The Maury Cask Matured limited edition is not a finish, the whisky was aged for the full term of its maturation in ex-Maury fortified wine casks. Maury is a sweet, fortified wine from the Roussillon region of southern France, made primarily from Grenache noir grapes. The time the whisky has spent maturing in these wine casks, has added layers of dates, raisins and dark honey sweetness which balance beautifully with the natural peat smoke and citrus sweetness of Kilchoman.
“The Maury Cask Matured is a first ever release for us and something rarely seen on the market at all. These powerful fortified wine casks can be challenging to manage, but when you get them right, they can produce something really special.
We are known for our full maturation policy for many of our limited editions and this is another example of that, bringing through all those beautiful Maury flavours in a bold and balanced dram, not to mention the incredible crimson red hue to the whisky,” Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Founder.
The Maury Cask Matured will be available across the UK and Europe from this week. Click here to purchase the Maury Cask Matured from our online shop, or for more information on where to find this release, please email admin@kilchomandistillery.com.
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 20th Anniversary, we unveiled a special 20th 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 14th 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.
The Kilchoman Land Rover, with a brand new look, is heading back on the road for our biggest European Tour ever! This time we’ll be hitting 26 countries during a 10 week tour.
The 2026 tour will host events in France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg & the UK.
The Mezcal Cask Matured Tour Edition is our first release to be fully aged in mezcal casks for the entirety of its maturation. Bottled exclusively for the selected 2026 European Tour stops, this special release weaves together agave smoke and Islay peat smoke with waves of citrus, tropical fruit and mixed spices. You don’t want to miss out on this one!
Come along to an event near you and be the first to taste our fantastic Mezcal Tour Edition. Meet the team, hear some stories of life at Kilchoman, share some great whiskies and have some fun. We look forward to sharing a dram with you somewhere in Europe soon and as usual we’ll be bringing a few extra surprises in the Land Rover for you to take home…
See the list of the cities we will be visiting below. For more information about the events and how to purchase tickets please contact our distributors directly .
FRANCE
20th JANUARY : Aux Secrets des Vins, La Chapelle-d’Armentieres
21st JANUARY : Richardvins, Verdun
22nd JANUARY : Les Grands Alambics, Chambery
23rd JANUARY : Les vins de proprietaires, Audincourt
CONTACT: service-client@lmdw.com
SWITZERLAND
26th JANUARY : Häberli Weine, Damersellen & Selection Widmer, Eschenbach
27th JANUARY : Einstein, St Gallen & Sifowhi, Balzers
28th JANUARY : Paul Ullrich, Zurich & Whisky Shop Rapperswil, Rapperswil-Jona
CONTACT: info@ullrich.ch
ITALY
29th JANUARY : Whisky Antique, Modena & Blue Hush, Bologna
30th JANUARY : Enoteca Del Frate & Scotch, Rome
31st JANUARY : Enoteca Cucumazzo & Haus Cocktail Bar, Bari
CONTACT: info@finespirits.it
GREECE
3rd FEBRUARY : OAK Liquor Store, Athens
4th FEBRUARY : Olympion, Thessaloniki
CONTACT:
Athens: fragkos@tsaknakisbros.gr
Thessaloniki: psarras@tsaknakisbros.gr
BULGARIA
7th FEBRUARY : Bar Caldo & Craft Bistro, Sofia
CONTACT: office@winetrezor.com
ROMANIA
8th FEBRUARY: Whisky & More & Gloria Garden, Bucharest
CONTACT: agpc.import_house@yahoo.com
SERBIA
10th FEBRUARY: Dorćol Platz, Belgrade
CONTACT: info@globalspirits.rs
CROATIA
11th FEBRUARY : Fine Stvari, Zagreb
CONTACT: info@finestvari.hr
SLOVENIA
12th FEBRUARY : Kranj
CONTACT: info@venkavojo.si
AUSTRIA
13th FEBRUARY : Islay Whisky Chapter Austria, Graz
14th FEBRUARY : Potstill, Vienna
