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Islay (pronounced 'eye-lah') is a small island off Scotland's west coast, legendary for its powerful, heavily peated whiskies. Despite its modest size, Islay hosts nine working distilleries, each producing distinctive malts influenced by the island's maritime climate and abundant peat bogs. The island's economy revolves around whisky production.
“Bold, smoky, and maritime. Classic Islay malts feature intense peat smoke, iodine, seaweed, and medicinal notes. Many also show brine, citrus, and underlying sweetness. However, not all Islay whiskies are heavily peated—Bunnahabhain and Bruichladdich offer unpeated expressions. The phenol levels (ppm) vary significantly across distilleries.”
Peaty and smoky single malt
Rich and peaty
Peated, floral, and fruity
Unpeated and peated whiskies
Rich and complex with a maritime influence
Lightly peated with a floral and fruity character
Rich and peaty with a hint of sweetness
Rich, peaty, and smoky
Islay single malt
Peaty and smoky