Kilchoman

Scotland, Scotland

Established in 2005 by Anthony Wills, Kilchoman (pronounced Kil-ho-man) is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland. Based on a farm on the rugged west coast of Islay, Kilchoman was the first distillery to be built on the island for 125 years. Anthony was keen to revive the lost art of farm distilling once widespread before the commercialisation of the distilleries in the late 1800s. Over a decade into his journey, Kilchoman’s 100% Islay range remains the only Islay single malt produced completely on site, 'from barley to bottle'.

James Wills, son of Anthony is the Marketing and Sales Manager for Kilchoman, here are his thoughts on Machir Bay: 'The mainstay of the Kilchoman range. In my view Machir Bay is everything that a bold Islay whisky should be, smoky and intense, it gives you a little punch in the gullet whenever you take a sip just to remind you that you’re not swilling any old dram. The balance of casks, mostly ex-bourbon barrels, allows the Kilchoman spirit to shine through, the earthiness and maritime character marrying with citrus sweetness and tropical fruit then layers of caramel, vanilla and butterscotch. For all sorts of reasons, Machir Bay is the Kilchoman expression I’m drinking 9 times out of 10. It embodies Kilchoman, Islay and the uniqueness of our whisky.'