Photos by Christopher Osburn.
If you ever get a chance to visit Islay, do it. Don’t worry that the flight from Glasgow often gets canceled because of rain and fog. If you can manage to get there, you’ll be treated to some of the most amazing landscape views in the world. Oh yea, and sheep. Lots and lots of sheep. When I visited Islay, I stayed in a house near the tiny airport and the front lawn was inhabited by hundreds of sheep. Islay is home to just over 3,000 people, but at least 30,000 sheep (rough estimate).
This tiny island is home to some of the most beloved Scotch whisky distilleries in history, including Laphraoig, Ardbeg, Bruichladdich, Bowmore, and Lagavulin. 2016 is the perfect time to visit Islay because this year Lagavulin is celebrating its 200th anniversary.
One of the most famous whiskeys in the world, Lagavulin is also a favorite of famed writer, actor and woodworker Nick Offerman. Like most of the Scotch whiskeys produced on Islay, Lagavulin in well-known for its peat-smoked, rich, briny, complex flavors. In honor of their bicentennial, Lagavulin is even releasing a limited edition Lagavulin 8 Year Old that is produced to pay homage to the Victorian-era whisky enthusiast and writer Alfred Barnard.
The reason they chose an 8-year-old whisky to pay tribute to this famous British Scholar is because near the turn of the 20th century, Barnard took a trip to Islay and was lucky enough to have a dram of 8 Year Old Lagavulin. He was noted as exclaiming that the juice was “exceptionally fine.” He later regaled the distillery for its exceptional single malt whiskeys.
Also: The Ten Most Expensive Scotch Whiskies in the World
“This is a special year for a much loved Single Malt Scotch Whisky revered around the world as the definitive Islay whisky,” says Dr. Nick Morgan, Diageo’s Head of Whisky Outreach. “There are a variety of plans across the year to bring people to Islay and bring Islay to as many people from around the globe as possible. We are thrilled to begin the celebrations for such an historic occasion with the launch of the first Lagavulin 8 Year Old for many years.”
Georgie Crawford, distillery manager at the Lagavulin distillery summed up the occasion quite aptly. “Although many things have stayed the same since Alfred Barnard first came to see us on Islay, visitors to the distillery will also notice some changes to mark this
Islay is home to many other outstanding distilleries, including:
Ardbeg
You probably read about Ardbeg a year or so ago. The distillery was covered by just about every news outlet because they sent Scotch into outer space for a year in order to study the effects of whisky aging in space. Located on the southern coast of Islay, Ardbeg has been making high-quality whisky since 1815. Like many Islay whiskeys, Ardbeg is known for its smoky, heavily peated whisky.
Bruichladdich
Opened in 1881, Bruichladdich means “stony shore bank” in Gaelic. The distillery makes single malt whiskeys that aren’t peated. Those are specifically designated as Bruichladdich. The Port Charlotte line of whiskies are heavily peated in the style that whisky aficionados expect from the island. Octomore, a popular whisky they make, is arguably the most heavily peated single malt whisky ever made. On top of whisky, the distillery branched off into gin production in 2011 when they launched The Botanist, a gin made with locally sourced herbs and botanicals from Islay.
Laphroaig
Laphroaig is hard to spell. But, once you get the hang of it, you’ll never forget it. Just like the place itself. If you’re lucky enough to visit and become a “friend of Laphroaig”, you can easily acquire a lifetime lease on a one square foot plot of land. This will surely lead to bragging rights amongst your friends. I should know, I own a plot myself. The distillery is located near Ardbeg in the southern coast of the island. The whisky is known for its briny, smoky whisky and has a very loyal following.
Bowmore
Bowmore is one of my favorite distilleries in the world. The distillery, founded in 1779, is located on the shore of Loch Indaal. One of the oldest distilleries in Scotland, Bowmore is one of the few that still floor malts its barley. This means that the after the barley has had a chance to sprout and it’s spread out all over a malting floor and is hand turned by craftsman who use traditional tools. It’s grueling, back-breaking work and the makers of Bowmore consider it one of the main reasons their whisky is special.
Kilchoman
One of the newest distilleries in Scotland and the newest on Islay, Kilchoman opened in 2005 (the first in the last 125 years). This single malt whisky distillery is located on the western coast of the island. The malts and barley used in whisky production are locally sourced. One of the smallest distilleries on the island, Kilchoman was founded by avid whisky maker Anthony Wills. He had already run an independent single cask bottling company for eight years when he decided to open Kilchoman. The distillery is located on a small farm, harkening back to the farm distilleries that once dotted the Scottish landscape. The island was selected because of the fertile land and the respected whisky distilling traditions.
Caol Ila
Gaelic for “Sound of Islay”, Coal Ila is located on the northeastern shore of the island and was founded in 1846. It’s known as one of the lightest whiskeys on Islay, but it still has the peated flavor that whisky aficionados expect. It’s used in many famous blends, including Johnnie Walker, but stands on its own quite well. Caol Ila is the biggest distillery on Islay and produces more than double the amount of any of the other distilleries. Caol Ila makes a large variety of whiskeys, including Caol Ila 12 Year Old, Coal Ila 25 Year Old and Caol Ila Distillers Addition.
