Islay whisky is Scotch whisky made on Islay one of the southernmost of the Inner Hebridean Islands located off the west coast of Scotland. Islay is one of five whisky distilling localities and regions in Scotland whose identity is protected by law. There are nine active distilleries and the industry is the island’s second largest employer after agriculture. Islay is a centre of “whisky tourism”, and hosts a “Festival of Malt and Music” known as Fèis Ìle each year on the last week of May, with events and tastings celebrating the cultural heritage of the island.
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MacNair’s Lum Reek 21 Year Old 70cl, 48%
This is a blended malt produced by Billy Walker, Master Distiller at Glenallachie and formerly of Glendronach and Benriach fame.
Lum Reek is a mixture of Islay and Glenallachie single malts, with a name derived from the old Scots ‘lum’ meaning chimney and ‘reek’ meaning smoke or smell. This particular expression is their premium 21 year old.
From the MacNair’s Lum Reek range comes a 21 year old blended malt Scotch whisky, made by the GlenAllachie Distillers Company. Whisky from Islay and Speyside has been used here, all matured for at least 21 years. A trio of terrific cask types were used to create this expression, namely Oloroso sherry, virgin oak, and red wine casks.
Category Blended Malt
Bottler Distillery Bottling
Bottler series Lum Reek Peated
Bottled 2021
Indicated Age 21 years old
Barrel type Spanish sherry, French oak & Virgin oak
Alcohol 48.0 % Vol.
Contents 700 ml
Smokehead 18 Year Old Extra Black (70cl, 46%)
A release of 6,000 bottles of 18 year old Smokehead, packaged smartly in an “extra black” bottle. Full bodied and rich.
Caol Ila 18 Year Old (70cl, 43%)
A wonderfully balanced expression from the core Caol Ila range, this 18 year old is malty and thick with notes of Caol Ila smoke and phenols, a lovely Islay single malt without extreme levels of peat.
Bruichladdich Octomore 11.3 Dialogos 5 Year Old Islay Barley (70cl, 61.7%)
It’s Bruichladdich’s Octomore 11.3 expression right here, folks! This particular edition was made with barley grown on Islay by James Brown at the Octomore Farm, which is exposed to the coastal breeze of the Atlantic Ocean. After distillation, it was allowed to matured for five years in first-fill American whiskey casks, including ones from Jim Beam, Heaven Hill, Buffalo Track and Jack Daniel’s. As ever for the Octomore series, this is a heavily peated stuff, weighing in at a hefty 194 PPM.
Category Single Malt
Distillery Bruichladdich
Bottler Distillery Bottling
Bottler series Islay Barley – Irene’s Field
Vintage 2014
Bottled 07/08.07.2020
Indicated Age 05 years old
Number of bottles 18000
Alcohol 61.7 % Vol.
Contents 700 ml
Laphroaig 18 Year Old (70cl, 48%)
This edition of Laphroaig’s 18-year-old single malt joined its collection in 2024, becoming the pinnacle of the legendary Islay distillery’s core range. The whisky spent its time maturing in bourbon casks and after 18 years, it boasts generous layers of vanilla, ripe fruit, and honey sweetness alongside the herbaceous, medicinal peat and pungent smoke at its core.
Laphroaig The Ian Hunter Story Set Book 1 – 5 (5 x 70cl)
BOOK 1:UNIQUE CHARACTER
30 YEAR OLD 2019 IAN HUNTER
The first chapter in The Ian Hunter Story, Book 1: Unique Character represents Laphroaig traditions born out of Ian Hunter’s formidable character and unyielding influence. This 30-year-old non-chill filtered whisky aptly aged in first-fill bourbon barrels is where Ian Hunter’s influence is most obvious, having been the catalyst for the introduction of American white oak barrels into the maturation process of Laphroaig,Over time, the original smokiness of this 30-year-old whisky has become less of an assault on the senses. Beautifully married with the sweet vanilla notes enhanced with ageing, the whisky develops into a more mature, well-rounded dram.
BOOK 2: THE ICON
30 YEAR OLD 2020 IAN HUNTER
The second release in our Ian Hunter Story pays tribute to the Icon that Ian Hunter built more than 100 years ago and honours his understanding that no one thing is more important to the creation of Laphroaig than the place it comes from – Islay and the ‘hollow by the bay’ where Laphroaig® first came into being. Aged for 30 years in Spanish Oak Oloroso Sherry oaks, this non-chill filtered whisky is underscored with Laphroaig’s signature characteristic peatiness, making this second book a unique peated single malt whisky journey through history.
