Whiskies of Islay

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 peat smoke wrapped in a lush sweetness, joined by spices and sea-spray. The palate is sweet and heavy with an oily mouthfeel, followed by rich peat smoke and hints of dark chocolate bitterness in the finish. A welcome new addition to the permanent Ardbeg range - gather 'round and get to know An Oa.

The Ardbeg Day 2022 Release is now available. In a first for the distillery, this whisky is produced from 'black' roasted barley, a process designed to bring out dark and deep flavours from the malt. Spicy, savoury and?grippy?, with an explosion of savoury marmite burnt toast and charcoal and chicory (camp coffee) infused coffee grounds. The classic Ardbeg herbal fennel top note is present but very much in  the background of all the swirling, smoky bonfire and molasses notes.

The palate is anastonishing spicy, leading to an explosion of rich powerful flavours? cocoa powder, rich dark chocolate, peanut brittle toffee, smoked lime and a suggestion of soot and bonfire embers.

There is lots of liquorice along with some altogether sweeter malty biscuit flavours, and a long lingering treacle toffee aftertaste

Available while stocks last.

Ardbeggians and fans of Islay, we are delighted to announce the new Ardbeg Day 2025 release, Smokiverse, is now available while stocks last. In a first for the distillery, this whisky was created using a high gravity mash, using more grain and less water during the mashing process. The resulting wort (sugary liquid) is denser and has enabled the team at Ardbeg to extract more aromatic esters from their stills.

To taste, fruity and estery notes reminiscent of smoked bugglegum joins malted barley and heavily toasted breads. Creamy, sooty and spicy peat smoke joins tropical fruit that lingers on the finish. Unmistakably Ardbeg, this process has given the whisky a distinctive aroma and taste never seen before from the distillery.

An exciting new release from Ardbeg.

This bottling is the 2024 edition of Ardbeg's famed 'Ardbeg Day' release, matured in Port casks before being married in ex Bourbon barrels. On the nose there are notes of fragrant lavander, leather and wax, with a slight nuttiness. when allowed to open up, woodsmoke and peat bog notes appear. The palate opens with a burst of sea salt, alongside aromatic eucalyptus oil and after dinner mints. Sweet peat and toffee notes linger in the background.  Sea salt and toffee notes continue on throughout the finish alongside cooling menthol

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 way to a full mouthfeel and taste of chocolate, with hints of pine resin and herbal/medicinal notes that becomes sea-side salty dry and again the sweet, savoury & smoky contrast.

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 Islay malts.

Taking the place of the famous Lord of the Isles, this new 'Aged & Caged' sits at the top of the Ardbeg range, selected from casks laid down in the late 1990's during a near-silent period of production at the distillery. Aged for 25 years, this shows the deep and softened peat flavour, with a mellow, earthy bonfire smoke, carrying tar and peppery notes. A touch of pine-wood and fragrant candle wax join lemon-sherbert sweetness and a mouth-filling toffee/cream note. An incredible journey to Ardbeg's darkest days, we are fortunate that what few casks from this era still exist are now being bottled at their peak.

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.

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 chocolate caramels and barley sugar combine with dates, raisins and smooth sherry notes. The sweetness gives way to malted honeycomb, with flowering currants emerging through the smoky sweetness of a well-fired fruit pudding. Taste: Sweet, chewy and oily with a silky mouthfeel. Initially sweet, revealing fruit cake and treacle. This is followed by barbecued or honey roast food with the slightest hint of olives. Finish: Again long, both sweet and dry with honey, treacle and a trace of lint.

This is the first ever release of whisky from the Laing family's Ardnahoe distillery, founded in 2018 on the northern coastal reaches of Islay, Scotland. Aged for 5 years in a mixture of ex-bourbon barrels and ex-sherry casks, this whisky shows the character of the spirit made at the distillery, made in a traditional style that features wooden washbacks and the only worm tub condensers on the Island. Sweet and biscuity to start with shortbread and baked apple pie tones that are surrounded by thick Islay peat smoke. Creamy and full on the palate with a custardy quality, finishing spiced with hot ginger and a deep smokyness. Congratulations to the team at Ardnahoe for this fine new whisky.

Founded in 2018 by Stewart Laing and his sons of Hunter Laing & Co., Ardnahoe sits on the striking northern coast of Islay, looking out across Caol Ìle to Jura. Though a new distillery, its production techniques are time-honoured, featuring traditional worm-tub condensers not commonly seen on the island since the 1960's. Matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, there a no mistaking this whisky's origins - salty sea-spray, thick peat smoke and dark chocolate give way to fresh fruits, with wet bonfire notes lingering smoky and zesty to finish.

