Islay

The Scottish Isle of Islay, perched off to the south of the mainland, is home to no less than eight working distilleries, among them famous names like Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Bowmore, and Laphroig. The history of whisky making on the island goes back an almost unfathomably long way, to legends of the 14th Century, when it is said that Irish monks happened upon the island, soon coming to utilise the unique natural characteristics there to make precious whisky. A combination of factors make Islay so ideal; the island’s climate suits barley farming down to the ground, there are plentiful sources of clean spring water, and the land itself is covered in layer upon layer of sphagnum mosses and other vegetation, compressed and decomposed over time into dense black peat. It’s the use of this unique peat to dry the malted barley that bestows Islay Single Malt Whiskies with their instantly recognisable, smoky profile.

Just a click away in our online shop, you’ll find a huge selection of Islay Single Malt Scotch Whiskies, each with their own unique character, accented against the unmistakable and world famous peat smoke notes.