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
Ardbeg 10 years old 46%
Ardbeg 10 years old 46%
Region: Islay
Strength: 46%
Volume: 700ml
$98.50
Legendary to those who have come to crave Scotland's big peat-flavoured drams, Ardbeg achieves a balance between surging smoke and peat, with notes of fresh tar, medicinal carbolic soap, wood smoke and a distant coastal element. The palate has a surprising sweetness and an oilyness that is offset by a fruity, citrus hint. One of our most popular...
Bn8 - Elements of Islay 58.4% 500ml
Region: Islay
Strength: 58.4%
Volume: 500ml
$83.00
The latest release from the Elements of Islay Series from distillery Bn was created by marriying a selection of casks between 5 and 7 years old from ex-sherry casks (both ex-American and ex-European oak). To taste, this is Bunnahabhain throughout: nutty, chocolatey and spicy. Terry's Chocolate Orange joins paprika and cumin spice, slightly burnt...
Bruichladdich 'The Classic Laddie' 50%
Region: Islay
Strength: 50%
Volume: 700ml
$109.20
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...
Finlaggan 'Eilean Mor' 46%
Finlaggan 'Eilean Mor' 46%
Region: Islay
Strength: 46%
Volume: 700ml
$83.50
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.
Bruichladdich 'Port Charlotte' 10 years old 50%
Region: Islay
Strength: 50%
Volume: 700ml
$125.20
Port Charlotte is the name given to heavily peated whisky from Bruichaddich distillery and this particular expression is the second batch of 10 year old they have released to date. First-fill bourbon, sherry, tempranillo and French wine casks were all utilised in maturing this exciting new release from hebridean distillers. Like its 10 year old ...
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.
Smokehead 'Sherry Bomb' 48%
Smokehead 'Sherry Bomb' 48%
Region: Islay
Strength: 48%
Volume: 700ml
$122.00
A new arrival to the shelves, the Smokehead 'Sherry Bomb' from Ian Macleod's certainly lives up to its name. A powerful Islay single malt from an unknown distillery which has been matured entirely in Oloroso Sherry casks it boasts thick peat and custard aromas. Heavy oily black smoke mingles on the palate with sticky barbecued bananas, tangy sul...
Caol Ila 'Cadenhead' 12 years old 46%
Region: Islay
Strength: 46%
Volume: 700ml
$97.40
This dram delivers everything you would expect from Caol Ila distillery, delicate peat smoke with a full fruity flavour and bold meaty finish. On the nose faint waxy candle smoke and notes of toasted marshmallows are followed by stewed apples, kiwi fruit and vanilla yoghurt on the palate. The finish is characteristically Caol Ila leaving you wit...
Bruichladdich 'Port Charlotte Islay Barley' 2011 50%
Region: Islay
Strength: 50%
Volume: 700ml
$147.00
This whisky from Bruichladdich is heavily peated and starts with earthy, tarred peat smoke on the nose. Lemon, grapes, and creamy vanilla notes follow. The palate has salty notes on the nose and lemon drops, ground white pepper, charcoal and apple sauce. Tar and brine are found on the finish along with coconut and tobacco notes.
Caol Ila 'Gordon & MacPhail' Discovery 13 years old 43%
Region: Islay
Strength: 43%
Volume: 700ml
$99.50
Part of famed independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail's new 'Discovery' range, this 13 year old Caol Ila from the west coast island of Islay falls under their 'smoky' profile, an introduction to bold flavour ranges that Scotch has to offer. We are met with sweet vanilla and dry cured meat aromas. Peat smoke undertones are complemented by banan...
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.
Port Askaig 'Spring' 12 years old 45.8%
Region: Islay
Strength: 45.8%
Volume: 700ml
$116.50
Selected as part of their ongoing 'seasonal' releases, this new Port Askaig boasts a fresh and almost minty/herbal tone, poached peaches and lemon sherbet zipping through a sooty, charred peat smoke flavour. Like many Islay malts, this whisky brings about the taste of a place - picture a sea-side peat-fuelled grill charring lemons. Bottled at 12...
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...
Undisclosed Islay 'Infrequent Flyers' 2006 / 14 years old 57.7%
Region: Islay
Strength: 57.7%
Volume: 700ml
$179.00
Hailing from an unknown distillery on Islay this spirit has been matured for 14 years in a single hogshead. Earthy peat and salty bonfire smoke are immediately apparent on the nose, with hints oof grassy sweetness. The palate is pleasantly balanced with a fruity sweetness reminiscent of barbequed banana and butterscotch with an identifiable coas...
Bowmore 'Infrequent Flyers' 1997 / 23 years old 48.5%
Region: Islay
Strength: 48.5%
Volume: 700ml
$504.00
Bowmore whisky matured in a virgin oak barrel is not a combination you come across every day and so quite fittingly has been bottled by independent bottler Infrequent Flyers. The aromas of sweet cigar smoke, unmistakably Bowmore, are accompanied by iodine, marzipan and floral notes. A soft and creamy dram with a slight touch of the medicinal. Tr...
Bunnahabhain 12 years old 46.3%
Bunnahabhain 12 years old 46.3%
Region: Islay
Strength: 46.3%
Volume: 700ml
$105.00
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 ...
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 Select Cask 40%
Laphroaig Select Cask 40%
Region: Islay
Strength: 40%
Volume: 700ml
$64.00
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.
Laphroaig 'Quarter Cask' 48%
Laphroaig 'Quarter Cask' 48%
Region: Islay
Strength: 48%
Volume: 700ml
$134.00
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...
Laphroaig 10 years old 40%
Laphroaig 10 years old 40%
Region: Islay
Strength: 40%
Volume: 700ml
$83.50
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.
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.
Bowmore 12 years old 40%
Bowmore 12 years old 40%
Region: Islay
Strength: 40%
Volume: 700ml
$74.60
Complex yet perfectly balanced, the Bowmore 12 carries notes of subtle citrus, berry fruits, honey and silky peat smoke. A gentler style of Islay smoke from the islands oldest distillery.
Lagavulin 9 Year Old 'Game of Thrones House Lannister' 46%
Region: Islay
Strength: 46%
Volume: 700ml
$151.00
A characteristically Lagavulin release, with the sweet smoke aromas exploding on the nose to provide a little more zesty, maritime brine than other expressions.The palate opens with sweet, smoky caramelised banana, burnt marshmallow and vanilla.The palate subsides into a lightly dry menthol and salted caramel finish.
Williamson 'BBR' 2012 / 8 years old #224 60.4%
Region: Islay
Strength: 60.4%
Volume: 700ml
$137.00
Hailing from one of the three famous distilleries on Islay's southern shore, this undisclosed single malt instead bares the name of one of the Island's most characterful distillery owners and manager's, Bessie Williamson. Bottled from a single ex-Hogshead cask after 8 years, this is an evocative dram, with peat-smoke and iodine swirling around o...