Produced at the oldst distillery on Islay, their 15 year old combines the use of classic American-oak casks and a final maturation of 2 years in Oloroso sherry casks. A classic example of the rich, dark and tropical fruit flavours of the distillery, with a soft, mellow peatyness throughout.

This expression from Bowmore distillery showcases the unique style of old Islay whisky, with a delicate balance between rich, sweet and smoky notes. Bottled after 25 years in a refill barrel, yielding 280 bottles, the nose opens up with  earthy and herbal aromas, followed by sweet scents of toasted macaroons and rum baba layered over Bowmore's signature sweet peat. Sweet, tangy fruit notes of cranberries and peaches combine with spicy cinnamon and cracked pepper notes on the palate, followed with hints of soft peat and bog myrtle. After a quarter of a century in the same refill barrel, the distillery character  is very much to the fore.

This well aged single malt is a rare chance to enjoy Bowmore's mature, unique notes in an uncharacteristic cask. This whisky has spent 24 years in a bourbon barrel, perfectly balancing the delicate peat with the coastal, floral, oily notes one might come to find with old Islays. The light smoke from the peat has subdued and shows a deep rich seaside floral note with distant honey. Another great member of the 'Signatory Symington's Choice' range by independent bottler Signatory Vintage.  

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 unpeated brother, the cask influence has developed a deep hue and there is also hints of tropical fruit on the palate, this time though, intrigrating with the peat smoke character to form a full bodied and rich dram with a long peaty finish.

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 distilled by the sea.

Matured exclusively on Islay, primarily in ex-Bourbon casks and a small number of wine casks, The Bruichladdich Eighteen is the epitome of Bruichladdich's signature unpeated house style.

Full bodied and beautifully fragrant, notes of honey, butterscotch, and citrus orange open on the nose, with a medley of tropical fruits and toasted mellow oak lingering on the palate.

The Bruichladdich Thirty has spent the entirety of its maturation life in handpicked, exceptionally rare ex-Bourbon casks. A limited and refined single malt Scotch whisky, The Bruichladdich Thirty is bottled at 43% bringing the sweetness of toasted oak, honey and soft vanilla to the fore.

Delicate yet complex, a hint of dark chocolate complements the spirit?s elegant floral profile while the gentle influence of sea air lingers,  a subtle nod to the whisky?s all Islay maturation.

This release from Bruichladdich distillery has been made from the 2015 harvest of Scottish Mainland barley. It has been maturing in American oak casks. The nose is sweet and nutty, with apricots, ripe pears, coconut and charred oak. The palate has smoked granola, burnt heather and sugared almonds. The finish has notes of salty citrus, rose and heathery peat smoke.

An incredibly rare sight these days, this late 90's Bunnahabhain was chosen from a single refill ex-Oloroso sherry Gorda cask. Adelphi's tasting notes describe a very dense and rich whisky, laden with notes of sultanas, dried figs, quince, dark chocolate and intense fruit loaf. To taste, star anise and tobacco leaf, with caramel and salt cutting through. Waves of chocolate and caramel join intense umami savoury notes of oyster sauce and Chinese black vinegar.

Bunnahabhain distillery is especially famous for its unpeated, ex-sherry matured style malts with salty, herbal and fruity undertones. This new expression from Gordon & MacPhail is an example of the rarer peated make. Matured in standard barrels, this showcases the smokier character, but still with plenty of herbal and salty undertones to keep in line with the distinctive Bunnahabhain characteristics - sweet, salty and smoldering smoke.

This expression from Gordon & MacPhail's 'discovery' range is fully matured in ex-sherry casks sourced from the Bunnahabhain distillery. Rich and sweet with fruitcake flavours, there is a rounded vanilla and caramel quality on the palate. Spiced stewed fruit (plum) combines with nutty milk chocolate in the finish. A classic example of this great unpeated Islay malt.

Distilled on the 14th of April in 2004, this new Signatory Vintage release comes from the Bunnahabhain distillery, matured in a first-fill Oloroso sherry butt. At 61.2% natural strength, this is a powerful example of the distillery's unpeated Islay style - assertive and dense, with savoury and dry Oloroso sherry notes joining layers of dark honey and orange cake. There are notes of toasted, yeasty bread and apricot jam that lingers on the very spiced and woody finish.