CONTACT: office@potstill.org
SLOVAKIA
15th FEBRUARY : Svet Napojov, Bratislava
CONTACT: info@svetnapojov.sk
HUNGARY
16th FEBRUARY : Etele Mall & Good Spirits Bar, Budapest
CONTACT: rendezveny@whiskynet.hu
CZECH REPUBLIC
17th FEBRUARY : The Whisky Shop, Brno
CONTACT: skarda@primeur.cz
POLAND
18th FEBRUARY : M&P & Whisky Pub Szkocka, Wroclaw
19th FEBRUARY : Miler Spirits & Style, Poznań
20th FEBRUARY : M&P, Gdansk
21st FEBRUARY : M&P, Warszawa
CONTACT: info@wina-mp.pl
LITHUANIA
22nd FEBRUARY : King & Mouse, Vilnius
CONTACT: girts@brander.lv
LATVIA
23rd FEBRUARY : Baltic XL/Alkoutlet XL & Benjamin House Bar, Riga
CONTACT: girts@brander.lv
ESTONIA
24th FEBRUARY : Super Alko & Heldeke, Tallinn
CONTACT: girts@brander.lv
FINLAND
25th FEBRUARY : Bierhaus Munchen, Helsinki
26th FEBRUARY : Kerttulin Kievari, Turku
CONTACT: myynti@diamondbeverages.fi
SWEDEN
28th FEBRUARY : Ardbeg Embassy, Stockholm
1st MARCH : Wärdshuset, Bredaryd
2nd MARCH : Bishops Arms, Malmö
3rd MARCH : Brygghuset, Fiskebäckskil
CONTACT: tn@symposionhot.com
NORWAY
4th MARCH : Lille Strøm Bar, Lillestrøm
5th MARCH : Tønsberg
CONTACT: mail@casknorway.no
DENMARK
6th MARCH : Vinspecialisten Silkeborg, Silkeborg
7th MARCH : Whiskymessen Festival, Kolding
CONTACT: sob@hjhansen.dk
GERMANY
9th MARCH : Hotel & Bar Behrens, Haldensleben
10th MARCH : TARA Spirits, Munich
11th MARCH : Pjs Whiskyshop, Völklingen
12th MARCH : Landhotel Rhönblick , Steinau Petersberg
13th MARCH : Gourmetage, Leipzig & Die Altstadtkneipe, Delitzsch
14th MARCH : Flickenschild, Itzehoe
15th MARCH : Whisk(e)y & More, Spaden
16th MARCH : Schlüter’s Geniessertreff, Wülfrath
CONTACT: info@hawe-bremen.de
NETHERLANDS
17th MARCH : Frans Muthert & Dramtime, Musselkanaal
18th MARCH : De Druiventuin, Leiden
19th MARCH : DH17, Bergen op Zoom
20th MARCH: Zeewijck, IJmuiden
CONTACT: info@bressertimmer.nl
BELGIUM
21st MARCH : Van Eccelpoel, Herentals & Prima Vinum, Lommel
23rd MARCH : Belgium East Wines, Verviers
24th MARCH : Ambrosius, Koksijde & Flavor Shop, Pajottegem
CONTACT: marketing@thenectar.be
LUXEMBOURG
22nd MARCH : Shopping-Center Massen
UK
26th MARCH : TBC
27th MARCH : Stourbridge
28th MARCH : The Pot Still, Robert Graham 1874 & The Good Spirits Co., Glasgow
29th MARCH : The Whisky Shop & Drinkmonger, Edinburgh
30th MARCH : Robbie’s Dram, Ayr
CONTACT: admin@kilchomandistillery.com
For more information about events and how to purchase tickets please contact our distributors directly. For general enquiries, please email admin@kilchomandistillery.com
Three years since our last Machir Bay Cask Strength release, the 2025 edition is here, and it delivers in every sense.
“One of my favourite whiskies we have released, it has everything I love about Kilchoman spirit, with a little extra punch. There will be a lot of happy Kilchoman fans seeing the Machir Bay Cask Strength back on shelves.” Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Founder.
This, the first release since the Machir Bay Evolution, is a peat lover’s dram through and through. Heavily peated, and bottled at cask strength; it hits hard and leaves its mark. That’s the magic of Islay whiskies under ten years: vibrant, fearless, and full of character. From powerful smoke and bright citrus to warm spices and fresh vanilla, every sip commands attention. Think of regular Machir Bay but turned up to full throttle.
Machir Bay Cask Strength shows a deep golden colour, richer than the standard expression. The nose is bold and smoky, with sweet vanilla and caramel from the bourbon barrels, layered with citrus and tropical fruit, and hints of floral and mineral complexity. On the palate, it is full-bodied and warming, with creamy malt sweetness balancing maritime peat smoke, fresh and candied citrus, toffee, and subtle spice. The finish is long and lingering, with smoke gradually giving way to vanilla, toasted coconut, and a soft saline note. This dram is perfect for those seeking a powerful and prolonged Machir Bay experience.
