Scotland‘s whisky island is tucked away on the west coast and it might seem quite baffling that this remote island is home to over ten scotch whisky distilleries – and not just that but the Islay distilleries also make some of the most renowned whisky in the world! There is something so special about feeling the smoky scent in the air, mixing in with the coastal breeze whilst enjoying a dram of Islay whisky on one of the distillery tours, right in the very spot where it was made years and years ago. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting the island – and its distilleries – many times so let me tell you about my top recommendations for tours and tastings on Islay.
A guide to all the distilleries on Islay: tours, cafés & recommendations
I will take any opportunity to visit Islay as it’s one of my favourite places on earth. I’m incredibly happy that my accidental pivot into the drinks industry brought me to the island and it’s actually thanks to one of the distilleries on Islay that I even like scotch whisky. Up until I tried the Ardbeg 10 Year Old whisky, I thought most whiskies tasted the same and that they were not really my thing. However when I tried this wonderfully smoky whisky it reminded me of dried and smoked meat that my dad used to give me on hiking trips back in Sweden – and that is what made me start to appreciate Scotland’s national drink.
A slow sip of scotch whisky in the very place that it is made is such a special experience. Doing so in a remote location like Islay, surrounded by wild landscapes enhanced the experience further. It’s just the kind of slow and meaningful travel I love. The best thing about these distilleries on the island is that they all have their own unique character and stories.
Fèis Ìle
At the end of May is the big Fèis Ìle Festival where each distillery have a dedicated day of festivities. Don’t miss out on exclusive releases, special tastings and events. It is an incredibly popular event so it is highly recommended to book both accommodation, travel and tickets in advance. The ferry often sells out and the hotel prices are at their peak. It is a fantastic atmosphere on the island and lots of whisky enthusiasts make their pilgrimage-like journey to experience the festivities.
♥ If you are looking for somewhere to stay on the island, don’t miss my guide to the best hotels and cosy cottages.
Which Islay distillery tour or tasting is best for you?
With so many distilleries on the island, it can be difficult to choose which ones to visit. So here is a little quick guide to help you with an overview.
- For whisky and gin: Bruichladdich
- To see a farm distillery: Kilchoman
- To see a traditional distillery: Bowmore
- For a nice view: Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila or Ardnahoe
- A distillery with good food: Ardbeg Distillery and the Old Kiln Café
- For a new distillery: Laggan Bay or Portintruan
- For a luxurious experience: Port Ellen Distillery
- For non smoky whisky: Bunnahabhain or Bruichladdich
- For rum: Islay Rum Distillery
- For gin: Bruichladdich
♥ Read my guide to all the best things to see and do on Islay here!
Ardbeg
The Ardbeg 10 year old whisky was the first whisky I ever enjoyed – as it reminded me of smoked meats, Swedish forest hikes and bonfires. So of course I have a soft spot for this distillery. I really like the distillery experience here, as it’s a mix of seeing old and new. The site is located in a really scenic spot right by the south coast of the island. The Old Kiln café is also a lovely spot to enjoy a lunch, and if you are visiting in the summer you can also sit outside in the courtyard and order from the Ardstream Trailer when it is open and the weather allows.
Ardbeg is often known as one of the most powerful “peat monsters” on the island with a distinct coastal bonfire character. It still has a great complex character however, and if you manage to look past the peat there are layers of fruit, sweetness and barley underneath.
Ardbeg also has its own themed hotel on the island called Ardbeg House. It is located in Port Ellen and is one of the best spots to stay on the island. Especially if you like whisky! Read my full review here from when I was one of the first people to stay at the hotel.
- Tour prices: from £22.50/pp
- Whisky recommendation: Ardbeg An Oa
- Location: Islay’s south coast
Ardnahoe
Ardnahoe is one of the more recent additions to the island as it opened to the public in 2019 after filling their first casks in 2018. It has a beautiful view across to Jura and also features a lovely cafe where you can enjoy the views as well. This is a great experience if you want to see how a newer distillery operates and how they carry on the legacy of the older distilleries in the category whilst doing their own thing.
I have not yet tried enough whisky from Ardnahoe to say that I’ve formed a better understanding of its character. However, I am looking forward to getting to know the spirit better as it develops. I actually visited the distillery before their spirit had matured, so I’m overdue another visit to properly see the distillery.
- Tour prices: from £15/pp
- Whisky recommendation: Ardnahoe Cask Strength
- Location: Islay’s northeast coast, past Port Askaig
Bowmore
Bowmore is the oldest working whisky distillery on Islay as it was established in 1779. It sits right in the heart of the town of Bowmore as so close to the water that the waves sometimes come crashing in over the warehouses. I’ve had one of my favourite ever tours here, as this is an Islay distillery that really gives you the opportunity to discover the traditional practices of scotch whisky production. They still have a traditional malting floor, whereas most distilleries nowadays buy their malt from maltsters across the UK.
