Everything you need to know about Kilchoman Distillery

A brief History

Kilchoman, Islay Region, Scotland. Founded in 2005

Islay’s Young Gun with Old-School Values

When Kilchoman opened its doors in 2005, it became the first new distillery on Islay in over 120 years. At the time, whisky fans raised an eyebrow — could a tiny farm distillery, with no big-name heritage, really stand up alongside legends like Ardbeg and Laphroaig?

Well… yes. Very much yes.

Kilchoman didn’t just show up to play — it showed up to do things differently. This is a distillery that grows its own barley, malts it on site, and bottles right at the source. It’s one of the only true farm-to-bottle operations in Scotland. Everything is done with a level of care that borders on obsession. And it shows in the whisky.

In just a couple of decades, Kilchoman has earned serious respect for its bold, peated single malts that still manage to be clean, elegant, and full of life.

Explore All Islay Whisky

Flavour Profile: Peaty, Bright, and Full of Farm Character

Kilchoman whiskies are full-on Islay — but don’t expect just smoke. There’s a freshness and clarity to the spirit that makes even their young releases feel vibrant and polished.


Fruity	Briny / Maritime	Peaty / Smoky

Kilchoman is known for its young, energetic single malts that combine robust Islay peat with coastal freshness and subtle sweetness. Key flavour characteristics include:

Clean, earthy peat smoke — more bonfire than BBQ
Bright lemon zest and tart green apple
Sea spray, rock salt, and malty cereal
A lively mouthfeel with a dry, smoky finish

Top 4 Flavour Profile Ingredients

	Apple / Pear
	Peat Smoke
	Citrus (Lemon / Orange Zest)
	Brine / Sea Salt

Popular Bottlings from Kilchoman

Expression	Style	Tasting Notes
Machir Bay	Core range, ex-bourbon & sherry	Sweet smoke, vanilla, citrus, and light peat
Sanaig	Sherry-heavy finish	Richer – dark fruit, smoked raisin, and subtle chocolate
Loch Gorm	100% Oloroso sherry casks	Intense sherry depth with smoky figs, treacle, and spice
100% Islay	Fully farm-grown and malted	Elegant peat, floral notes, honeyed cereal – very “local” in flavour
Cask Strength Editions	Limited annual releases	Big, bold, smoky with a punch of fresh spirit and oily depth

Kilchoman also does loads of single cask releases — often shop exclusives or festival bottlings that fans chase down like rare records.

Kilchoman 2012 Single Sherry Cask Whisky #95 2012

The Distillery

Kilchoman Distillery 

Kilchoman Distillery, Rockside Farm, Isle of Islay, PA49 7UT, Scotland

Open in maps

https://www.kilchomandistillery.com/

01496 850011

Visitor Information

Address: Kilchoman Distillery, Rockside Farm, Isle of Islay, PA49 7UT, Scotland
Telephone: Available for general queries and tour bookings
Visitor Centre:
- Yes — friendly, casual, and very hands-on
- Includes a café, tasting room, and shop
- Guided tours take you through the fields, malting floor, stillhouse, and warehouse
- A must-visit if you're touring Islay, especially for whisky fans who like to see every part of the process

Ownership and Background

Current Owner:

The Wills Family (Privately owned and operated)

History in a Nutshell:

2005: Founded by Anthony Wills and family
2009: First bottlings released — and sold out fast
Now: Produces around 500,000 litres annually
Unique Selling Point: 100% Islay malt — from barley field to bottle

Few distilleries are this hands-on — Kilchoman is the real deal when it comes to transparency and craft.

Distillery Facts

Overview & History

Kilchoman Distillery is located on the west coast of Islay and was founded in 2005, making it one of the first new distilleries built on the island in over a century.

It was established by Anthony Wills with a focus on traditional farm distilling, setting it apart from larger industrial producers. Kilchoman operates as a working farm distillery, growing some of its own barley on-site.

The distillery is independently owned and has built a strong reputation for quality within a relatively short time.

Production

Spirit Type: Single malt Scotch whisky
Region: Islay
Peat Level: Heavily peated
Malting: Partial on-site floor malting
Cask Policy: Mix of ex-bourbon and sherry casks

Kilchoman is one of the few distilleries in Scotland to carry out multiple stages of production on-site, including growing barley and floor malting.