Islay Whisky
From the Islay Region we get some of the worlds finest whiskies. The whisky from this region offers some of the most prominent tastes of all times. For whiskey lovers this region is like a temple built for you to worship in. this region at one point of time had 23 very much legal distilleries but today only seven exist.
Almost all Scotch Whiskies have a bit Islay malt whiskey in their blends. Somehow it feels that a bit of Islay malt is absolutely necessary for just the right taste for a Scottish whisky. Some of the best and most famous whiskies from the Islay region come from Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Laphroaig and Caol ila.
Whiskies produced in this region have a strong peat taste in them. It is this peat that gives Islay regions whiskies a special taste. The peat is said to be characterized by the water of the region and the barley. Some other distinguishing tastes you may find in some of the whiskies are iodine, salt and seaweed. The distilleries in this region sport varied tastes and flavors. You can get whiskies that have strong tastes of peat and some of them that have just a slight bit of peat in them.
Distilleries in Islay Region
Bowmore
It is a distillery that produces a very well balanced whisky. It uses both peat as well as sherry casks in their mix.
Kilchoman
It is one of the newest distilleries. It started in 2006. Unlike the other distilleries, this one is not located near the water.
Bunnahabhain
This distillery makes fine whisky that is very light and has just a tad bit of peat in it.
Ardbeg
This distillery was established in 1815. It shut down for sometime but reopened again. It is now considered as Islays fastest growing single malts.
Aaran Scotch Whisky distillery
This is a fairly new distillery that was set up in 1995. It was only in 1998 that spirits prepared here were legally allowed to call them “Whisky”. In 2006 it released its ten year old malt. When it was first launched, it became Aaran first legal distillery since way back in 1836.
Famous Distilleries
This region had several distilleries that are now shut one of the most famous distilleries of all times is listed below
Port Ellen Single Malt
In it’s hey days it was on of the most famous distilleries. Even today there is a maltings at Port Ellen that supplies many distilleries with barley according to their various specifications.