BOOK 3: SOURCE PROTECTOR
33 YEAR OLD 2021 IAN HUNTER
This 33-year-old Vintage 1987, Ex-Bourbon Barrel Matured Single Malt is the third release in our series of rare and collectable aged whiskies to celebrate the story of Ian Hunter.Book Three: Source Protector celebrates the legacy of Ian Hunter, the last of the Johnston family to own and manage the Laphroaig® distillery, and his fight to protect the Kilbride Stream. This is a story of uncompromising guardianship and a battle between neighbours, over every distillery’s essential lifeblood, its source of water.Having been fully matured in ex-Bourbon barrels, Laphroaig’s characteristic peatiness really shines through the creamy liquorice notes of this 33-year-old single malt, creating a whisky as distinctive as the man it’s named after.
BOOK 4: MALT MASTER
34 YEAR OLD 2022 IAN HUNTER
The latest release in this series of rare and collectable aged whiskies celebrates Ian Hunter as the Malt Master, honouring his legacy of establishing our malting floors and the impact they still make on the taste of Laphroaig today.This 34-year-old single malt was carefully crafted from our own floor-malted barley and aged in the American White Oak casks and finished in Oloroso Sherry casks. Perhaps not for everyone, this will be a taste like no other.
BOOK 5: ENDURING SPIRIT
34 YEAR OLD 2023 IAN HUNTER
Book 5 is the final release in this iconic, beloved series and is aptly named Enduring Spirit, celebrating the lasting legacy of the final member of the Johnston family to own and manage the Laphroaig distillery.Ian Hunter had astounding vision for Laphroaig’s future, and he nurtured its growth alongside the rich heritage of Islay and its people. Thanks to this dedication and passion, the Scotch whisky you enjoy today boasts such a distinctive flavour that sets it apart from the crowd.His vision and doggedness, while occasionally polarising in life, are characteristics that have been essential to imparting a lasting impact on the processes and practices still in place on our island home today.There can be no finer way to culminate this series dedicated to Ian and his life than paying tribute to the enduring spirit he has left behind. The final instalment is a 34-year-old single malt with intriguing flavours of classic Laphroaig peat combined with accents of fruity blueberry and sweet, rich butterscotch. This combination of classic and modern flavours showcases the evolving vision and individuality that Ian Hunter had in mind for Laphroaig whisky, making it certainly a legacy of spirit that will endure.
Laphroaig 30 Year Old The Ian Hunter Story Book 1 Unique Character 2019 70cl, 46.7%
BOOK 1:UNIQUE CHARACTER
30 YEAR OLD 2019 IAN HUNTER
The first chapter in The Ian Hunter Story, Book 1: Unique Character represents Laphroaig traditions born out of Ian Hunter’s formidable character and unyielding influence. This 30-year-old non-chill filtered whisky aptly aged in first-fill bourbon barrels is where Ian Hunter’s influence is most obvious, having been the catalyst for the introduction of American white oak barrels into the maturation process of Laphroaig,Over time, the original smokiness of this 30-year-old whisky has become less of an assault on the senses. Beautifully married with the sweet vanilla notes enhanced with ageing, the whisky develops into a more mature, well-rounded dram.
Category Single Malt
Distillery Laphroaig
Bottler Distillery Bottling
Bottling series The Ian Hunter Story – Book 1
Vintage 1987
Bottled 2019
Stated Age 30 years old
Cask Type 1st Fill American White Oak Bourbon Barrels
Number of bottles 4800
Strength 46.7 % Vol.
Size 700 ml
Label Book 1 : Unique Character
Laphroaig 34 Year Old The Ian Hunter Story Book 4 Malt Master 2022 70cl, 46.2%
BOOK 4: MALT MASTER
34 YEAR OLD 2022 IAN HUNTER
The latest release in this series of rare and collectable aged whiskies celebrates Ian Hunter as the Malt Master, honouring his legacy of establishing our malting floors and the impact they still make on the taste of Laphroaig today.This 34-year-old single malt was carefully crafted from our own floor-malted barley and aged in the American White Oak casks and finished in Oloroso Sherry casks. Perhaps not for everyone, this will be a taste like no other.
Category Single Malt
Distillery Laphroaig
Bottler Distillery Bottling
Bottling series The Ian Hunter Story – Book 4
Vintage 1987
Bottled 04.10.2021
Stated Age 34 years old
Cask Type Ex-Bourbon and Ex-Oloroso
Strength 46.2 % Vol.
Size 700 ml
Label Book 4 : Malt Master
Ardbeg 1998 Almost There 70cl, 54.1%
Following on from Very Young and Still Young, Ardbeg Almost There showed the final stage in the evolution of young cask-strength Ardbeg 1998 before it blossomed into the Renaissance 10 yr-old. As you would expect, this is a mellower, more rounded, better balanced dram than the younger incarnations.
This promising Ardbeg, first released in 2004, is now released another year older, as we follow the path to Ardbeg 10 years old. ‘Almost There’ has developed robustly, with more rounded and full-flavoured Ardbeg characteristics.
