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SPEYSIDE |
HIGHLANDS |
ISLAY |
ISLANDS
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CAMPBLETOWN |
LOWLANDS
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SILENT STILLS
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Islay |
Whiskies from
Islay are smoky
and medicinal and typically not for the
beginner. |
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Islay is famous for robust smoky whisky
that tends to be a favorite among
experienced whisky drinkers. Most Islay
whiskies have a very distinctive taste
with big smoke, seaweed, iodine and salt
that have great long dry finishes. They
range from the very smoky Laphroaig to
the peaty Ardbeg to the perfectly
balanced Lagavulin.
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Ardbeg
Ardbeg located on the Southern South
of Islay makes a heavily peated dram
and their 10 year old expression is
a huge seller in the United States.
Ardbeg was closed for much of the
1980s until Glenmorangie reopened
the distillery in the late1980s and
built a world class visitor’s
center. Ardbeg like most other Islay
distilleries have benefited from the
recent interest in
Islay
whiskies. Ardbeg no longer does
their own maltings but they do buy
heavily peated barley to ensure a
continuation of the classic Ardbeg
taste. Older bottles of Ardbeg have
become increasingly popular with
collectors. If you like big peaty
malts Ardbeg stands alone. We love
this stuff!
Established: 1815
Pronunciation: Ard beg
Region: Islay
# of stills: 2
Tours: Open to the public
Phone: 01496302244
Location: Port Ellan, Islay, Argyll,
PA42 7EA
Style
Peaty, complex
Range
10 year old / $55 to $65
Still young (8 yr old) / $55 to $65
Uigeadel (Lord of the Isles) cask
strength / $70 to $80
Airigh Nam Beist / $90 to $110
Ardbeg Video
www.ardbeg.com
Watch Ardbeg's Brand Ambassador
discuss the Ardbeg range.
 Ardbeg
Click Here to Watch
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Bowmore
Bowmore is located on the
shore
of Loch Indaal on the West Coast of
Islay and makes a light smoky dram
that’s a great choice for those that
don’t have much experience with
Islay whiskies. Bowmore isn’t nearly as intense
as many of the whiskies distilled on
the Southern Islay Coast. The
distillery experiments heavily with
different finishes and many of these
expressions have become part of
their standard line. Bowmore is easy
drinking, well balanced and
reasonably priced, making it a great
everyday malt. The distillery still
utilizes floor maltings for about
half of their required barley and
breaks apart their peat to generate
as much smoke as possible. The dram
also stands up well with ice, not
that we recommend adding any.
Meaning of the name: Taken from the
name of the town the distillery is
located in
Established: 1779
Pronunciation: Bow More
Region: Islay
# of stills: 4
Tours: Open to the public
Phone: 01496 810441
Location: Bowmore, Islay, Argyll,
PA34 7JS
Style
Smoky, sweet, well balanced
Range
Legend / $20 to $25
12 year old / $40 to $45
15 year old / $50 to $60
Cask Strength / $55 to $65
17 year old / $55 to $65
Darkest Oloroso Cask / $60 to $70
Dark Bordeaux Cask / $60 to $70
Dawn Ruby Port / $60 to $70
1989 / $80 to $90
1990 Oloroso / $80 to $90
25 year old / $220 to $250
www.bowmore.com
www.morrisonbowmore.com
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Bruichladdich
The future looked bleak for
Bruichladdich when production ceased
in 1983 until the distillery was
sold to independent bottler Murray
McDavid in 2000 (we have a great
Royal Brackla from them). The
distillery is now run by Jim McEwan
and Bruichladdich has enjoyed
somewhat of a cult following since
its resurgence. The Bruichladdich
table always gets crowded at
Whiskyfest. The distillery has a
maze of expressions but their 10
year old seems to be the standard
bearer. The dram is the least peated
of the
Islay whiskies and has more salty,
seaweed, fruity character.
Bruichladdich is said to be the
Islay native’s favorite.
Meaning of the name: Taken from the
name of the town the distillery is
located in
Established: 1881
Pronunciation: Brook laddie
Region: Islay
# of stills: 4
Tours: Open to the public
Phone: 01496 850221
Location: Bruichladdich, Islay,
Argyll, PA49 7UN
Style
Salty, seaweed, fruity
Range
10 year old / $40 to $50
Links / $60 to $70
14 year old Turnberry / $60 to $70
15 year old Sauternes / $60 to $70
Infinity / $70 to $80
XVII / $90 to $100
20 year old ‘Islands’ / $130 to $140
Flirtation / $130 to $140
1973 / $200 to $220
1972 Legacy 4 / $280 to $300
1965 Legacy II / $280 to $300
www.bruichladdich.com
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Bunnahabhain
Not all Islays’ are intense as most
people think and they’re surprised
when they try Bruichladdich or
Bunnahabhain. The whisky from these
distilleries lacks the medicinal,
smoky and peaty characteristics that
made Islay famous, but they’re still
great whiskies that shouldn’t be
dismissed since they don’t have that
trademark Islay taste. Expand your
horizons and check your stereotypes
at the door or the glass, well you
know what I mean.
Located in the North part of
Islay, Bunnahabhain is probably the least know due in
part to its lightly peated style and
that fact that the majority of the
whisky goes into blends.
