Buy rare and selected Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Whiskies from the Isle of Islay are usually described as particularly strong and powerful and is certainly the most famous of the Scottish whisky islands. Islay is located in the Argyll and Bute Council Area to the west of the Isle of Jura and around 25 miles north of the Irish coast, which can be seen on a clear day. The north and east of the island is dominated by almost 500 metre high rocky or heather-covered hills and the region represents arguably the most important 200 square miles in the Scotch whisky world, its fame coming from the nine active distilleries such as Ardbeg, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Kilchoman, Lagavulin and Laphroaig currently in production, the island s extensive peat deposits and the legendary old or closed distilleries such as Port Ellen or Lochindaal in Port Charlotte. However, the old buildings of Port Ellen are still in operation and the barley for the island s distilleries is malted there. The whiskies can be categorised according to the amount of peat they use. The strongest whiskies (apart from Bruichladdich s rather unusual Octomore) are produced by Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig. Bowmore and Caol Ila are in the middle range. The whiskies produced by Bruichladdich and Bunnahabhain are the lightest in terms of peat content.
The majority of Islay s single malts have a wonderfully smoky, peaty and strong flavour with aromas for which the world-famous Islay whisky is so loved. Nevertheless, the single malt whiskies from the nine active distilleries have their own flavours and characters: the southern distilleries Lagavulin, Laphroaig and Ardbeg produce very strong whiskies that are enriched with peat smoke, salt water and iodine, dry their malt with up to 50% peat, use brown peat water for every stage of production and taste of tar, smoke, carbolic and iodine. The northern distilleries Bunnahabhain and Bruichladdich produce relatively lighter and milder single malt whiskies and do not use peaty water and only lightly or not at all peat-dried barley. These single malt whiskies taste of seaweed and nuts, somewhat mossy and less smoky. The finish is typical of Islay whisky, but nevertheless dry and usually very long with complex flavours. Bowmore whisky is less strong, but often has a distinct sherry flavour combined with a pleasant dryness and a maritime-salty note in addition to the smoke and peat notes typical of Islay whiskies.