For more information on Machir Bay Cask Strength, please email admin@kilchomandistillery.com
Unique Barley Season = Unique Spirit Ahead
Our 2025 growing season began in The Long Field on 17 February, with ploughing completed across all fields by 21 April. By the end of April, all 140 acres had been ploughed and sown, marking a strong start to the year.
In previous seasons, we’ve planted more than one variety of barley. But this year, we returned exclusively to Laureate, a variety that served us well in 2017 and 2018.
Weather Challenges Shape the Crop
As the crop began to establish, nature, as always, had its say.
· A dry spring helped with early growth
· A wet June followed
· Then another prolonged dry spell and a persistent easterly wind
Unfortunately, the July–August dryness caused the barley to ripen without the moisture needed to increase grain size. This accelerated maturity meant an early harvest, starting 18 August, around two weeks ahead of normal. The timing proved fortunate, as heavy late-August rains paused combining across the island for nearly a month.
The Final Tally
Despite lower yields, the harvest brought its own success story:
· 214 tonnes of Laureate barley harvested
· Enough to produce approximately 65,000 LOA (or 520 barrels)
· Average yield of 1.5 tonnes per acre, compared with 2 tonnes per acre in 2024
The reduced yield was largely due to smaller grain size, one of the more visible impacts of the season’s unpredictable weather.
Barley with a Story to Tell
2025 will be remembered as a challenging yet distinctive barley-growing year — one that promises to influence the character of the spirit it becomes. Malting and distilling of this harvest will begin in early 2026, and we expect the resulting flavour profile to be every bit as unique as the season itself.
We know many will be watching eagerly — and waiting impatiently — to enjoy the story this barley will tell in the glass.
From Friday, 31st of October, the Kilchoman Visitor Centre & Café will be open Sunday to Thursday from 10:00 – 16:00. Closed on Fridays & Saturdays.
The Café is open from 10:00 – 15:30 for teas, coffees, and home baking. Lunch is served from 12:00 to 14:30; booking is advisable for lunch.
Our winter tour is now available to book through the website and is £25pp. The tour allows an indpeth look into our traditional malting floor, kiln, stillhouse and one of our dunnage style warehouses and includes 3 drams to enjoy along the way.
If you have any enquiries please contact the visitor centre:
📞: 01496 850 011
📧: tours@kilchomandistillery.com
The 100% Islay Sherry Cask Matured 11 Years Old, was distilled from our 2011, 2012 and 2013 barley harvests, and matured for a minimum of 11 years in ex-oloroso sherry butts. This limited edition is available now (depending on where you’re reading this), launching in the UK and Europe from this week but taking a little longer to reach places further afield.
“I’ve had my eye on these casks for a while, waiting for the perfect time to bottle them,” Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Founder.
Bottled at 50% abv. with no added colour or chill-filtration, this release combines 16 individually selected first-fill oloroso sherry butts originally used by José y Miguel Martín, Jerez, Spain.
This release differs significantly from the recent 100% Islay 15th Edition, which was matured exclusively in ex-bourbon barrels for nine years. Ex-sherry casks impart remarkable depth, with pronounced notes of dark fruits, spice, and smoked meat, in contrast to the lighter citrus-driven profile more typical of our previous 100% Islay expressions.
At Kilchoman, we produce two distinct styles of spirit. Our 100% Islay whiskies are crafted exclusively from barley grown and malted on the farm at the distillery, while Machir Bay, Sanaig, and the rest of our range are produced from commercially malted barley.
Growing barley on Islay is no easy task. Relentless weather and ever-present wildlife place constant pressure on the crop. Those grains that do endure are often smaller, with a higher ratio of husk to flour, contributing to a richer oiliness and a more textured palate in the resulting whisky.
Beyond the place of growth and malting, there is also a difference in peat levels. Our 100% Islay barley is peated to 20ppm, whereas Machir Bay, Sanaig, and other core expressions are peated to 50ppm. This lighter touch of smoke allows the subtle character of the barley to shine through, a nuance often overshadowed by the bold peat influence of more heavily peated whiskies.
The 100% Islay Sherry Cask Matured 11 Years Old (70cl, 50% abv) will be available in the UK and Europe from this week. For those further from Islay, it’s on the way.
For more information, please email admin@kilchomandistillery.com
As we complete our 2025 barley harvest, we’re delighted to release the 15th Edition of our 100% Islay range. This year’s 9 year old release is a vatting of 54 ex-bourbon barrels distilled from our 2014 and 2015 Concerto and Publican barley harvests.
Now available from our online shop.
Islay-grown barley and a slightly lower peating level create a more viscous palate, with elevated citrus and malty notes compared to Machir Bay and Sanaig. Bottled at 50% abv, it also carries a little more intensity.
