This year marks a major milestone for Kilchoman: 20 years since we fired up the stills on our farm distillery in the west of Islay, becoming the first new distillery to be built on the island in over 120 years. Two decades later, we remain proudly independent, family run, and committed to doing things the traditional way, from barley to bottle, right here on Islay.
To celebrate, we are bringing Kilchoman to whisky lovers across Europe with a series of special events.
Join us for our UK edition on Saturday 15th November 2025 at Edinburgh Academy Senior School for an afternoon of Kilchoman whisky tasting hosted by the team behind the distillery. Whether you have followed us since the early days or recently discovered us through your latest dram, this is a chance to be part of the celebration.
What’s in Store:
- A guided tasting through our core range
- A selection of limited editions and archive bottlings
- Pours of our new make spirit
- An opportunity to sample our 20th Anniversary Series
- The Kilchoman team pouring, chatting, and sharing stories throughout the afternoon
- Automatic entry into a raffle draw for the chance to win bottles of Kilchoman whisky
Tickets are priced at £30 and include access to all whiskies on pour. The event runs from 2pm to 5pm and is open to everyone aged 18 and over.
Let’s Raise a Dram Together!
It is not every day you turn 20, and we want to celebrate it properly, with the people who made it possible. Secure your place now:
This is just one of several Kilchoman Day events happening across Europe this autumn. Keep an eye out for announcements coming soon.
Planning a trip to Kilchoman this summer and would like to know what to expect? Whether you’re a seasoned Islay visitor or this is your first time, Kilchoman offers experiences catered for all interests, from stunning landscapes, a bite to eat or seeing the traditional methods we instil in producing our range of single malt. Here is everything you need to know.
Distillery Tours & Tastings
We offer a range of tours and tastings to suit everyone –
· Classic Tour: Led by one of our knowledgeable guides you will be taken on a one-hour tour throughout production, from our traditional malt floor to our dunnage warehouses. Includes two samples of our popular core whiskies.
· Limited Edition Tour & Tasting: For a more in-depth experience, this two-hour tour gets into the heart of the whisky making process, and includes a sit-down tutored tasting featuring four of our limited edition expressions.
· Roving Tasting: A sensory journey through the distillery highlighting the unique sights, sounds and smell that make Kilchoman one of a kind. Topped off with dram of one of our many whiskies as you explore thevarious areas of the distillery.
Whisky Bar, Shop & Café
The tasting bar is open from 10:00 AM to 4:45 PM, offering samples of Kilchoman’s full range, from our well-loved core-range releases, limited editions, distillery exclusives as well as some archive stock. One of our guides will be happy to answer any questions and talk you through our expressions. No booking is required, just come in and enjoy a dram!
Our shop offers all of our current releases, branded goods as well as some local crafted gifts to purchase to help make your trip to Kilchoman memorable.
The on-site café is open from 9:45 AM to 4:30 PM serving barista style coffee and fresh homemade baking. We also serve lunches from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM to give you the opportunity to try our infamous Cullen Skink!
All bookings for tours can be made through our website. If you would like further information or to book a table for lunch in our café – advisable to avoid disappointment, then please call the distillery on 01496 850 011 (option 1)
Whether you’re a whisky connoisseur or simply seeking a unique experience, Kilchoman offers a memorable day out. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore Islay’s only Farm Distillery.
Kilchoman Fèis Day 2025 is now less than two weeks away. Save the date – Thursday 29th May. Click here for more details on what’s happening throughout the day both at the distillery on virtually online.
Our 2025 Fèis Ìle Release
One of Anthony’s annual highlights is selecting something special for our exclusive Fèis Ìle release. This year, he has chosen two refill Madeira hogsheads, distilled in 2015 and bottled at natural cask strength.
This single farm, single malt whisky was produced using barley grown and malted at Kilchoman, and lightly peated to 20ppm.
