Islay, Scotland
Kilchoman Machir Bay
- Smoky
- Maritime
- Fruity
Distillery
Kilchoman whiskies
Kilchoman is a farm distillery in the west of Islay, on Rockside farm, near Machir Bay beach. It opened in the mid-2000s and was the first new distillery on the island in more than a century. It is independent and family-run, and one of the few Scottish distilleries that grow part of their barley and malt it on site. Its style is smoky, fresh and fruity, with plenty of personality for a young whisky.
- Founded
- 2005
- Owner
- No data
- Origin
- Islay, Scotland
- In the catalogue
- 4 whiskies
History, style and where to startSee it on the world mapKilchoman official website(opens in a new tab)
Photos of Kilchoman
Photo: David Hallett · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons (cropped and converted) 
Photo: yashima · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons (cropped and converted) 
Photo: Nigel Brown · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons (cropped and converted)
Islay, Scotland
Kilchoman Sanaig
- Smoky
- Dried fruit
- Sweet
Islay, Scotland
Kilchoman Loch Gorm
- Smoky
- Dried fruit
- Sweet
Islay, Scotland
Kilchoman 100% Islay
- Smoky
- Fruity
- Cereal
Guide to Kilchoman
History
Anthony Wills, a former wine and whisky trade worker, created the distillery with his family and the idea of reviving the model of the old farm distilleries, which grew, malted, distilled and bottled in the same place. It began distilling in 2005 and released its first young malts a few years later, to a very good reception. Over time it expanded the distillery and the range, which includes a line made only with barley grown on Islay itself. Kilchoman remains in the hands of the founding family. Its small size and commitment to transparency have won it a loyal following.
House style
Kilchoman’s style combines intense peat smoke with fresh fruit, citrus, vanilla and a briny touch. The share of barley malted on the farm itself is less peated than what it buys from a maltings, and the two are combined. It is a young but clean and lively whisky, bottled at a good strength and without chill filtration. It matures in bourbon and sherry casks.
Average flavour profile of its 4 whiskies in the catalogue
Where to start
Kilchoman Machir Bay is the benchmark expression: smoke, lemon and vanilla, with a touch of sherry, in a fresh, balanced style. Sanaig has more sherry cask and gains sweetness, dried fruit and body. They are good options for discovering a modern, craft Islay. You’ll like them if you already know the classic Islays and want to hear how the island sounds at a young distillery. Drink them neat or with a few drops of water.
This text was generated and translated by AI and may contain errors. Founding year, owner and official website come partly from Wikidata.
The colours of this page are inspired by the look of Kilchoman. WhiskyMatch is independent and has no connection with the brand.