How Islay is using its whisky heritage to make a mark on the rum industry
The Vintage Malt Whisky Company is pushing forward rum production on Islay
Islay is known worldwide for its Scotch whisky, in particular its smokey, peated single malts.
Located in the Inner Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland, it is often referred to as the Whisky Isle.
But one company is hoping that Islay can also make a name for itself when it comes to another spirit and has set up the island’s first rum distillery.
Backed by the expertise of The Vintage Malt Whisky Company, an independent, family run Scotch whisky specialist with over 30 years’ experience in sourcing and maturing casks, the
Islay Spirits Company set out to bring that same knowledge of spirit and wood to something new for Islay.
Islay Rum began its journey with a “bit of curiosity and a lot of ambition”. Managing director Andrew Crook says: “Why had no one ever made rum on Islay? The island is famous for its whisky, and rum felt like a chance to do something genuinely different while staying true to Islay’s distilling heritage.”
“A huge milestone was breathing new life into The Old Lemonade Factory in Port Ellen. After a lot of hard work and determination, the transformation was complete and we finally fired up the still in January 2022, officially becoming Islay’s first rum distillery,” explains Andrew. “From there, things gathered momentum quickly, launching our first white rum, experimenting with peat, barrel ageing and overproof styles, and gradually building a range that balances traditional rum techniques with a real sense of place.”
He adds that the journey has been very hands-on, led by distillery manager and head distiller at Islay Rum, Ben Inglis.
Ben comments: “We use a copper pot still with twin retorts, which gives us a triple-distillation effect in a single run. Plenty of copper contact and a slow distillation creates a spirit that’s beautifully smooth but still full of character.
“Islay’s cool, maritime climate also plays a big part in our rum-making process as the maturation of our spirit happens more slowly than in the tropics, allowing flavours to develop gently and in balance. We also know that the typical Scottish climate on the island has a distinct effect on our fermentation and distillation making Islay Rum truly its own unique spirit and not just an imitation of traditional rum producing countries.”
Its core range comprises: Islay Rum Geal; Islay Rum Barrel-Aged; Islay Rum Peat Spiced; and Islay Rum Overproof and the producer was named Scottish Rum Producer of the Year at the 2025 Scottish Rum Awards.
In terms of how Islay Rum has expanded, growth has been deliberate and measured, according to director Caroline James, who focuses on finance and development.
She says: ”Rather than chasing rapid expansion, we have prioritised craftsmanship and a dedication to creating the highest quality spirit, while building a brand defined by authenticity and place.
“Production has increased steadily since launch, supported by strategic distribution partnerships and a growing reputation in premium retail and hospitality channels.
“As our inventory of ageing rum continues to grow, we are also investing in the future of the distillery, including the construction of a new warehouse on Islay to house our expanding cask stocks and support long-term maturation.”
Caroline adds that its small expert team remains committed to hands-on craftsmanship at every stage of the process.
“Our focus has always been on sustainable growth which for us means ensuring that every stage is fully thought through, and integrated, with the quality of the spirit we are making always at the forefront of any developments,” explains Caroline.
“We scaled up our production capacity gradually over an initial two-year period and have laid down nearly 800 casks to provide a stable pipeline for future growth and for the development of our core range aged expressions.”
Summing up the brand story, marketing and digital media manager Kim King, says: “We didn’t follow a category. We created one. This is not just another rum, it is Islay Rum.”
Kim adds: “We knew we had to live up to a certain calibre of quality when it came to creating any kind of spirit on Islay, we have world-class whisky and gin, and it had to be the same with our rum. Inspired by Caribbean distillation techniques and shaped by the island’s maritime climate and spirit producing pedigree, our spirits are a true expression of place: elegant, bold and unmistakably from Islay.”
The ethos is that nothing is rushed, and every decision is made with flavour in mind to create a craft rum with an Islay twist. Experimentation is important to them, particularly with heavily peated ex-Islay whisky casks, which add subtle smoke, coastal notes and a real sense of Islay to our barrel-aged rum.
“We believed that to make a truly distinct and original Scottish island rum then we would have to go to the island where the most distinctive Scotch whisky is made, and the jewel in Scotland’s spirits crown is the legendary island of Islay,” concludes Andrew.
Can Islay make a mark with rum?
Islay is renowned for its whisky, but can it make a name for itself as a centre of rum production?
Andrew Crook is confident it can succeed and add to the island’s distilling heritage. He says: “Our family business and the parent company for Islay Rum, The Vintage Malt Whisky Company, has a long association with Islay and its wonderful whiskies, and the island is such a magical place. When we decided we wanted to distil rum, Islay made sense both emotionally and commercially.”
“Islay whiskies have a worldwide reputation and are a benchmark for quality, and these exceptional standards have been ingrained in our rum from day one. We are not looking to compete with Islay whisky, but we are very proud to add to the distilling heritage on the island.”
In terms of whether rum will be impacted by the slowdown in the Scotch whisky industry, Andrew comments: “Naturally, Islay Rum has not been immune to the slowdown in the global spirits industry over the past 18 months. However, we have an excellent distribution model built over decades through The Vintage Malt Whisky Company which we are working to capitalise upon for Islay Rum, giving us an advantage over other spirit start-ups.”
Top five tips from Andrew Crook
- Embrace innovation thoughtfully - we are experimenting with Islay-inspired elements like peated influences, local yeasts, and extended fermentations and we test rigorously at small scale, as quality is always at the forefront of how we work.
- Invest in people and culture - people are the heart of every successful enterprise. We transformed our distillery using young local businesses and we are building a passionate, skilled team around our head distiller Ben Inglis.
- Stay true to your distilling heritage - everything we produce is anchored in Islay’s reputation for making world-class spirits. It’s our North star that every expression should reflect our island roots in a unique and distinctive way.
- Don't fear calculated risks - our best-selling Islay Rum Peat Spiced release is like nothing you’ve ever tasted before. Love it or hate it, it’s got to be on your bucket list to try.
- Leverage scarcity strategically - rum isn’t as easy to make as gin, so we have to carefully guard our output.
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