The path to maturity 1998 – 2008
Since the distillery re-opened in 1997, many enthusiasts of Ardbeg have been keen to sample our work in progress – none more so than the worldwide aficionados of the Ardbeg Committee. It was to them that we released a limited bottling of ‘Very Young’ Ardbeg for discussion and comment. ‘Still Young’ Ardbeg was bottled in 2006 and ‘Almost There’ Ardbeg is now the third and final limited release along the peaty road to full maturity.
Category Single Malt
Distillery Ardbeg
Bottler Distillery Bottling
Bottling series 3rd Release
Vintage 1998
Bottled 2007
Strength 54.1 % Vol.
Size 700 ml
Laphroaig 30 Year Old The Ian Hunter Story Book 2 Building an Icon 2020 70cl, 48.2%
BOOK 2: THE ICON
30 YEAR OLD 2020 IAN HUNTER
The second release in our Ian Hunter Story pays tribute to the Icon that Ian Hunter built more than 100 years ago and honours his understanding that no one thing is more important to the creation of Laphroaig than the place it comes from – Islay and the ‘hollow by the bay’ where Laphroaig® first came into being. Aged for 30 years in Spanish Oak Oloroso Sherry oaks, this non-chill filtered whisky is underscored with Laphroaig’s signature characteristic peatiness, making this second book a unique peated single malt whisky journey through history.
Distillery Laphroaig
Bottler Distillery Bottling
- Bottling series The Ian Hunter Story – Book 2
Vintage 1986
Stated Age 30 years old
Cask type Spanish Oloroso Sherry
Number of bottles 4800
Strength 48.2 % Vol.Size 700 ml
Label Book 2 : Building an Icon
Lagavulin 12 Year Old Special Release 2024 (70cl, 57.4%)
The highly-anticipated Lagavulin expression from the Diageo Special Releases annual collection. The 2024 edition was matured in first-fill bourbon oak casks and refill casks before being bottled at a boisterous 57.4% ABV.
Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Year Old Batch 6 (70cl, 46.2%)
This is the 6th batch of Ardbeg’s popular Traigh Bhan (pronounced tri-van) whisky. It was aged for 19 years in a combo of bourbon and oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 46.2% ABV. Traigh Bhan is a beach on Islay known locally as the Singing Sands and Ardbeg says it takes inspiration from the white soft sands juxtaposed against the jagged, volcanic rocks which pierce the sand along the shore.
Bottler Distillery Bottling
Bottling serie Small Batch
Release Vintage
Bottled 2024
Stated Age 19 years old
Cask type American Oak & Oloroso
Cask number Batch 6
Strength 46.2 % Vol.Size 700 ml
Caol Ila 18 Year Old Unpeated Special Releases 2017 (70cl, 59.8%)
The oldest-ever whisky in the unpeated series from Caol Ila, an 18-year-old single malt with memorable fruitiness. Excellent as an aperitif and recommended to be served with a drop of water, this dram offers delicious aromas of lemon and egg custard, followed by flavours of freshly baked apple pies and a spiced pastry finish.
Laphroaig 10 Year Old (70cl, 40%)
Our 10 Year Old is the original Laphroaig, distilled the same way today as when Ian Hunter invented it more than 75 years ago. It is the foundation of all other Laphroaig expressions.
In making Laphroaig, malted barley is dried over a peat fire. The smoke from this peat, found only on Islay, gives Laphroaig its particularly rich flavour.
Those enjoying the 10 Year Old will first notice the bold, smoky taste, followed by a hint of seaweed and a surprising sweetness. This full-bodied variant is the foundation of all Laphroaig expressions and comes with a long finish.
This whisky was also named 2019 Best Single Malt Scotch 10 Years & Under by Jim Murrayâ Whisky Bible.
Kilchoman Sauternes Cask Matured 2024 Release 70cl, 50%
Limited edition fruity single malt from Kilchoman, matured for a minimum of five years in first-fill and refill Sauternes casks. An old favourite of Kilchoman fans, this dram displays mouthwatering notes of butterscotch, candied apricots, salty peat smoke and a long, lingering finish.
A limited edition release from Islay’s Kilchoman distillery, this is the 2024 edition of its Sauternes Cask Matured single malt. This expression spent its full maturation (a minimum of five years) in a host of fresh and refill sauternes sweet wine casks selected by Kilchoman founder Anthony Wills to achieve a perfect balance of buttery sweetness, grilled fruit, sweet spice, and floral peat.
Kilchoman Batch Strength (70cl, 57%)
Kilchoman Batch Strength was aged in a combination of re-charred red wine casks, oloroso sherry butts and bourbon barrels. The result is a heavy dram with notes of stewed plums, citrus oils, bonfire smoke and hints of salted caramel.
Batch Strength from Islay’s Kilchoman is bottled at a hearty 57% ABV. The peated single malt is matured in a combo of re-charred red wine casks, oloroso sherry butts, and bourbon barrels, imparting rich notes of caramel and spiced dark fruit to the zesty, smoky malt at its core.