The Kilchoman Distillery is a Scottish whisky distillery that produces single malt Scotch whisky on the Isle of Islay, one of the Inner Hebrides. The distillery was founded by Anthony Wills and is located near Machir Bay in the northwest of the island. Kilchoman remains an independent, family-run distillery and is the smallest on Islay. Since acquiring Rockside Farm in 2015, the distillery has been expanding.
The Kilchoman Distillery began operations in December 2005 and was the first new distillery to be built on Islay since 1908. The distillery uses barley grown on Rockside Farm and malted at the distillery, as well as malt from the Port Ellen maltings. This allows Kilchoman to produce different releases depending on the origin of the grain.
A unique feature of the distillery is the traditional floor malting, which is practiced by only a few distilleries in Scotland. Kilchoman carries out all parts of the whisky production process – from barley growing to malting, distillation, maturation, and bottling – on Islay, making it unique.
Kilchoman produces about 100,000 liters of alcohol annually and uses a mixture of bourbon and sherry casks for maturation. The distillery has made a name for itself through its innovative methods and commitment to quality, regularly releasing limited editions that are recognized by whisky enthusiasts worldwide.
The first single malt of the modern distillery was released in 2009, and since then, Kilchoman has received several awards and is considered a symbol of the return to traditional whisky-making roots.
Among the famous releases from the Kilchoman Distillery are "Machir Bay," named after the nearby bay, known for its balanced taste.
Another popular release is "Loch Gorm," a whisky matured in sherry casks, appreciated for its deep color and rich flavor.
"Sanaig," a blend of bourbon and sherry cask matured whiskies, offers a harmonious combination of sweet and smoky aromas.
Also noteworthy is the "100% Islay," a whisky where every step of the production process is carried out on the island – from growing the barley to bottling.
