'oh'). A creation of three different cask types that are married in a new 'gathering' vat which allows these flavours to mellow and mingle. The aroma is classic Ardbeg - sooty, ashy peat smoke wrapped in a lush sweetness, ...
Ardbeg 'An Oa' 46.6%
Ardbeg 'An Oa' 46.6%
Region: Islay
Strength: 46.6%
Volume: 700ml
$114.00
Ardbeg 'An Oa' is the latest release from the iconic Ardbeg distillery on Islay, named after the southern point of the island known as the Mull of Oa (pronounced 'oh'). A creation of three different cask types that are married in a new 'gathering' vat which allows these flavours to mellow and mingle. The aroma is classic Ardbeg - sooty, ashy pea...
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...
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 & Machir Bay' Gift Pack 2 x 200ml
Region: Islay
Strength: 46%
Volume: 2 x 200ml
$73.00
Perfect for Christmas, this brand new gift pack from Kilchoman distillery on Islay features two 200ml bottles of their Machir Bay and Sanaig expressions. Machir Bay and Sanaig are two contrasting expressions from the island's only farm distillery, offering a comparison of ex-sherry cask and ex-bourbon cask matured whiskies. A great gift option f...
Port Askaig 8 years old 45.8%
Region: Islay
Strength: 45.8%
Volume: 700ml
$82.00
This is the latest core expression to join the Port Askaig range, a soft sweet and peaty 8 year old from an undisclosed distillery. Matured entirely in refill American oak, it is fresh and vibrant on the nose with lemon oil, salty sea spray and a soft ashy smoke. More citrus on the palate with smoked fish and that classic Islay peat reek. A hone...
Port Askaig '100 Proof' 57.1%
Port Askaig '100 Proof' 57.1%
Region: Islay
Strength: 57.1%
Volume: 700ml
$102.00
Bottled from a selection of casks both young and old from an undisclosed distillery on Islay, the Port Askaig series personifies the Islay style - dense smoke, sea spray and a hint of lemon and liquorice (suggesting one distillery in particular). The peat smoke lingers on the palate with salted caramel, herbal notes and a slow drying finish. Bot...
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...
Laphroaig 'Triple Wood' 48%
Laphroaig 'Triple Wood' 48%
Region: Islay
Strength: 48%
Volume: 700ml
$141.00
Matured in three different styles of casks: bourbon barrels, quarter casks and lastly Spanish sherry butts. The Laphroaig from these 3 casks are brought together at bottling to produce a whisky of creamy dried fruit and lingering ashy peat smoke. The palate is lush and oily with a burst of peat followed by vanilla and a touch of sherry sweetness...
Laphroaig 10 years old 40%
Laphroaig 10 years old 40%
Region: Islay
Strength: 40%
Volume: 700ml
$85.00
The famous Laphroaig 10 year old, one of the most iconic single malt whiskies in all of Scotland. Renowned for its earthy, medicinal, richly peaty-smoky flavour, it is an evocative dram that with just one sip transports you to its home on the inner Hebridean island of Islay.
Laphroaig Select Cask 40%
Laphroaig Select Cask 40%
Region: Islay
Strength: 40%
Volume: 700ml
$65.00
From the famous Laphroaig distillery on Islay, this peated whisky is a combination of casks that represent classic Laphroaig styles. The nose has initial notes of smoky peat and the develops into notes of red fruits. The palate has sweet notes and dry peat with ashy notes. The finish is long with floral and marzipan and a slight citrus note.
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.
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.
Finlaggan 'Old Reserve' 40%
Finlaggan 'Old Reserve' 40%
Region: Islay
Strength: 40%
Volume: 700ml
$64.00
The distillery this whisky comes from is undisclosed, but it is pungently peaty and smoky as you'd except, with a medicinal quality that is very similar to the smell of new band-aid or bandages. A very affordable single malt Islay whisky.
Finlaggan 'Cask Strength' 58%
Finlaggan 'Cask Strength' 58%
Region: Islay
Strength: 58%
Volume: 700ml
$105.00
This cask strength release of Finlaggan has a lovely pungent peat smoke aroma, with notes of smoky bacon and old leather. The palate is rich with more peat smoke, iodine and lemon zest leading to a peppery finish that is long and warming.
Adelphi 'Breath of Islay' 1999 / 21 years old #5879 48.7%
Region: Islay
Strength: 48.7%
Volume: 700ml
$435.00
Drawn from an undisclosed Islay distillery, this new 'Breath of Islay' was matured for 21 years in an ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry cask. The aroma is described as having root ginger and orange blossom, moving to fruit-salad sweeties, pineapple upside down cake, oyster-shell & dockside. To taste, Adelphi found more fruit - white peaches and mandar...
Caol Ila 12 years old 43% 750ml
Caol Ila 12 years old 43% 750ml
Region: Islay
Strength: 43%
Volume: 750ml
$118.00
From the northern edge of Islay, the Caol Ila distillery is known for a slightly more refined smoke character, with citrus fruit and and a gentle sweetness that mingles with the peat. Sophisticated and lingering, a great introduction to some of the smokier whiskies from the Island.
Smokehead 'High Voltage' 58%
Smokehead 'High Voltage' 58%
Region: Islay
Strength: 58%
Volume: 700ml
$110.00
This high strength expression of smokehead is unashamedly intense and vigorous, full of heavy Islay peatsmoke, earthiness, salt, iodine. Oily and full on the palate, it's a pure Islay powerhouse. Bottled from an undisclosed distillery at 58%, it is enjoyed neat for its full strength or with water to open up and gently tame the whisky.
Caol Ila 'Gordon & MacPhail' Hermitage Wine Cask Finish 2007 / 12 years old 45%
Region: Islay
Strength: 45%
Volume: 700ml
$160.00
Gordon & MacPhail's famous Caol Ila Hermitage wine cask finish has returned, combining 10 years of ex-bourbon cask maturation with two years in active ex-red wine casks from France. A very rich fruity flavour comes first: warm raspberry and blackcurrant jam are joined by apple, before a big peaty bonfire smoke bellows through. This whisky ha...
Scarabus by Hunter Laing 46%
Scarabus by Hunter Laing 46%
Region: Islay
Strength: 46%
Volume: 700ml
$79.00
Scarabus is a new single malt whisky selected by Hunter Laing & Co. who marked the opening of their new Ardnahoe distillery on Islay. While the origin of this whisky is a mystery, it is a big dram, offering an aroma of sweet syrupy pears, white raisins, freshly roasting peanuts and plumes of peaty smoke. A briny sea-salt and leathery note ad...
Ardbeg 'Wee Beastie' 5 years old 47.4%
Region: Islay
Strength: 47.4%
Volume: 700ml
$88.80
Ardbeg's latest addition to their lineup has finally arrived, the appropriately named 'Wee Beastie'. Selected from both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, this is Ardbeg at it's best - punchy, intense and smoky. The flavour carries an immediate kick of peppery, tarry and ashy peat smoke, along with smoked and salty meats. The surge of smoke gives w...
