Single malt whisky from Islay is undoubtedly one of the best types of Scotch whiskies that are produced. The Islay whiskies are known for their peatiness. The only exception to this are single malt whiskies from Bruichladdich and Bunnahabhain which are very light to taste. Also every year Caol Ila produces an unpeated single malt whisky.
Buy Islay Single Malt Whisky
Bowmore 12yo
Bowmore 12yo is the classice Islay single malt. It is a delightful smooth malt with a nice balance of sweetness and smokiness.
Laphroaig 10yo
Laphroaig 10yo is a fine example of what it means to be a peated single malt whisky. There is a hint of sea and salt in this Scotch whisky, with a strong peat flavour.
IWSC 2012 – Gold Medal – Whisky – Scotch
Laphroaig Quarter Cask
This is a great value Laphraoig single malt. It has been matured in a quarter cask, which gives it a mellowness. This was how single malt was produced 100s of years ago.
Whisky Bible Awards 2012: Runner-up Best No Age Statement Single Malt Scotch of the Year.
Bruichladdich Rocks
In 2007 the Bruichladdich Rocks single malt was introduced. It’s called ‘Rocks’ because it’s been designed to be taken with ice.
Bruichladdich Organic
Made with organically grown barley, this second edition of Bruichladdich’s single malt has all the features that we’ve come to expect from Bruichladdich. This hasn’t been wine finished. A delightful single malt.
Lagavulin 16 Year Old
This single malt represents Islay in the ‘Classic Malts’ series. Lagavulin is deep, dry and exceptionally peaty single malt. Not for the faint of heart!
Lagavulin 12 Year Old
This is a fresher single malt that the standard release. Well worth a try
Caol Ila
A single cask Caol Ila from 1991. You can expect some smoke and peat from this special edition
| Bowmore 12yo | Bowmore 12yo is the classice Islay single malt. It is a delightful smooth malt with a nice balance of sweetness and smokiness. |
| Laphroaig 10yo | Laphroaig 10yo is a fine example of what it means to be a peated single malt whisky. There is a hint of sea and salt in this Scotch whisky, with a strong peat flavour. IWSC 2012 - Gold Medal - Whisky - Scotch |
| Laphroaig Quarter Cask | This is a great value Laphraoig single malt. It has been matured in a quarter cask, which gives it a mellowness. This was how single malt was produced 100s of years ago. Whisky Bible Awards 2012: Runner-up Best No Age Statement Single Malt Scotch of the Year. |
| Bruichladdich Rocks | In 2007 the Bruichladdich Rocks single malt was introduced. It's called 'Rocks' because it's been designed to be taken with ice. |
| Bruichladdich Organic | Made with organically grown barley, this second edition of Bruichladdich's single malt has all the features that we've come to expect from Bruichladdich. This hasn't been wine finished. A delightful single malt. |
| Lagavulin 16 Year Old | This single malt represents Islay in the 'Classic Malts' series. Lagavulin is deep, dry and exceptionally peaty single malt. Not for the faint of heart! |
| Lagavulin 12 Year Old | This is a fresher single malt that the standard release. Well worth a try |
| Caol Ila | A single cask Caol Ila from 1991. You can expect some smoke and peat from this special edition |
To view more single malt whiskies from Islay distilleries, then click on the link below
So what makes Islay whiskies so special?
Islay Peat and Water
There is a large amount of peat on Islay. This affects the water, which on Islay is brown. Even the water in the streams is brown. Also because of it’s geographical location the island is battered by strong winter gales which drive salt spray far inland. This soaks into the peat and ultimately affects the flavour of the single malt whiskies. This makes Islay single malt whiskies very unique.
Strongest flavoured Whisky
There are eight Islay distilleries. All of them are on the coast and thus are affected by the salt laden winds coming in off the Atlantic ocean. Islay produces some of the strongest flavoured malt whiskies, creating an almost cult following amongst whisky drinkers.
Islay Single Malt Whiskies Characteristics
Islay single malts tend to be dry and peaty. The distilleries on the south of the island produce the strongest flavoured single malts – Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Ardbeg. Some of the tastes that can be found are peat, smoke, tar and iodine. In the middle of the island is Bowmore and this distillery produces whiskies that are some as powerful as the southern distilleries, but have nice balanced peaty and smoky overtones. Bruichladdich and Bunnahabhain are on the north of the island and then produce single malts that are lighter and much less smoky.
All Islay’s Malts have a dry finish.
To find out more about whisky produced in Islay then please click here.