Kilchoman Whisky

Kilchoman is an Islay single malt Scotch whisky from the island's west coast, close to Machir Bay. Founded in 2005 by Anthony Wills, it was one of the most significant new arrivals in modern Islay whisky: a small, independent, family-run distillery built around traditional production and a close connection to the land around it.

Unlike many larger Scotch producers, Kilchoman operates as a farm distillery, growing barley at Rockside Farm and carrying out part of its malting on site. Its 100% Islay releases are especially notable for keeping every stage of production, from barley growing to bottling, on the island, while other bottlings combine distillery-grown grain with malt sourced from established Scottish maltings.

The house style is unmistakably Islay, with peat smoke at its core, but Kilchoman often expresses that smoke with brightness and precision rather than heaviness alone. Core expressions such as Machir Bay and Sanaig show the distillery's range across bourbon and sherry cask influence, balancing coastal peat, citrus, orchard fruit, spice and richer dried-fruit notes.

Kilchoman has quickly earned a strong reputation among modern Scotch drinkers, not through scale or long age statements, but through clarity of identity. It offers an energetic, contemporary take on Islay whisky while preserving many of the hands-on methods that enthusiasts value most.