Islay vs The Islands
Islay is an island but is not in the "Islands" region — a distinction that trips up most whisky maps. What each one actually contains.
Islay
Peat, smoke and sea spray
Full profile →The Islands
Maritime malts from Arran to Skye
Full profile →- Country
- ScotlandScotland
- Character
- A Hebridean island of peat bog, Atlantic gales and eight miles of whisky coast.Scattered isles from Arran to Skye, each shaped by its own wind, rock and sea.
- Style
- Medicinal smoke on the south shore, balance in the middle, and Bunnahabhain's unpeated calm in the north-east.No two agree: Skye pepper and smoke, Mull's twin faces, Arran's bright orchard freshness.
- Distilleries
- 94
- Where to start
- New to peat? Enter through Bowmore 12 before attempting the south-shore trio at full smoke.Treat each island as its own region in miniature — 'Island style' tells you even less than 'Highland style'.
Every figure above is read from the Atlas entry for each, so this page stays in step with them.