Scotland, Isle of Islay. Distillery operational. Owner: Anthony Wills

Like the Arran distillery, Kilchoman was the first distillery to be built on the Isle of Islay for over 20 years. The most recent arrivals before it were Bunnahabhain and Bruichladdich, both founded in 1881. It was at the initiative of Anthony Wills that Kilchoman distilled its first malt in 2005. In doing so, it renewed a tradition dear to Scotland, producing whisky at an independent, family-owned farm distillery. Anthony watches over the grain with the help of his wife and three sons. Nothing is left to chance, from the ageing in bourbon casks, to packaging and bottling. No cask of Kilchoman seems able to escape his watchful eye, as is demonstrated by the very low number of independent bottlings released to this day.

A Kilchoman small batch (#246-247-2008) distilled in 2008 and bottled in 2013 for Feis Ile. Feis Ile is a festival celebrating Celtic music and culture held on Islay every year since 1985 by The Islay Festival Association. The festival’’s first whisky tasting was held in 1990 and ten years later distilleries began actively participating by holding tours and releasing special editions only available on the island during the festival. It is now a major event and very popular in the whisky world. A limited edition of 526 bottles.