Distillery Tours on Islay

Whisky has been made on Islay for centuries. It started in crofts up in the hills and in caves on the shoreline, but at the end of the 1800′s the government ruled that all illicit distilling should cease, and so the present-day distilleries were born.

The distilling process, whilst modernised, still reflects the past traditions and recipes. Water flows down from the hills, the peat is cut from the land and the whisky is made with great care, then matured for decades before it finally can be drunk. Fortunately, we no longer need to head for the hills or to the caves to see the wonderful process in action.

If you head eastwards along the beautiful coast road and within 3 miles of the Islay Hotel you will find 3 world-famous Islay Whisky Distilleries – firstly the Laphroaig Distillery, then Lagavulin and Ardbeg. Distillery tours and tastings are a must on a visit to Islay, attracting visitors from across the globe all year round. All 8 Islay Distilleries offer tours each day.

More info on each Distillery and their facilities can be found on our Distilleries page.