Islay Whisky Distilleries and Tours

Known as the ‘whisky Isle’ , Islay’s whisky Distilleries are definitely worth including in those holiday plans. With 9 Islay whisky distilleries to choose from, and another just a short ferry ride away on the neighbouring Isle of Jura, there is plenty of choice. Each distillery offers a bespoke range of exciting whisky distillery tours.

So, what can you expect from a visit to Islay’s Distilleries?

Well, just as each malt whisky has its own unique character and personality, the same is true of each distillery. Aside from the whisky, each of Islay’s Distilleries are situated in stunning locations and corners of the island, each offering their own magical views of Islay. They have you covered too, as most of the distilleries now serve delicious food and refreshments. Enjoy the Visitor Centre shopping experiences and soon be you will be taking home some beautiful pieces from your trip.

Islay and Jura Distillery Opening Times Spring 2025

(updated 19/10/2025)

Please note opening times and tours will vary during the Fèis Ìle at the end of May and many distilleries close for the Islay, Jura and Colonsay Agricultural Show on Wednesday 6th August. It is always worth checking with each Distillery via their website, all the links can be found below.

Ardnahoe Distillery

Ardnahoe Distillery is a five minute drive along the road from Persabus.

Ardnahoe is latest of Islay’s whisky distilleries to open, but with a couple more whisky distilleries in the planning and building stages, there will be more to come!

Ardnahoe Distillery Café is open 9.30am – until 4.30pm summertime

winter hours from November, Tues – Sat 10am -3.30pm Serving hot and cold refreshments, cakes, scones and whisky.

Tours run Tues – Sat £12, (increasing to £15 from November) Approximately 1 hour duration

Warehouse No 1: £50 approx 90mins note this runs up until November when it is replaces with Ultimate Ardnahoe

Ultimate Ardnahoe: Production tour followed by full warehouse tasting: £60, approximately 2 hour duration

Self Guided Tastings: Available from the bar throughout the day. No booking required. Ranging from £14 – £260. These tastings are not tutored by a member of staff, but come presented on a tasting mat with information, allowing for an informal, relaxed self guided ‘dramming’ experience.

Do book Distillery tours or tastings in advance of your trip to Islay. For information and to book tours and tastings phone 01496 840777 or see the website

Enjoy panoramic views across the Sound of Islay to the wilderness of Jura’s west coast, it is definitely worth popping by. tel: 01496 840777

For information and to book tours and tastings please visit the website on www.ardnahoedistillery.com.

Bunnahabhain Distillery

Bunnahabhain Distillery is a fifteen minute drive along the single track road from Persabus. (approx 45 min on foot)

Out of all the Islay whisky Distilleries it is probably situated on one of Islay’s most scenic coastlines. Here the wildlife come out to play and don’t be surprised if you get treated to an otter or two playing on the shore, as well as eagles soaring over head.

Bunnahabhain is a less peated in flavour than the island’s other fine malts (it’s the Happy Farmer’s favourite dram).

Enjoy tours and tastings, but definitely book them in advance of your trip.

Visitor Centre open 10am – 17.00 Monday to Wednesday and Friday to Sunday. You can book a distillery tasting experience (lasts one hour) and tours and tastings are available for groups of up to 12 people. You can choose from a range of flight options including Fèis flights and rare and old whiskies.
Or you could opt for Warehouse 9 tasting, a must-visit for whisky enthusiasts exploring Islay. Behind the No.9 black door our converted floor maltings are now home to our Bunnahabhain whisky maturing in the very best American and European oak casks. Surrounded by our maturing inventory, you will be able to enjoy an exclusive tasting of unpeated and peated (mòine) Bunnahabhain whiskies. Find and book your tasting experience at https://bunnahabhain.digitickets.co.uk/tickets. Any questions or to arrange a tasting for a group or club, contact the team on [email protected]

Ardbeg Distillery

Ardbeg Distillery and Visitor Centre is a 45 minute drive from Persabus. During the week it is possible to catch the bus to Ardbeg from Keills ( 5 mins walk from Persabus) View the bus timetable here

Ardbeg Distillery Visitor Centre and shop is open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm. Food, drinks and home baking are available Monday to Friday until the end of October from 10.00am to 3.30pm in the Old Kiln Cafe and outdoors from the ARDstream food truck.

Classic tours, pop up tasting flights and great merchandise.

Choose from a wide range of experiences –there’s something for everyone – classic production tours, Rocktails, DIY tastings, the Quintissential Ardbeg tour, Stillhouse and Warehouse 3 tasting, AN OA, AN OA, AN OA, and the Wednesday Whisky Walkabout (Wednesday’s only!)

https://www.ardbeg.com/en-int/visitus.html

The Old Kiln Café at Ardbeg is open indoors in winter and spring with morning coffees and cakes from 10 to 12 and great home-cooked lunches from 1200 to 1530. In Summer food and drink, lunches, lightbites and snacks are available at the Ardstream trailer in the courtyard.

For more information contact the distillery on [email protected] or call 01496 302244 for any further information.

Caol Ila Distillery

Caol Ila

Caol Ila Distillery is just a short walk from Persabus (20 mintues across the farm) Enjoy drams from the bar, with picturesque vies across the Sound of Islay to Jura. Teas, coffees, cakes and cheese and meat platters, soup and steak pies.

Caol ila is open 7 days a week 10am-5pm With a bar open daily from 10.00am-4.15pm, with last orders at 4.15pm you can simply walk from your accommodation and all enjoy a dram, or hop in the car, it is a 5 minute drive from Persabus. All tour availability can be found and booked online at – https://www.malts.com/en-gb/distilleries/caol-ila For all other enquiries the contact number is 01496 302769.

