Islay is a small island off the west coast of Scotland, and its whisky has a reputation all its own. When people ask for a "smoky Scotch," they are usually asking for an Islay malt. This guide covers what the Islay name means on a label, where the smoke comes from, how peat levels are measured, and which Islay bottles we have on the shelf right now.
What makes a whisky "Islay"
Under the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009, Scotch can carry one of five geographical names: the regions Highland, Lowland and Speyside, and the localities Campbeltown and Islay. Islay is defined as the Isle of Islay in Argyll, so a whisky labeled as an Islay single malt has to be distilled on the island.
The island has about ten working distilleries, including Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Bowmore, Caol Ila, Bunnahabhain, Bruichladdich, Kilchoman and Ardnahoe. Port Ellen, which closed in 1983, reopened in 2024.
Where the smoke comes from
The smoky flavor in Islay whisky starts before distillation. After barley is malted, it has to be dried, and many Islay distilleries dry it over a peat fire. The smoke carries phenolic compounds into the grain, and those compounds carry through into the spirit.
Peat levels are measured in phenol parts per million, or ppm. The number refers to the malted barley, not the finished whisky, and some of the phenols are lost during production. A whisky made from 40 ppm malt will not taste "40 ppm" in the glass, but the number is still a useful guide to how smoky a whisky is meant to be.
Not every Islay whisky is heavily peated. Bunnahabhain is generally lightly peated, and Bruichladdich makes an unpeated single malt alongside its smoky ranges.
Islay bottles to try
Lagavulin
Lagavulin 16 Year is one of the best-known Islay malts, aged 16 years and bottled at 43% ABV. If you want the same distillery with a sweeter edge, Lagavulin Distillers Edition is double matured in Pedro Ximénez seasoned American oak casks and also bottled at 43%.
Ardbeg
Ardbeg Corryvreckan is named after a nearby whirlpool and bottled at natural cask strength of 57.1% ABV. It is a good pick for someone who already likes peated whisky and wants something bolder.
Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte and Octomore
Bruichladdich bottles whisky under three names. The Classic Laddie is its flagship unpeated single malt, made with 100% Scottish barley and bottled at 50% ABV. It is a good way to show that Islay is not only about smoke.
Port Charlotte is Bruichladdich's heavily peated range, named after a village near the distillery. The Port Charlotte 18 Year was the first 18 year old released under the Port Charlotte name.
Octomore is the super-heavily peated series. Octomore 15.1 is a 5 year old whisky made from barley peated to 108.2 ppm, aged in first-fill and re-charred bourbon casks and bottled at 59.1% ABV.
Kilchoman
Kilchoman describes itself as Islay's only farm distillery. Its Loch Gorm line is named after the island's largest freshwater loch, which the distillery overlooks. Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2023 combines 22 casks distilled between 2013 and 2015, fully matured in oloroso sherry casks, and is bottled at 46% ABV.
Caol Ila
Caol Ila whisky also appears under independent labels. Gordon & MacPhail Caol Ila 17 Year 2002 is a bottling from Gordon & MacPhail, an independent bottler, of Caol Ila spirit distilled in 2002 and aged 17 years.
How to choose
- New to Islay: start with Lagavulin 16 or Lagavulin Distillers Edition.
- Want Islay without smoke: The Classic Laddie.
- Like big, high-proof whisky: Ardbeg Corryvreckan or Octomore 15.1.
- Prefer sherry cask flavor with peat: Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2023.
You can browse more bottles in our Scotch Whiskey and Single Malt Whiskey collections. Shop Buzzed ships from California to 44 states, and an adult signature (21+) is required on delivery.
