Kilchoman Timeline

2001

After a 20-year career in the drinks industry, initially in wine and latterly as an independent bottler of whisky, Anthony Wills has the idea of building a new Islay distillery. Kilchoman Distillery Company Ltd is incorporated as a private limited company on November 12th, 2001.

2003

The idea of building a new Islay distillery is met with some scepticism. Questions are asked as to whether the island really needs eight distilleries, but Anthony presses ahead regardless.

2004

Anthony and his wife Kathy move to Islay with their three teenage sons to build Islay’s first new distillery in over 124 years.

The Island isn’t new to the family. Kathy‘s grandparents, the Wilks’, have lived on Islay since 1937.

Building work starts in late 2004, the goal is to establish a farm distillery capable of producing 600 to 800 barrels a year from barley grown and malted on site.

2005

After numerous problems with malting, boilers, pipework and other equipment, the project is late and overbudget.  But, on December 14th, 2005, Anthony fills the first cask of Kilchoman.  Selected casks are sold to private individuals during the first few years of production to offset some of the mounting costs.

The light at the end of the tunnel; Jim Swan, Anthony’s distillation consultant, is adamant that the Kilchoman new make spirit is superb, so much so, that he is certain if it is matured in the right casks, it will be ready to release in three years’ time.

2006

A kiln fire causes extensive damage and halts the malting of Kilchoman-grown barley for several months.

The story of how the kiln caught fire is still a mystery but maybe there’s a limit to the responsibilities you should give your teenage sons.

Despite the fire, 2006 is the first full year of distilling.  A total of 353 casks are filled.

2009

After battling through from 2005 to 2008 with huge financial pressure, 2009 is a milestone year.  The very first bottle of Kilchoman single malt, drawn directly from Cask No.1, was auctioned, raising £5,400 for local Islay charities.

Later that year, the Inaugural Release was launched, a vatting of three-year-old Kilchoman matured in bourbon barrels and finished in oloroso sherry casks. The whisky receives rave reviews and sets a high bar for future Kilchoman releases.

2010

The bespoke Kilchoman bottle is created.

The company announces that, due to increasing demand for Kilchoman whisky, they have decided to increase production.

Robin Bignal is recruited as a part-time stillman.

2011

The Inaugural 100% Islay is released.  The first Single Farm Single Malt Islay whisky in over 100 years.  Grown, malted, distilled, matured and bottled right here at Kilchoman.

Anthony is adamant that to live up to its ‘Barley to Bottle’ tag line, bottles must be filled on site. The only problem was he didn’t have any bottling equipment.  However, he did have three sons, who were duly instructed to fill the 11,300 bottles… using teapots borrowed from the distillery’s café. Since then, every drop of Kilchoman has been bottled on site.

2012

After Anthony and John MacLellan, Distillery Manager, had released a number of seasonal limited editions, they felt that a permanent ‘Core Expression’ of Kilchoman was needed for the brand to reach a wider audience.

Machir Bay is launched as our flagship expression, encapsulating the balance of maritime peat smoke, citrus sweetness and mixed spices that defines Kilchoman single malt.

2013

The Conisby warehouses are built, capable of housing up to 6,000 casks.

The first edition of Loch Gorm is released.

2014

1,000 casks are filled for the first time in a calendar year.

The Wills boys go on the first of many tours around Europe, sharing our Kilchoman story across the continent.

2015

Having leased the farm buildings since 2005, the company purchases

the farm, and we are in charge of our own destiny; able to expand production and increase the amount of barley grown on the farm without restriction.

The first bottle of Kilchoman 10 Year Old is auctioned, raising £10,000 for the Beatson Cancer Charity, donated in memory of John MacLellan.

2016

Sanaig is created and launched worldwide. Matured predominantly in sherry casks, Sanaig showcases a richer, more rounded side to Kilchoman.

After initially launching in France, its popularity resulted in orders coming in from around the world. The popularity of Sanaig hasn’t slowed down since…

2018

Construction of the new malt floor and kiln is completed, enabling us to grow and malt more of our Kilchoman-grown barley.

2019

The stillhouse is extended.  Two new stills are added, along with a new mashtun and seven washbacks, taking our maximum capacity to around 4,500 casks per year.

The new stills are exact replicas of the original ‘2005 stills’, to ensure there is no difference in character between the new and the old stills.

2020

Our new visitor centre and café open, welcoming guests from around the world.

15 casks are auctioned to celebrate our 15th Anniversary.

2023

A limited edition Kilchoman 16 Year Old is launched. Anthony comments (with a tear in his eye).

“It’s been a hell of a long journey for those involved.  For me and Kathy in particular. To launch our 16 Year Old, it’s a very proud moment. We’ve got there.  I never thought we would if I’m honest.”

2024

Batch Strength is launched, our third core range expression, alongside Machir Bay and Sanaig. Batch Strength displays a more rugged and powerful side to Kilchoman.

Despite the 57% abv bottling strength, it’s delicacy and subtlety speak to the quality and steadfastness of the production processes put in place by Anthony and Jim Swan back in 2005.

2025

To mark our 20^th Anniversary, we unveiled a special 20^th Anniversary Cask Series in early 2025.  The series comprised of four releases, each a vatting of five specially selected casks: two 14 years olds, a 15 year old and an 18 year old.

In addition to the Cask Series, we celebrated the filling of our first cask on 14^th December, launching a prize draw, offering whisky lovers the once-in-a-lifetime chance to win the very first bottle of 20 Year Old Kilchoman, drawn directly from Cask No.1.

BACK TO ALL POSTS
• Facebook
• Twitter