Islay Festival 2024
Welcome to our Islay Festival 2024 celebration! Travel through the power of the interwebs with us to the Queen of the Hebrides to enjoy an unforgettable week of tradition, culture, history, and, most importantly, exceptional whisky. We explore the rugged beauty of Islay through the island’s world-famous distilleries, each with its own story and character.
THURSDAY 30TH MAY
Kilchoman Distillery
Kilchoman, the first new distillery on Islay in over 124 years when it was established in 2005, has fitted seamlessly into island life and is every bit as worthy as its neighbours. Situated on a farm on the west side of Islay, the family-owned brand uses locally-grown grain malted in its own floor maltings and takes full control of the production process from barley to bottle to ensure the beautiful island on which it resides shines through every dram. Kilchoman’s whiskies include Machir Bay, known for its balance of rich fruit and peaty smoke, and Sanaig, with a heavier sherry influence. Limited editions often explore different aspects of whisky making, including varying levels of peat and types of cask maturation.
Lagavulin Whisky
Lagavulin is famed for its deep, smoky flavours and long finish, embodying the essence of Islay with its 16-year staple.
Bruichladdich Whisky
Bruichladdich stands out for its innovative spirit, producing heavily peated and unpeated whiskies that challenge traditional norms.
Caol Ila Whisky
Caol Ila is Islay’s giant, creator of waves of beloved Scotch whisky for single malts and blends alike. Even if you haven’t sampled its single malts before, we guarantee you’ve tasted Caol Ila whisky and loved it.
Laphroaig Whisky
Laphroaig is known for its unique, love-it-or-hate-it single malt Scotch whisky. It’s so bold and peaty, you couldn’t confuse it with anything else in the world. Meanwhile, Port Ellen is the rare and revered single malt on the comeback. Two brilliant distilleries in one day!
Port Ellen Whisky
Port Ellen is a legend, a ghost that has been revived in one of the biggest stories in whisky. We talk about that and more in this video.
Bowmore Whisky
Bowmore balances rich, fruity undertones with measured peat smoke to create some of the most well-rounded and respected whiskies out there. Smoke and sherry is a match made in heaven when done right.
Ardnahoe Whisky
One of Islay’s newest distilleries, Ardnahoe has released the first new whisky from Islay since Kilchoman in 2009 this year. Backed by family business Hunter Laing, the distillery has already demonstrated huge promise and we can’t wait to see what they do next.
Kilchoman Whisky
At Kilchoman, farm-to-bottle production is not some marketing gimmick. Its fresh, vibrant Islay whiskies are a true reflection of local provenance.
Bunnahabhain Whisky
Bunnahabhain is distinctive for its sherried, unpeated whisky which is full of fruity and nutty flavours that contrast the typical Islay peat.
Jura Whisky
Jura creates some of the most welcoming and balanced expressions available. It combines a gentle smokiness with complex notes of honey, tropical fruits, vanilla, and a subtle touch of brine, creating a harmonious and intriguing flavour profile.
Ardbeg Whisky
Why do we love Ardbeg? Because we’re a sucker for its whisky of course: some of the peatiest expressions available, combining deep smokiness with complex notes of coffee, chocolate, citrus, and a hint of the sea.