“As usual, our Fèis Ìle release is only available to those who make the journey over to Islay, sold exclusively through the distillery shop. While searching for something a bit unusual to bottle, I came across several Madeira hogsheads that were filled with our 100% Islay spirit back in 2015.
We very rarely mature our 100% Islay spirit for its full maturation in anything other than ex-bourbon or sherry casks, so I was thrilled to find these unusual casks coming along so well. The lighter peating level allows for the bold Madeira notes to come through into the whisky,” Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Founder.
Fèis Ìle Online
If you can’t make it to Islay, don’t worry – we’ll be bringing a bit of the Fèis atmosphere to you virtually through our online content. We will also be sharing various footage from the distillery throughout the day.
Win a Fèis 2025 Bottle!
We’re giving our social media followers a chance to win a Fèis 2025 bottle! To enter, simply ‘LIKE’ our Facebook page or ‘FOLLOW’ us on Instagram. If you’re already following us, you’re automatically entered into the draw. On Friday 30th May, we’ll randomly select one lucky winner from Facebook and one from Instagram to each receive a bottle of this exclusive release. Good luck!
20 casks to celebrate 20 years of Kilchoman. Casks that epitomise the unique flavour profile of Kilchoman and characterise two decades of commitment to craft.
Selected by Kilchoman Founder Anthony Wills, these casks are a testament to him and his team’s skill, dedication, and perseverance.
There are four releases in the series, each a vatting of five specially selected casks, highlighting the two distinct sides of Kilchoman’s unique character: ex-bourbon and ex-sherry maturation. The ex-bourbon releases are defined by salty peat smoke and bright citrus sweetness. In contrast, the darker-hued ex-sherry releases offer a richer profile, with notes of dried fruits, BBQ smoke, and mixed spices.
“It has been a journey, not always smooth, but immensely fulfilling.” – Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Founder
The 20th Anniversary Cask Series will be available in the UK and Europe from this week, priced between £120 and £190. For those further away, they are on the way, so please contact your local stockist to make sure they have a bottle for you.
The countdown to Fèis Ìle 2025 is well underway, and we can’t wait to welcome you for another fantastic celebration on Thursday, 29th May 2025!
We’ve got the drams ready for our masterclasses and open tastings, alongside an exciting line-up of tours, activities, live music, and entertainment throughout the day. You don’t want to miss our Fèis Ìle 2025 release, available exclusively from the distillery shop on the day.
Masterclasses, online live tastings and bookable experiences are available to purchase in advance. Click here for full details and availability.
MASTERCLASSES
20th Anniversary Cask Series Masterclass – 11:00
You will have the opportunity to taste our limited edition Anniversary Cask Series with distillery founder, Anthony Wills.
Founder’s Cask Exploration (Exclusive to Club Members) – 14:30
Join Anthony Wills for an exclusive tasting of six specially selected cask samples straight from the warehouse, including the 7th cask ever filled (Exclusive to Club Members – sign up here).
ONLINE LIVE TASTINGS
Can’t make it to Islay in person for Fèis Ìle? No worries! During Fèis week, you’ll have two chances to join us virtually for online tastings, streamed live on our Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Wednesday 28th May – 19:00
‘Limited Release Line-Up’ with James & George Wills
Thursday 29th May – 14:30
‘Founder’s Cask Exploration’ with Anthony & James Wills (join us live from the warehouse on our Fèis Day).
Tasting packs are available to purchase here.
BOOKABLE EXPERIENCES
Islay’s Farm Tour – 10:30, 12:30, 14:30
Islay Heads, General Manager, will take you on a guided tour around the farm and local area, sampling a few drams along the way.
Be a Bottler – 10:30, 11:15, 12:00, 13:30, 14:15, 15:00, 15.45
Become a part of our team and immerse yourself in the unique experience of bottling your exclusive edition from a single cask (includes a personalised bottle of a Distillery Exclusive Single Cask).