Bowmore is known for having a slightly milder smoky character than the “peat monsters” on the island. It still has a lovely and elegant character of its own and might be a good one to try if you’re easing yourself into the smoke as well.
- Tour prices: from £25/pp
- Whisky recommendation: Bowmore 15 Year Old
- Location: Bowmore
Bruichladdich
Bruichladdich are often considered some of the more experimental and sustainable distilleries on the island and often use local barley or wine casks in their maturation. Its modern renaissance came in 2001 after having been mothballed in 1994. The distillery is located on the western part of the island and you can do both whisky or gin experiences here.
Bruichladdich makes both peated and unpeated whisky. Some of their most renowned whiskies are part of the Octomore Range which are some of the smokiest whiskies produced as per their ppm which is how you measure peat levels. They also have their gin called The Botanist which is using botanicals from Islay. It’s a delicious gin and one of my personal favourites so highly recommend trying it.
- Tour prices: from £25/pp
- Whisky recommendation: The Classic Laddie or Islay Barley (and don’t miss their gin The Botanist which is one of my all time favourites!)
- Location: Near Port Charlotte
Bunnahabhain
Bunnahabhain has one of the most beautiful views on Islay. It’s looking across the water toward Jura and the iconic double peaks are quite a sight to behold on a clear day.
You will also find a great shop here and even some of their warehouse samples are available in mini or midi bottles, if you don’t want to commit to a full sized 70cl bottle. I really love that they have this available as you can buy several to try at home or bring as a souvenir.
Bunnahabhain primarily makes unpeated single malt, meaning it is not smoky like most other whiskies on the island. They use predominantly sherry casks which makes for a lovely fruity and spicy character. Occasionally they also do smoky whisky under the name Bunnahabhain Mòine. Mòine means peat in gaelic.
- Tour prices: from £20/pp
- Whisky recommendation: Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old
- Location: Islay’s northeast coast, past Port Askaig
Caol Ila
Caol Ila is a real classic distillery on the island, with gorgeous views toward Jura. The name Caol Ila means the ‘sound of Islay’ which comes from the strip of swift-moving water between Islay and Jura. The distillery has a nice café where you can enjoy food and the view at the same time. Caol Ila is the distillery on Islay which produces the highest quantity of whisky and is a great tour to experience if you want to see a big distillery. Besides their original tour you can also do a chocolate and whisky pairing experience. Or a cask draw which is the tour I have taken part in where you get to help draw cask samples straight from a cask to sample and enjoy in a guided tasting.
Caol Ila whisky is often described as having an ashy bonfire smoke which is not the most powerful on the island but still with a significant smoky character.
- Tour prices: from £21/pp
- Whisky recommendation: Caol Ila Distillers Edition
- Location: Islay’s northeast coast, past Port Askaig
Kilchoman
Kilchoman has quickly become a popular name on Islay, in spite of only starting producing in 2005. Which might sound like quite a while ago, but in whisky distillery terms it’s considered quite young. This is a farm distillery which is owned by the Wills family. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some of the sons in the family and they’ve told me very funny stories of how they had to bottle the whisky using teapots in the early days before they had a proper bottling hall on the site like they do now.
Kilchoman whisky is generally powerfully smoky with a lovely barley character.
- Tour prices: from £18/pp
- Whisky recommendation: Kilchoman 100% Islay
- Location: The west side of the island, near Machir Bay
Lagavulin
A classic amongst the distilleries on the Islay and an excellent tour if you want to see traditional whisky production right by the water. Tucked away on Islay’s south coast, it is possible to walk here from Port Ellen and back. At the distillery you can do a production tour but also a bottle your own experience or just visit the charming bar which has excellent cocktails. This is my dads favourite distillery so it was such a special trip, getting to show him around the island and visiting Lagavulin in 2025.
Lagavulin whisky has a smoky character often with a noticable traditional oak influence.
- Tour prices: from £22/pp
- Whisky recommendation: Lagavulin Distillers Edition
- Location: Islay’s south coast
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Laggan Bay
Laggan Bay is another recent addition to Islay which only started producing in 2026 so it will be a couple more years until the have whisky available. It is located right opposite the airport, in between Port Ellen and Bowmore on the same site as Islay Ales, which is the sister company. Although you can’t visit the whisky distillery just yet, you can book a tour of Islay Ales by contacting them via the website. My personal favourite beer from them is the Nerabus red rye ale but for a smoky taste of the island try the Black Rock Smoked Stout.
- Tour prices: Not yet available
- Whisky recommendation: Laggan Bay filled their first cask in April 2026 so it will be at least until after April 2029 until the first whisky could be released from the distillery due to mandatory three years of maturation.
- Location: Opposite the airport
♥ Stay near Laggan Bay and the airport at one of my favourite hotels on the island: The Machrie. Read my review of the hotel here!
