Kilchoman Distillery
Kilchoman Distillery is Scotland's only independent farm distillery and one of Islay's most celebrated producers. Situated at Rockside Farm on the western shore of Islay, within a 1,400-acre working farm, Kilchoman was founded in December 2005 by Anthony Wills — the first distillery to be built on Islay since Malt Mill in 1908, ending a gap of nearly a century. It remains independently family-owned and operated.
What makes Kilchoman uniquely significant is its commitment to the complete whisky-making process on a single farm: growing barley, floor malting it, distilling, maturing, and bottling all on Islay. No other distillery in Scotland completes all stages from field to bottle on one site. The distillery filled its first casks on 14 December 2005 and celebrated 20 years of production in December 2025.
Tours
Available
On-site Shop
Open
Online Shop
Available
History
Anthony Wills conceived Kilchoman with a "field-to-bottle" philosophy from the outset. He chose Rockside Farm for its agricultural land capable of growing barley, its access to a clean water source, and its location on the western, more exposed side of Islay — adding further maritime character to the maturing spirit.
The inaugural 3-year-old bottling appeared in September 2009, introducing Kilchoman to the whisky world. The first 100% Islay expression — made entirely from Islay-grown, floor-malted barley — was released in 2011. The core Machir Bay expression was launched in 2012 and has become the distillery's primary ambassador, combining consistent quality with wide distribution. Loch Gorm (named after a nearby loch) arrived as an annual sherry cask release in 2013; Sanaig followed as a worldwide release in 2016.
The distillery has grown steadily, adding capacity over the years. It remains independently owned and operated by the Wills family. The Kilchoman Club — a members' programme offering exclusive annual bottlings and distillery discounts — has built a loyal international following. The distillery celebrated its 20th anniversary of production in December 2025.
Production
Kilchoman operates two wash stills and two spirit stills, with an annual capacity of approximately 500,000 litres. Water is drawn from a small dam close to the distillery. The farm grows its own barley, which is floor-malted on-site to approximately 20 ppm phenols — giving a more moderate peat character. Additional malt is sourced from Port Ellen Maltings, peated to the same intensity as Ardbeg at approximately 50 ppm. The use of both malting levels allows Kilchoman to produce expressions of varying smokiness from the same site.
Tasting Character
Kilchoman's house style is maritime peat smoke balanced against crisp citrus sweetness, with cooked fruit and warm spice. The maritime exposure of the western Islay farmland directly influences the maturing spirit:
- Machir Bay — 46% ABV; citrus fruit, layered vanilla, and butterscotch alongside maritime peat; the most widely available expression
- Sanaig — 46% ABV; richer and fruitier, with caramel, citrus, and softer peat smoke; more sherry influence
- 100% Islay — 50% ABV; made entirely from Islay-grown, floor-malted barley at ~20 ppm; fragrant citrus and caramel sweetness with fresh fruit and light smoke; distinctive terroir
- Loch Gorm — 46% ABV; annual sherry cask release; spicy dark chocolate, cooked fruits, rich peat, and toffee
What They Produce
Notable Bottlings
- Machir Bay£44.25 — 46% ABV; flagship expression; citrus, vanilla, maritime peat; widely available
- Sanaig — 46% ABV; richer and fruitier; sherry influence with soft peat smoke
- 100% Islay£72.95 — 50% ABV; field-to-bottle; Islay-grown, floor-malted barley; fragrant and lightly smoky
- Loch Gorm£73.50 — 46% ABV; annual release; sherry cask maturation; dark fruit, chocolate, and peat
- Kilchoman 16 Year Old£192.00 — Bourbon and oloroso sherry matured; shows depth of ageing
- Batch Strength£57.00 — Annual cask strength release; unfiltered and bold
- PX Sherry Cask Matured£80.25 — Pedro Ximénez finish; rich, sweet, and smoky
- Kilchoman Club exclusives£150.00 — Annual members-only limited bottlings
Buy their whiskey
Browse our affiliate whisky retailers for Kilchoman Distillery and more.
The Whisky Barrel
The Whisky Shop
Loch Fyne Whiskies
Master of Malt
The Whisky Exchange
Digital Distiller
We earn a commission from purchases through these links at no cost to you. Affiliate disclosure
Visiting
The distillery is located at Rockside Farm, Bruichladdich, Isle of Islay, and is open to visitors throughout the year. Tours and tastings are available, giving visitors sight of the floor maltings and the full farm distillery operation. A farm café and well-stocked retail shop are on site. The Kilchoman Club membership offers exclusive annual bottlings, distillery discounts, and priority access to limited releases. An online shop is available at kilchomandistillery.com.
Official Website
