Whisky Regions of Scotland – Islay

Scotch Whisky Produced in Islay

Have you ever desired to buy whisky you would possibly long past to a whisky shop or online whisky alternate however be confused approximately the distinct areas in Scotland? Just like France has it is personal wine generating areas, Scotland has it’s own whisky producing areas. So what makes a whisky produced on Islay one of a kind from whiskies produced within the Highlands? This is the 5th in whisky online store some of articles exploring the one-of-a-kind regions of Scotch whisky production. We have tested the Lowlands, Highlands and Speyside and the Islands. Let’s awareness on one island – the island of Islay. To fully respect the individuality of Scotch whisky it’s important that one understands about the special regions.

Islay (stated ‘EYE-lay’) is the southernmost of the Western Isles of Scotland. It has the very best awareness of distilleries on any of the alternative islands with around 8 distilleries. Because of this and because of the precise whisky produced Islay is assessed as an island in it’s very own right. Whiskies produced in Islay are commonly associated with a strong peaty flavour. Islay produces some of the satisfactory single malt whiskies from the whole of Scotland. It was in all likelihood in Islay in which whisky distillation became began in Scotland.

Distilleries on Islay

Let’s take a brief tour of some of the maximum nicely realize distilleries on Islay, starting with the north and running our manner south.

The Bunnahabhain (Pronounced ‘BOON-a-havn’) produces one of the milder Islay unmarried malts and has a completely particular flavor, special to that of different Islay whiskies. It has been producing whisky seeing that 1881.

Bowmore. The oldest distillery on the island and one of the maximum popular Islay whiskies being the second quality promoting whisky behind Laphroaig. The whiskies produced are peaty – not as mild as Bunnahabhain and not as intense as Laphroaig and Lagavullin. Most of the barley used is locally sourced, with some also being imported from the mainland. They produce many llimited versions whiskies, with the maximum high-priced being the Bowmore Trilogy – three rare whiskies which value round £15,000.

Lagavulin. The whiskies distilled right here are a number of the maximum excessive smokiest whiskies a person will taste. The peat is taken from a nearby peat bathroom which has very darkish peat. The whisky is one of the slowest distilled, with the primary distillation taking around five hours and the second one 9 hours. Most of the whisky is for sale as unmarried malt and simplest approximately 2% is kept for blending. It is one of the six classic malts. It was once the excellent selling Islay malt till Laphroaig took over.

Laphroaig. (Pronounced ‘La-FROYg’)Currently the excellent promoting Islay whisky and it has an almost cult following. There is really no longer any other unmarried malt which compares to Laphroaig. It has an very smelly flavour. It additionally has royal connections, with the 15 year vintage unmarried malt being the favourite of Prince Charles. They additionally produce 27- 30- and forty- year vintage unmarried malts which might be rare and pricey.

In conclusion

Islay whiskies represent a number of the quality Scotch whiskies available. They have all the elements that humans assume from single malts with very reported peaty tastes, even though a number of the greater pungent ones might be a touch to sturdy for some people.