Bunnahabhain is a big contributor to
Cutty Sark, Black Bottle, Scottish
Leader and The Famous Grouse. It’s
available in an excellent 12 year
old expression and their 25 year old
is simply incredible. The 12 year
old is a smooth easy drinking whisky
that’s reasonable priced. The
distillery also makes the Black
Bottle blend that has become
increasingly popular. Black Bottle
contains all the
Islay whiskies and has big intense character. Do
yourself a favor and pick up a
bottle of the 12 year old before the
secret gets out. A truly
undiscovered gem!
Gaelic meaning: Mouth of the river
Established: 1881
Pronunciation: Bunna hah ven
Region: Islay
# of stills: 4
Tours: Open to the public
Phone: 01496 840646
Location: Port Askaig, Islay,
Argyll, PA46 7RP
Style
Sweet, nutty
Range
12 year old / $40 to $45
18 year old / $80 to $100
25 year old / $250 to $300
34 year old / $250 to $300
www.bunnahabhain.com
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Caol Ila
Until recently, Caol Ila was only
available in independent bottlings
and was primarily used in the
Johnnie Walker blends. Diageo now
offers a range of this whisky in
their ‘Hidden Malts’ line to
compliment the much more popular
Lagavulin. Caol Ila is an oily dram
that has that definitive Islay
character. The distillery also boast
the best view of any distillery on
Islay with it location across the
Sound of Islay to the Paps of Jura.
Coal Ila is a great selection for
Isaly fans that want to try
something a little different. The 25
year old is the stuff of legend, but
the 12 and 18 year olds are
exceptional at a much more
reasonable price. You’ll be hooked
just like we were on this complex
oily dram.
Gaelic meaning: The sound of Islay
Established: 1846
Pronunciation: cull eela
Region: Islay
# of stills: 4
Tours: Open to the public
Phone: 01496 302760
Location: Port Askaig, Islay,
Argyll, PA46 7RL
Style
Oily, peaty
Range
12 year old / $40 to $50
Cask Strength / $60 to $80
18 year old / $60 to $80
25 year old / $175 to $200
Available in a wide range of
independents
www.malts.com
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Lagavulin
The great Lagavulin 16 year old is
regarded by many as the best whisky
in the world and has a finish that
seems to last an eternity. By far
the most balanced Islay, this dram
has all the flavors that have made
‘Whisky Island’ so popular. It’s
also not for the beginner; Lagavulin
packs a pungent punch that’s
definitely an acquired taste. The
distillery is situated on
Islay’s
famed southern coast where the
whisky is most intense. Lagavulin is
Diageo’s flagship Islay whisky and
its 16 year old expression is
included in their ‘Classic Malt’
line and is the lines biggest
seller. As Lagavulin has grown in
popularity, its demand has quickly
out
paced supply and the whisky is
becoming increasingly expensive and
harder to find (thankfully not too
hard). If you’ve never experienced
the ‘Lord of the Isles’ do so at
your first opportunity.
Gaelic meaning: The hollow where the
mill is
Established: 1816
Pronunciation: Laga voolin
Region: Islay
# of stills: 4
Tours: Open to the public
Phone: 01496 302730
Location: Port Ellen, Islay, Argyll,
PA42 7DZ
Style
Well balanced, smoky, iodine, dry
Range
12 year old / $100 to $120
16 year old / $70 to $90
Distillers Edition / $80 to $100
www.malts.com
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Laphroaig
Laphroaig makes an intensely dry
peat smoke infused dram that’s an
acquired taste but is loved (or
hated) by whisky drinkers the world
over. Their new 10 year old cask
strength expression is like drinking
liquid smoke that you can never seem
to wash out of your glass. As we
like to say, it’s like drinking
whisky out of a dirty ash tray, but
oh so good. If you’ve never had it
you’re missing a unique whisky
drinking experience. The peat freaks
love this one! Laphroaig dates back
to 1815 and is located on
Islay’s southern shore. They still do their own
floor maltings that many have sadly
abandoned. The distillery ages their
stock at the foot of the
Atlantic Ocean which adds a sea air and iodine quality to
the whisky. A great one, no
question!
Gaelic meaning: The beautiful hollow
by the broad bay Established: 1815
Pronunciation: La Froy g
Region: Islay
# of stills: 6
Tours: Open to the public
Phone: 01496 302418
Location: Port Ellen, Islay, Argyll,
PA42 7DU
Style
Smoky, peaty, iodine, salty
Range
Quarter cask / $40 to $50
10 year old / $45 to $55
10 year old cask strength / $65 to
$75
15 year old / $65 to $75
www.laphroaig.com
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Port Ellen
Port Ellan sadly closed in the 1980s
when so many distilleries suffered
through a down turn in the whisky
market. Port Ellan is a favorite
among collectors and is becoming
increasingly rare and difficult to
find. Diageo released several Rare
Malt editions and the dram can also
be found under some independent
labels. Port Ellan’s still house was
demolished in 2003 and unfortunately
the whisky will never be distilled
again. If you can find a bottle
treat it like an investment and lock
it away, unopened of course.
Meaning of the name: Taken from the
town of Port Ellan
Established: 1815
Pronunciation: Port Ellan
Region: Islay
# of stills: Closed / Silent Still
Tours: Closed
Phone: None
Location: Port Ellen, Islay, Argyll,
PA42 7AH
Style
Smoky, oily
Range
Try the Rare Malts line
www.malts.com
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John
Campbell 