Bruichladdich Distillery

Bruichladdich Distillery is a 30 minute drive from Persabus, or hop on the bus.

The Laddie shop and visitor centre is open Tues to Sun 9.45 – 17:00 (last tastings 17:00) from November to February (9.45-17.30 seven days a week to the end of October).

Experiences:

Distillery Tour – 10:00 daily £25pp
Warehouse Experience – 11:30 daily £50pp
Bruichladdich Experience – 13:30 Monday-Saturday £75pp
The Botanist Gin Experience – 14:30 Monday & Thursday £35pp
The Botanist Cocktail Experience – 14:30 Wednesday, Friday & Saturday £40pp

We are also now offering the purchase of drams and flights over and above our complimentary shop samples.
Distillery tours & tastings can be booked online at https://www.bruichladdich.com/pages/tours and gin experiences on https://www.thebotanist.com/pages/tour-booking

For more details go to the website here Distillery Tours – Bruichladdich Distillery or call 01496 850190

Bowmore Distillery

The distillery is open to visitors all year round Mondays to Thursdays 9.30am to 5pm; Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturday 9.30am to 5pm. Sundays closed. Bowmore is just a 20 minute drive from Persabus, or why not hop on the bus

The Bowmore Whisky Tasting Bar is open from Monday to Saturday 11am – 4.30pm. Join us at the Bowmore tasting bar for a relaxing tasting, overlooking Loch Indaal. Select your drams from our tasting menu, sit back and enjoy the views.

INTENTIONAL CRAFT, TOUR AND WAREHOUSE EXPERIENCE – DISCOVER HOW OUR WHISKY IS CRAFTED WITH INTENT AT EVERY STAGE £85

CASK DISCOVERY WAREHOUSE TASTING – EXPLORE WHERE OUR SPIRIT AGES WITH EXCELLENCE AND EXPERIENCE WHISKY STRAIGHT FROM THE CASK £65

BOWMORE SIGNATURE CASK TOUR – EXPLORE THE DEPTHS OF FLAVOUR UNIQUE TO BOWMORE £25

Check availability and make a reservation online at www.bowmore.com For all other enquiries call 01496 810441.

Deer Island Rum Distillery

Rum distillery in Craighouse, Jura. For more information visit the website here Scottish Spiced Rum – Deer-Island (deerisland.co.uk)

Jura Distillery

The ferry to Jura runs regularly from Port Askaig, it’s just a 5 minute drive to the ferry from Persabus.

Shop and visitor centre open from 10am-4pm, Monday to Friday. Please book ahead for tours by calling 01496 820 385 for further details or email us at [email protected]

Kilchoman Distillery

Definitely worth a visit. The restaurant is fantastic and with Machir Bay just a short drive along from the Distillery why not visit this spectacular beach? (One of Islay’s most stunning beaches, a ‘must see’)

The Visitor Centre, Shop & Café is open Mon – Thurs from 9.45am to 5pm.

Friday and Saturday café closed , open 9.45am – 17.00 for shop, bar and tours only.

The café is open for lunches between noon and 15.30pm (booking essential) A selection of teas, barista-style coffee and homebaking is served from 10am to 5pm. Drams are available to purchase in the visitor centre. Distillery Classic tours are available throughout the day and Limited Edition tour takes place at 11am and the Roving Tasting starts at 2.30pm. Please check the website for full details and to book. Website: www.kilchomandistillery.com Email: [email protected] Telephone: 01496 850 011

Laphroaig Distillery

A 40 minute drive from Persabus, or hop on a local bus.

Open March to October Mon – Sat from 9.45 to 5pm. From November, open Mon – Sat 9.45am – 16.30

December open Mon – Fri 9.45am – 16.30. The Distillery closes for Christmas on 20th December 2025 until 4th January 2026, reopening on Mon 5th January.

January to February open 9.45am – 16.00 (bar 10am to 16.00, last orders 15.15)

Visit the museum, shop and lounge bar. You can also book for one of several tours and tasting experiences. See more here Book a Distillery Tour – Official Laphroaig Whisky Site – Laphroaig Please call to book ahead on 01496 302418 or email [email protected]. www.laphroaig.com .

Lagavulin

Lagavulin Distillery

Lagavulin is a 40 minute drive from Persabus. The Distillery is open Monday to Sunday 10am to 5pm from March to October. In November it is open Mon – Sat 10.00 – 17.00

The bar is open daily from 10.30am-5pm, with last orders 45 mins before closing. All tour availability can be found and booked online at https://www.malts.com/en-gb/distilleries/lagavulin. For all other enquiries please telephone 01496 302749

Lussa Gin, Jura

Monday to Friday from 11am until 4.30pm. Tours are bookable online at
www.lussagin.com. Tel 01496 820196). Visit www.lussagin.com

Accommodation

Explore our delightful Islay accommodation where we have a fabulous choice of country accommodation on this beautiful island.

Find Out More

Things to Do

There is so much to see and do on the beautiful island of Islay and we have a section to help you decide what to do when you visit here.

Find Out More

Testimonials

Comfortable and well-equipped self-catering cottage with great views of the Paps of Jura. 4 of us (two couples) stayed in the Millhouse Cottage for a week in July 2018. Donald was a great host and the cottage provided an excellent base at the north end of Islay, within walking distance of Port Askaig (with its ferries to Colonsay, Oban, Kintyre and Jura) and stunning views (from the front-door) across the Sound of Islay to the impressive Paps of Jura.