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Kilchoman
Distillery at 20, from Barley to Bottle,
a journey of Independence, Tradition,
and Innovation.
In 2025, Kilchoman Distillery celebrates
its 20th anniversary – a milestone that
marks not just two decades of
whisky-making, but the revival of a lost
tradition on Islay. When founder Anthony
Wills set out to build Kilchoman in
2005, it was the first new distillery on
the island in over 124 years. His vision
was bold: to create a farm distillery
that embodied a "barley to bottle"
philosophy – growing, malting,
distilling, maturing, and bottling
whisky entirely on-site.
"Twenty years ago, we set out to create
something unique – a distillery that
would resurrect whisky-making traditions
whilst also pushing boundaries,"
reflects Wills. "To see Kilchoman grow
from a small farm project into an
internationally recognised single malt
brand is incredibly rewarding."
From Humble Beginnings to Global Acclaim
Kilchoman’s journey has been anything
but straightforward. In the early years,
financial pressures loomed large, and
the first bottling's demanded hard graft
and family effort – most famously when
Anthony’s three sons filled over 11,000
bottles using teapots borrowed from the
distillery café. Yet Kilchoman's
resilience, independence, and
authenticity quickly won admiration
among whisky drinkers.
The distillery’s first single malt was
released in 2009, paving the way for
now-iconic expressions such as:
-
 Kilchoman Machir Bay
– The flagship Kilchoman release, a
marriage of bourbon and sherry
casks, balancing bright citrus,
vanilla, and tropical fruit with
peat smoke and maritime freshness.
-
Kilchoman
Sanaig – A sherry-matured
expression, highlighting Kilchoman’s
richer, fruit-forward profile. Rich and
sherried, offering plums, raisins,
and dark chocolate wrapped in gentle
smoke.
-
Kilchoman
100% Islay – A true
statement of place, the island’s
only single farm single malt, grown, malted,
distilled, matured, and bottled
entirely on Islay, with floral,
grassy notes, orchard fruit, and
gentle smoke.
- Kilchoman
Loch Gorm – An annual release
matured exclusively in Oloroso
sherry casks.
- Kilchoman
Single Cask Releases – From Madeira
to rum casks, these unique bottlings
showcase Kilchoman’s innovative
spirit.
- Kilchoman The 20-Year-Old (Cask
No.1) – The oldest Kilchoman yet,
offering mature oak and leather,
dried figs, honeycomb, sea spray,
and lingering smoke — a liquid time
capsule of the distillery’s
beginnings.
By 2015,
Kilchoman purchased its farm outright,
securing its independence and ability to
expand. Investment in new warehouses,
stills, a visitor centre, and a café
followed – all while production grew
from just 60,000 litres in 2006 to
650,000 litres per year by 2019.
A Distillery Rooted in Tradition and
Family
Kilchoman remains proudly independent,
run by the Wills family. Anthony and his
wife Kathy continue to guide operations,
while their sons George, James, and
Peter oversee sales and marketing.
Together with a close-knit team on
Islay, they have built a distillery that
embodies tradition while embracing
innovation.
Beyond whisky, the farm sustains barley
fields, sheep, and cattle, grounding
Kilchoman in its agricultural roots.
This connection to land and community
has always been at the heart of the
brand – and it continues to inspire
whisky drinkers around the world.
The 20th Anniversary: Casks,
Celebrations, and a Once-in-a-Lifetime
Whisky
To mark its 20th anniversary, Kilchoman
launched the 20th Anniversary Cask
Series, comprised of four releases
showcasing the two sides of the house
style:
- Ex-bourbon
casks: salty peat smoke and bright
citrus.
- Ex-sherry
casks: rich dried fruits, BBQ smoke,
and spice.
Each release, a
vatting of five hand-selected casks,
reflects two decades of craftsmanship
and commitment.
The most historic celebration, however,
comes with Cask No.1. Filled in December
2005, it has now yielded Kilchoman’s
first-ever 20 Year Old whisky. Rather
than auctioning it to the highest
bidder, Wills chose to offer it in a
prize draw, ensuring all supporters –
not just collectors – have a chance to
own a piece of Kilchoman history.
“While only one person will ultimately
win, it gives everyone an equal chance,”
says Wills. “Hopefully, the winner will
open and enjoy it as it was meant to
be.” A portion of the proceeds will also
support local Islay charities, further
cementing Kilchoman’s role in the island
community.
The Early Days and Cask No.1
The story began with Cask No.1, the very
first filled at Kilchoman. Over the past
two decades, this cask has become a
marker of the distillery’s growth and
maturation.
- At 3 years
old, Kilchoman released its first
whisky from this cask, symbolising
the rebirth of distilling on Islay.
- At 10 years
old, another release showcased how
Kilchoman’s spirit could mature into
balance and complexity.
- At 17 years
old, the distillery again drew from
Cask No.1, raising over £20,000 for
Scottish charities in the process.
Now, as Kilchoman turns 20, the
distillery has chosen to bottle the
first-ever 20-year-old Kilchoman,
drawn directly from this historic
cask. Rather than auctioning or
selling outright, Anthony Wills has
stayed true to Kilchoman’s community
spirit, offering it through a prize
draw so that everyone, not just
collectors or investors, has a
chance to own it
Looking Ahead
From its first cask to its 20th
anniversary, Kilchoman has charted a
remarkable course. Its whiskies now
stand proudly alongside Islay’s heritage
distilleries, yet its ethos remains
distinct: independence, authenticity,
and respect for tradition.
As Wills puts it: "It has been a
journey, not always smooth, but
immensely fulfilling. We remain
committed to our founding principles
while continuing to innovate and share
the spirit of Islay with whisky lovers
worldwide."
For Kilchoman, the story of the past 20
years is just the beginning – and the
next chapter of this pioneering farm
distillery promises to be just as
exciting.
You will find the current
Kilchoman whisky range available from specialist online whisky
shops such as
The Whisky Exchange
and
Master of Malt
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