From barley field to bottle, the 100% Islay range tells the story of our land and our people. Islay’s only single farm, single malt. Born from barley sown in our own fields, malted and distilled by hand. Matured in our warehouses and bottled at the distillery, it never leaves Islay until it’s ready to be shared.
“Fresh vanilla gives way to tropical fruit, toasted oak, and salted butter, with layers of candied citrus fruits, ripe pear, white pepper and waves of peat smoke,” Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Founder.
The 100% Islay 15th Edition will be available in the UK and across Europe from this week. For those of you further from Islay, it’s on the way, please contact your local stockist to make sure they have a bottle for you.
For any further information, please contact admin@kilchomandistillery.com
To mark our 20th Anniversary, we unveiled a special 20th Anniversary Cask Series earlier this spring. 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.
Now, in the run-up to a historic milestone – the 20th anniversary of filling our first cask on 14th December – we have launched 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.
“As we considered how to mark this milestone, it became clear that selling a bottle from cask No.1 would put it out of reach for many people who have supported Kilchoman from the beginning. Instead, we decided to offer a bottle as part of a prize draw. While only one person will ultimately win, it gives everyone an equal chance, not just collectors or investors with the deep pockets, and hopefully, the winner will open and enjoy it as it was meant to be,” Anthony Wills Kilchoman Founder & Managing Director.
The bottle’s casing pays homage to the craft of traditional whisky making. Every material has been carefully selected to create both a tactile and visual experience for the owner. The lid, composed of layered textures, symbolises the distillery’s organic growth over the years. The box was crafted using five different production techniques, with paper sourced from another family company, G.F Smith.
Engraved on Islay, the glass bottle sits inside, depicting the distillery skyline. The owner will also find a hand-written note inside from our founder Anthony Wills.
This cask holds particular significance to Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Founder and Managing Director. He was there to fill this cask and through the mainly ups and downs that came after it, “It has been a journey, not always smooth, but immensely fulfilling.”
The No. 1 Cask Draw is now closed – Congratulations to Henrik Mork from Oslo for winning!
Henrik Mork said “I can’t quite believe I have won such a historic bottle of Kilchoman. It was only by chance that I ended up visiting the distillery when I was on Islay. I just couldn’t resist entering the prize draw after learning the story behind Kilchoman’s unique farm distillery and seeing the stunning bottle and box on display.”
Award Season 2025 is well underway and our whiskies have been bringing home an impressive array of medals.
International Spirits Challenge 2025
The season began with the International Spirits Challenge 2025, where all four of our entries, Machir Bay, Sanaig, Batch Strength, and the 2025 edition of Loch Gorm, were each awarded Gold.
ADI 2025 International Spirits Competition
Next up, at the ADI 2025 International Spirits Competition, our core range once again received top honours:
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Batch Strength – Double Gold, Best of Class & Category
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Machir Bay – Double Gold
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Sanaig – Gold
The Spirits Business 2025 Awards
Most recently, at the Spirits Business 2025 Awards, Batch Strength achieved the highest accolade, the Master Award, while Machir Bay and Sanaig added yet another Gold to their collections.
Batch Strength
The newest addition to our core range, Batch Strength was released in 2024 and has already made its mark. Crafted to deliver a higher ABV than Machir Bay and Sanaig, it amplifies the depth and intensity of Kilchoman’s signature style. Matured in bourbon barrels and oloroso sherry casks, with 20% re-charred Portuguese red wine casks, it offers a bold, distinctive character of sweet dark fruits, rich spices, and salted caramel, bottled at 57% ABV for a colossal dram.
Machir Bay
Our signature whisky since 2012, Machir Bay takes its name from the beautiful beach just a short walk from the distillery. Made from 50ppm malted barley and matured in a mix of 90% bourbon barrels and 10% oloroso sherry casks, it balances bright citrus sweetness with classic Islay peat smoke.
Sanaig
Named after an inlet on Islay’s rugged Atlantic coast, Sanaig is a vatting of both sherry and bourbon casks. With a 70% oloroso sherry and 30% bourbon barrel vatting, it delivers a deeper profile of dried fruits and spices while retaining Kilchoman’s signature citrus and peat smoke character.
Thank You
These awards wouldn’t be possible without our loyal Kilchoman fans, thank you for your continued support.
Want to find your nearest retailer?
Our award-winning whiskies are available in shops and bars worldwide. Contact us at admin@kilchomandistillery.com and we’ll be happy to help you discover where to enjoy Kilchoman near you.