EXPLORE THE DISTILLERY
Entry to the distillery on Fèis Day is free! Production areas will be open and operational, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how we craft our whisky. Our team will be on hand to share insights and answer all your Kilchoman questions.
Still House – Enjoy a dram of Machir Bay while learning about the mashing, fermentation and distillation process. Take the opportunity to ask the team all your questions.
Malt Floor – Discover traditional floor malting, learn more about peat, see the kiln, and sample a dram of 100% Islay whisky which has been produced from barley grown on our farm and malted on that very floor. We might even rope you into lending a hand preparing the next batch!
Warehouse No.3 – Explore one of our traditional dunnage warehouses, take a photo with Cask No.1, and enjoy a dram of Sanaig whilst chatting to the team about our maturation and the cask types currently in the warehouses at Kilchoman.
Open Tastings – Short guided tastings of four selected whiskies will be available throughout the day (tickets available at the bar).
Barley Fields – Check out the 2025 barley varieties growing in the fields as you make your way down the drive to the distillery.
EATING, DRINKING, DANCING & SHOPPING
Whisky Bar – Serving a variety of limited editions, Comraich Batches, and Single Casks. Driver dram bottles available to take away.
Cocktail Bar – Enjoy specially crafted whisky cocktails throughout the day.
Live Music – Performances from Rhuvaal, Ceol an Aire, and The Kilchoman Distillery Isle of Islay Pipe Band. Join us for a ceilidh in the courtyard!
Food Offerings – BBQ featuring local meats, light bites from the Salad Bar, as well as teas, coffees, and home baking from the Café. Vegetarian and vegan options available.
Gift Shop – Stock up on branded Kilchoman merchandise.
Games & Activities – With prizes up for grabs!
WHISKY SHOP
The shop will be open from 10am, offering our latest Limited Editions, Distillery Shop Exclusive Single Casks, and, of course, the highly anticipated Fèis Ìle 2025 bottling.
FÈIS ÌLE 2025 BOTTLING
This year, Anthony and Robin have selected two Madeira 100% Islay casks for this special release… more details to come soon!
This exclusive bottling will be available only from the distillery on Thursday 29th May and will be limited to one bottle per person.
We can’t wait to celebrate with you – see you on Thursday 29th May 2025!
Loch Gorm 2025 Edition marks a historic first – our first-ever 10 Year Old Loch Gorm. Anthony and Robin have selected 23 Oloroso sherry butts in total: 20 first-fill casks, rich with bold sherry influence, and 3 second-fill casks, adding depth and complexity.
Loch Gorm is the name given to our annual sherry matured limited edition. Named after Islay’s largest freshwater loch neighbouring the distillery, the dark murky colour of the loch’s water is reflected in the rich coppery tones of our sherry matured Loch Gorm release.
“Loch Gorm, in my opinion, is reaching it’s perfect age, balancing those rich sherry notes with our classic Islay spirit. 10 years maturation in sherry casks has added an abundance of rich spices, dark fruit and barbecue sweetness to the light citrus and peaty character of Kilchoman.” Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Founder
The Loch Gorm (70cl, 46% vol.) will be available in the UK and across Europe from this week, priced between £75 and £80. For those further away, it’s on the way, so please contact your local stockist to make sure they have a bottle for you or get in touch with us for more info – admin@kilchomandistillery.com
Following the landmark release of our 16 Year Old in 2023, we have another age statement to share with you. This limited release has been matured for 13 years in a combination of bourbon barrels, octaves and calvados casks. The whisky exudes an abundance of juicy fresh fruits, intense sweetness and waves of Islay maritime peat smoke.
“After the overwhelming response to our 16 Year Old, I’m excited to announce the release of another age statement Kilchoman – The 13 Years Old. The ex-bourbon casks make up the large part of the vatting, lending that unmistakable Kilchoman character, while the addition of calvados casks, which may surprise a few people, infuses vibrant green apple and fresh fruit notes into the mix.”
