The Isle of Lewis’ only legal distillery, located in its capital Stornoway, operated briefly for just two years in the 1850s. After its closure, residents of Lewis relied on Scotch imported from the mainland or sourced from illicit local producers. This changed in 2008 when Marko Tayburn established a new distillery at Red River (Abhainn […]
Islay’s remote north east coast might seem a strange place to find a substantial Victorian distillery, but it was chosen in 1881 by William Robertson (of Robertson & Baxter) in partnership with Greenlees Bros. as the perfect spot for his island vision. Constructing it meant not only building the distillery but houses as well, putting in […]
The distillery, originally named Scotia, was established in 1832 by Stewart, Galbraith & Co, who managed it until 1895. In 1919, it became one of the founding members of West Highland Malt Distilleries, a cooperative of six Campbeltown distilleries formed to share costs and avoid closure. However, five of the six distilleries failed. In 1924, […]
Although ‘Glengyle’ is the name of the distillery, it wasn’t used for our whisky, as it had long been trademarked for a Blended Highland Malt. Instead, the name ‘Kilkerran’ was chosen, derived from the town’s original name, ‘Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain.’ Mitchell’s Glengyle Ltd embraced this name as a fitting way to revive a part […]
The equipment at Springbank remains firmly traditional, featuring an old Boby mill, an open-top cast-iron mash tun, wooden washbacks made from boatskin larch, and three stills—one with direct fire, and another with a worm tub. The malt is processed in three distinct ways to create three unique whiskies: Springbank, which is medium-peated; Longrow, which is […]
Ardbeg has been praised as “as close to perfection as makes no difference” by whisky experts, solidifying its reputation as one of the finest whiskies in the world. Revered globally, Ardbeg has earned numerous accolades, with six different expressions winning prestigious awards such as World Whisky of the Year, Scotch Whisky of the Year, and […]
As Islay’s newest distillery, Ardnahoe needed to create a distinctive identity to set itself apart from the island’s established whisky styles. It achieved this impressively with unique features like the only worm tub condensers on Islay and Scotland’s longest lyne arms, stretching 24.5 feet. Additionally, visitors are treated to stunning views of the Sound of […]
Bowmore’s signature smoke, reminiscent of beach bonfires, blends with a distinct saline note, accompanied by hints of flowers, cereal, citrus, and subtle tropical fruit. This unique character, when aged for long periods in refill casks, develops into a primary aroma where the peat fades away almost entirely. A significant portion of Bowmore whisky is matured […]
Bruichladdich is known for its sweet, honeyed, and floral character, accented with a lemon-butter note and a distinct freshness. Since 2000, the distillery has introduced other expressions, including the medium-peated Port Charlotte and the heavily-peated Octomore. Despite their intense smokiness, with rich, bonfire-like aromas, these variants maintain the core freshness and acidity of Bruichladdich’s style. […]
Caol Ila’s distillery character is marked by a blend of fresh pear, grassy notes, a touch of juniper, and coastal hints like lobster shells, crab creels, and soft smoke. Though it uses the same malt specification as its sister distillery Lagavulin, Caol Ila’s longer fermentation, higher cut point, and taller stills help to mellow the […]
