distilleries

Ardbeg

Founded in 1815 by John McDougall and is a very popular destination with our guests. Ardbeg has had a difficult history and has changed hands many times. In 1900 it was producing over 1 million litres a year and it is now back to these glory days and is thriving once again. Great distillery to visit with a wide variety of tours. Ardbeg also boasts a great cafe in the Old Kiln house and is the perfect spot for lunch.

Lagavulin

Lagavulin has become a great favourite with fans of Islay Malt. It started out, like most distilleries on Islay, as an illegal still around 1720. It became licenced in 1816 and it merged with another distillery on the site shortly after. Now part of the Diageo group, it's 16 yr old Single Malt with its distinctive label has become one of the best known whiskies in the world. Great location and superb hospitallity.

Laphroaig

Founded around 1810, the site was previously used by the Irish for making illegal whisky. It was only when the tax men started to show an interest that it became licenced and and has gone on to be probably the best known of all the Islay Malts . Very peaty and smokey with sea salt notes. Hardly surprising when you look at this photo taken on a stormy and wild winters day!

In 1994 it became Prince Charles' dram of choice and he put his own Prince of Wales Royal Warrant on the distillery and on the bottle. Laphroaig is now owned by Beam Global who have joined forces with Suntory and I think it's safe to say it will remain one of the best known drams in the world. Lots of different tours and tastings are available. The distillers wares tour has been very popular with our Islay Whisky Tour guests and we get great feed back.

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Port Ellen (Re-opening 2022?)

Closed in the early 80's and now going to re-open in 2020. You can still buy the

whisky but the youngest is now over 30 years old. The rumours that it will re-open

some day have now been confirmed by Diageo. There is also going to be a Visitor

Centre built on or very near the original site. No doubt more details will follow.

The sherry cask dram is wonderful and mellow which benefits from lying untouched

for all those years. Some of the old retired workers have said that it wasn't very

smooth when it was younger and it was best that you "put it down in a oner"

followed by a glass of water to "put the fire out" You won't find these tasting notes in

any books or labels!! There are no tours available here but it is a popular stop for a

walk along the beach and to take some photos of this lost distillery that will soon be

back in production soon..