“Although our older stocks remain limited, we’re excited to share a variety of aged Kilchoman expressions with you over the next few years,”
Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Founder.
The 13 Years Old (70cl, 50% vol.) will be available across Europe from this week. For those further away, it’s on the way, so please contact your local stockist to make sure they have a bottle for you or get in touch with us for more info – admin@kilchomandistillery.com
2025 marks the 20th anniversary for Kilchoman. Founded by Anthony Wills in 2005, the first cask was filled on December 14th and it has been quite a journey ever since.
“It has been a journey, not always smooth, but immensely fulfilling.” – Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Founder
We’ll be celebrating this milestone throughout the year. You can look forward to a selection of age statement anniversary releases, celebratory events around the world, and have the chance to get your hands on a bottle from Cask Number 1. Stay tuned by visiting our website, following us on social media, or joining our Club to be the first to know.
Have you noticed the new Machir Bay and Sanaig labels? The design tweak has also timed with an evolution of the Machir Bay vatting. The signature profile of Machir Bay – 90% bourbon, 10% oloroso sherry – remains unchanged, but we’ve introduced more active sherry casks, giving the whisky a noticeably darker colour. First launched in 2012, Machir Bay has evolved over the years with gradual age increases. However, this latest change marks the most noticeable shift yet.
The design of Machir Bay and Sanaig hasn’t changed since they were launched in 2012 and 2016, however, while creating our recent 16 Year Old and Batch Strength labels, we loved the matching label colours so much, we’re bringing it to the full Core Range.
The new vatting of Machir Bay, along with the new labels for both Machir Bay and Sanaig, are now hitting shelves around the world.
The final stage in the whisky-making process is bottling! At Kilchoman we are one of the few distilleries in Scotland that bottle all of our own whisky. Everything from Machir Bay, single casks, miniatures and gift packs are completed on site by our bottling team.
Many people are unaware that few distilleries bottle their own whisky on the site where it is made. It is easier, particularly for larger companies, to send all their whisky to a central location in Scotland to be bottled and distributed from there. Kilchoman is different, we were established with our barley to bottle philosophy in mind, using water from the Glen Osamail to reduce our whisky to their bottling strength. On-site bottling is integral to our ethos.
We currently ship our whisky to over 60 different countries all around the world, each with their own strict packaging rules and regulations. Just for our Machir Bay expression, there are around 15 different label variations for the bottling team to keep track of. Depending on the final destination of the whisky, they ensure that the countries specific guidelines are adhered to. Forgetting any little detail could result in entire orders having to be sent back to Islay and re-labelled, an expensive mistake!
As the bottling team are the last people who see the whisky before it reaches the shelves, they have to quality check every bottle – Does it have the iconic Kilchoman coin attached? Is it filled to the right level? Is the label straight and in the correct position? How does the whisky look in the bottle?
Life is made slightly easier with a few machines to help fill bottles and attach the labels, something we had to do by hand for many years! However, it isn’t all easy going, every Kilchoman coin is still stuck on by hand, the bottles packed into cartons by hand, and many single casks and small batches are still hand numbered.
Christmas has been kind to the bottling team and in 2025 we are hoping to install the new labelling machine that has arrived with a few extras!
With our current set-up and a full team on the line, we can bottle over 3,000 bottles of whisky in a day, which equates to 8 pallets. Currently the team consists of six members with Derek leading the way as bottling manager. Derek is also responsible for hand cutting all the peat we use in our kiln, so he’s a busy man! There are then a further five members of the team who have specific roles along the line, all required at full tilt when a big order comes in…
Once the bottles have been approved, they are packed into outer cases, loaded onto pallets, and wrapped up tight. We wish them good luck on the long journey around the world, hopefully arriving safely on the shelf of your local retailer.
It may not be the most talked about or glamorous role at a distillery but it certainly is a vital one!
