Islay Whisky | A Fantastic Wedding Gift to Get Your Friends

Close up of bottles of whisky in an Islay Whisky Bar

Islay whisky is one of the most famous Scottish whiskies and one that is highly coveted amongst collectors from all over the world. Islay is one of the southernmost of the Inner Hebridean Islands located off the west coast of Scotland. There are five whisky distilling vicinities in Scotland whose identity is protected by law. Currently there are only eight active distilleries in Scotland when there was previously as many as twenty-six. As you can imagine, whisky brings in a lot of tourism for Scotland and due to so many of the distilleries being closed down and ultimately so many styles of whiskies discontinued, authentic malt whisky from Scotland has become one of the most highly sought after, and in many cases expensive collectables in the world. You may not be a collector yourself, however if you are looking for a unique and thoughtful gift to give as a wedding present then you might wish to consider investing in some rare malt whisky from Scotland. This article outlines all you need to know about Islay Whisky before you purchase as a gift.

Old empty bottle of Islay Whisky washed up on the shore

The Rare Malt Whisky Company

First of all, it is important that you only purchase rare whisky from a legitimate source, as there are unfortunately many people out there selling counterfeit whiskies. There are plenty of legitimate websites selling rare whisky which are well known throughout the industry and certainly trusted sites. For example, The Rare Malt Whisky Company is a family run business based in the Scottish countryside near the picturesque village of Killearn. The owner of this prestigious company has been a whisky enthusiast for most of her life and even has experience working directly for a Scottish distillery at the beginning of her career. This business pride themselves in dealing in excellence and only stock truly rare whiskies. Types of whiskies stocked on The Rare Malt Whisky Company website include:

  • Speyside Whisky
  • Islay Whisky
  • Island Whisky
  • Highland Whisky
  • Lowland Whisky
  • Whisky Gifts

Tartan table spread with Islay Whisky gifts and flowers

Why Islay Whisky is a Fantastic Gift Choice

Islay whisky is famous for its distinct flavours that make it stand out from other malt whiskies from other areas of Scotland. Along the south eastern coast of the island there are currently three active distilleries: Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg. Any bottles produced from these distilleries contain strong smoky hints that derive from the peat which is a central characteristic of Islay whisky. Many people have described Islay whisky as having a slight medicinal flavour but also iodine, seaweed and salt. This can definitely be attributed to the distilleries being located so close to the sea. Bunnahabhain distillery makes a much lighter tasting whisky in comparison to the others as less peat is used, while Bowmore is very well balanced in flavour. Bowmore also uses sherry-cask maturation which gives it a unique taste. The Rare Malt Whisky Company offers a personalised service where they can source you a particular Islay Whisky. This is a fantastic idea for a wedding gift as you could choose a bottle that is either discontinued or a limited edition from several decades back thus adding to its rarity. Typically the rarer the more expensive but luckily there are many options on the website that cater to every budget.