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Four reasons we love Islay distillery Kilchoman

Kristiane Westray |

Family-run Islay farm distillery Kilchoman was founded by Anthony Wills back in 2005. Since then it’s won fans all around the world for its characterfully peated whiskies – and it’s a favourite here at Milroy’s too. Here are four reasons we’re charmed by the maker.

Visiting Islay is always a treat. With its eleven operational distilleries, stunning landscapes and incredible food, the Hebridean island is rightly on the travel bucket list of whisky lovers across the world. This stellar reputation has spread far and wide, in part due to its whiskies. Exports have reached far corners of the globe, bringing with them stories of the people that make the island magic. The Wills family is one of those that’s rightly become well-known.

Anthony Wills travelled to Islay and founded Kilchoman back in 2005. At that time, Scotch whisky was deep in a downturn. In his own words, Wills says people in the industry thought he was crazy. Fast forward over two decades, and Kilchoman is regarded as one of the most exciting, delicious and authentically Islay whiskies. His wife Kathy runs the visitor centre side of things, while their three sons James, George and Peter manage sales and marketing. It’s a feel-good success story, and one that was celebrated in late 2025 with a ceilidh at the distillery to mark its 20th anniversary.

There are so many reasons why Kilchoman resonates with whisky lovers around the world. And why we feel so fondly about the Islay maker! As the first edition of Kilchoman’s Family Collection launches, we’ve summed it all up in four points. Because, to put it simply, the distillery is great. And if you haven’t tasted its whiskies yet, consider this your invitation!

1. The whisky is delicious (and fairly priced!)

Let’s get it out the way at the top: Kilchoman makes brilliant single malt whiskies. Typically medium-peated, there’s obviously a dense, medicinal smokiness that runs through each expression. But the distillery character brings in citrus, vanilla and orchard fruit notes, too. While the team experiment with cask finishes to bring in points of difference, the core quality is always there. New to the brand? Check out Machir Bay, priced at £55. You just can’t go wrong with a Kilchoman.

2. There’s a focus on the hyper-local

Ever since the distillery was founded, Anthony and the team have wanted to be a 100% Islay operation. The team doesn't just grow their own barley on-site (try Kilchoman Rockside if you can!), but there are partnerships with local growers, too. It’s hard work to create according to this philosophy, but the quality of the resulting whiskies show its worth it.

3. It’s an amazing distillery to visit

Kilchoman is a fantastic distillery to explore because it handles so much of its whisky-making on-site. You can stroll fields of barley and experience malting floors, processes that many distilleries outsource. Plus there’s a huge element of transparency. Nothing is kept behind the scenes. Plus, the visitor centre is fantastic!

4. It all comes back to the family

In our era of acquisitions and consolidation in the whisky industry, it’s incredibly unusual to see a distillery that’s still family-run and operated. The team are truly hands-on, managing day-to-day operations from production through to marketing, hospitality and sales. Kilchoman is a distillery built by Anthony and his family from the bottom up. And we raise a glass to two-plus decades of success!
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