A New Distillery with an Old Soul
In 2005 Anthony Wills opened Kilchoman — the first new distillery on the Isle of Islay in 124 years. The last before it was Malt Mill at Lagavulin in 1908. This event became a symbol of the renewed interest in small independent distilleries across Scotland.
Wills deliberately chose the concept of a "farm distillery" — historically the way most Scottish producers operated before the industrialisation of the 19th century. The distillery is situated on Rockside Farm on the island's western shore, far from the tourist trails. Nearby are the fields where the barley grows and the maltings where it is turned by hand on the floor.
Despite the distillery being less than 20 years old, Kilchoman has already won numerous international awards and developed a devoted following among enthusiasts of small independent producers. The youth of the whisky (most expressions are NAS or under 10 years old) does not prevent it from demonstrating a remarkable maturity of flavour.
Full Cycle on One Farm
01 — Growing
Concerto barley from Octofad farm adjacent to the distillery. A true farm product.
02 — Malting
Hand floor-malting with Islay peat. The most labour-intensive stage, done the traditional way.
03 — Distillation
Traditional copper pot stills, double distillation. Small batch, full control.
04 — Maturation
Ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks on the farm. Sea air of Islay permeates the warehouses.
05 — Bottling
Hand bottling on the same farm. Every step in one place — a genuine grain-to-bottle operation.
100% Islay Series
Limited annual release using only Octofad farm barley. Each bottle is a specific field of a specific harvest year.
Most expressions use a blend of ex-bourbon (contributing vanilla and apple) and Oloroso sherry (adding dried fruit and spice) casks — the proportions vary batch to batch, making each release unique.
Flavour Profile: Machir Bay
Nose
Fresh peat, vanilla, green apple. Sea breeze. A gentle farmyard note — hay, a touch of wax.
Palate
Medium peat, honeyed sweetness, spice. Citrus. Oily, good body for a young whisky.
Finish
Clean, medium length. Light smoke and vanilla. Refreshing close without harshness. Characteristic "young" clarity.
Machir Bay is the best demonstration that age does not define quality. Despite its youth, this whisky shows maturity and balance. Named after the coastal bay on Islay's western shore.
Distillery Range
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Machir BayFlagship. NAS, ~20 PPM. Blend of ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry. Fresh, fruity, light peat. The best introduction to the range.
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SanaigNAS. Sherry-dominant — a darker, richer style. Dried fruit, chocolate, peat in the background. Named after a cape on Islay.
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Loch GormAnnual limited release, 100% Oloroso Sherry casks. The darkest and richest in the core range. Named after a forest loch.
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100% IslayLimited annual release. Barley exclusively from Octofad farm. Terroir product — the taste of a specific field and year.