For Peat’s Sake: Scotland’s ‘Whisky Island’
There’s a reason Islay produces some of the world’s most characterful whisky. And it’s hidden in the undergrowth.
Scotland’s single malts are a source of great national pride, and the people are passionate about their preferences. The Highlanders praise the floral overtones in their malts, while those along the River Spey regard theirs as Scotland’s finest. But the most distinctive, seductive and downright wild examples come from a windswept island off the rugged west coast.
Islay is Scotland’s “Whisky Island”, and its most famous export is a unique style that you either love or hate. Its distinctive character comes down to one word: peat. Islay is loaded with the stuff. Even the streams have a brown tinge and the vegetal scent of peat.
This water, combined with malted barley smoked over smouldering peat fires, creates a personality like no other, rich with the scents of iodine, undergrowth and faint whiff of the wild seas crashing into the island’s shores.

Islay is home to nine distilleries, and three of the best are neighbours along its south-eastern shore. Laphroaig produces arguably the fullest flavoured of single malts, loaded with aromas of seaweed and smoke. Lagavulin, meanwhile, is a boisterous blast of toffee and tar, while the excellent Ardbeg is subtler, full of soft spiciness and lemon rind. Seek them out and prepare to be amazed.

Bowmore is the island’s oldest distillery, having first fired up its stills in 1779. Up in the north-east, the island’s young gun, Ardnahoe, sits on the shore of the deep loch from which it takes its name. Despite being less than a decade old, its whiskies are deeply traditional and loaded with peaty goodness.
Kilchoman can be found on the west coast, near Loch Gorm. It’s one of the smallest distilleries yet punches well above its weight with whiskies built on typically peaty foundations, but with the high-toned floral aromatics that have become a signature.

Bruichladdich is a perpetually rising phoenix, having shut down and started up several times since it was first established in 1881. Now stronger than ever, it produces several ranges, from the unpeated Bruichladdich to the more classically “Islay” Port Charlotte.
And then there’s the cult favourite, The Octomore, a whisky dialled to 11 for the most fervent peat fiends. For the first 80 years of its operation, Bunnahabhain could only be accessed by boat, and fittingly, there’s a sea spray character to the whiskies, tucked alongside a suite of delicate florals. No peaty punch here.
Caol Ila, the island’s largest distillery, is another adhering to a more delicate style and regularly releases bottlings of significant age.
So, that’s 620 km², 3,000 inhabitants, nine of the greatest distilleries on earth. Islay is truly whisky heaven.
Read more whisky connoisseurship here.
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Courtesy of Patricks


