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Islay

Whiskies from Islay are smoky and medicinal and typically not for the beginner.

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.

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

Ardbeg Whisky Journey

Watch Ardbeg's Brand Ambassador discuss the Ardbeg range.
Ardbeg
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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

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

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

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

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

Whisky Journey April 2008

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

John Campbell
Master Distiller
Laphroaig
Watch

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