Laphroaig
Laphroaig is another distillery known for its heavily smoky whisky. It is often described as having a medicinal character of TCP and is definitely one that can split opinions. Personally I think it’s a lovely whisky and it’s fun that it has such a unique flavour. It is a popular whisky in America still as it is said that the whisky could still be sold on prescription during prohibition as it both looked and tasted like medicine…
Laphroaig whisky is often recognisable with its coastal, smoky and medicinal notes and is a powerful whisky from the island.
- Tour prices: from £22/pp
- Whisky recommendation: Laphroaig 10 Year Old
- Location: Islay’s south coast
Portintruan
Portintruan is a new distillery project from Elixir Distillers which is opening soon on Islay’s south coast inbetween the village of Port Ellen and Laphroaig Distillery.
Whisky from Portintruan has not yet been released as it is scheduled to commence production in 2026, but I will update you on the progress when I can.
- Tour prices: Not yet available
- Whisky recommendation: It is anticipated that distillation will commence during 2026, so there will not be any whisky available until at least 2029 due to the minimum aging period of three years.
- Location: Islay’s south coast
Port Ellen
Port Ellen is the most luxurious distillery experience on the island. It has a lot of status due to it being a “lost distillery” for many years. Port Ellen actually closed down in 1983 due to a downturn of the scotch whisky industry. However in 2024 the distillery opened its doors again, completely revamped as parts of the original building was demolished. The experience is one of the more expensive available, however visitors do get quite the experience and the opportunity to sample some old and rare liquid.
Port Ellen is known for a very elegant and luxurious whisky due to its rarity and age. No new whisky has yet been released from the distillery since it was revived so only time will tell what comes next.
- Tour prices: from £250/pp
- Whisky recommendation: Port Ellen 1979
- Location: Port Ellen
The Gearach
Not much is yet known about the distillery at The Gearach Farm, only that a planning application has been submitted. I will update this guide as soon as I have any more information so watch this space.
- Tour prices: TBC
- Whisky recommendation: In planning stages so distillery is not yet in construction.
- Location: Near Port Charlotte
Islay Rum Distillery
It wouldn’t be a guide to all the distilleries on the island, if I missed out the Islay Rum Distillery. The distillery is located right outside of Port Ellen and makes premium small batch rum in an old lemonade factory. There are multiple products from white rum, to barrel matured and also spiced.
- Tours: available upon request by contacting the team through their website
- Rum recommendation: Islay Rum Barrel Aged
- Location: Just outside Port Ellen
Islay 4-day Whisky Tour
If you wish to leave the planning and organisation of your Islay tour to someone else, why not book a 4-day tour to the Isle of Islay with the professional team from Rabbie’s Tours, departing from Edinburgh?
You might even get one of my friends as your driver if you’re lucky – and then you’re definitely in good hands!
FAQ – Distilleries on Islay
To see a traditional distillery which makes world renowned scotch whisky, Lagavulin Distillery is a good choice.
The south coast distilleries, Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Laphroaig and Portintruan, are all located along the same road and you can walk between them. Port Ellen is also walking distance from the town, so could be included in this route.
Some must-try whiskies from Islay include Laphroaig 10 Year Old, Lagavulin 16 Year Old and Ardbeg 10 Year Old as they are all classic releases that are very popular world-wide.
Personally I really enjoy the Ardbeg Distillery tour, as it’s both scenic and has some fantastic whisky – but it all depends on what kind of experience you are after.
Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Ardnahoe and Kilchoman all have a café or restaurant on site.
There are 12 whisky distilleries on Islay that are currently producing or planning to start producing spirit this year (2026).
Looking for more inspiration for your Islay trip?
- Isle of Islay in Scotland: a guide to visiting the whisky island
- The Machrie Hotel: elegance and luxury on the isle of Islay
- Inside Ardbeg House: Islay’s Ultimate Whisky Hotel
- Isle of Islay Hotels & Where to Stay: from coastal luxury to cosy AirBNBs
Or perhaps for your travels across Scotland?
- Romantic getaways in Scotland: The Most Luxurious Escapes for Couples in 2026
- Edinburgh: A local’s guide and recommendations to things to do and see
- The best time to visit Edinburgh: A seasonal travel guide
- A whisky writers guide to Speyside in Scotland
- Isle of Raasay Guide – the hidden island gem next to the Isle of Skye
- Isle of Skye restaurants, cafés and oyster sheds
Meet Moa, our multi-talented writer from Sweden who now calls Edinburgh, Scotland home. With over a decade exploring Europe’s hidden corners—from Nordic landscapes to alpine villages—Moa brings a unique perspective shaped by her years as a travel guide in the Swiss and Austrian Alps. As a whisky book author and freelance drinks writer, she has an eye for exceptional food and beverage experiences, while her background as a photographer ensures she never misses a scenic moment. Whether she’s discovering old European cities or chasing golden hour in mountain villages, Moa’s stories blend cultural insight with a dash of adventure and plenty of authenticity.
