Whisky isle’s first rum distillery conquers world stage
Handcrafted on Islay, The Original Islay Rum marks is the first rum ever distilled on the island
Islay’s first rum distillery, The Islay Rum Distillery, has won the medal at the world’s most prestigious spirits competition.
The accolade at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition signals the growing emergence of premium Scottish rum internationally.
It was awarded the Double Gold medal meaning every judge on the blind-tasting panel awarded gold unanimously.
Handcrafted on Islay, The Original Islay Rum marks is the first rum ever distilled on the island.
Caroline James, Co-Founder of The Islay Spirits Company, added: “A Scottish rum winning Double Gold at San Francisco is a significant moment, and not just for us. One of the highest accolades in global spirits, it’s a statement that premium Scottish rum has arrived on the world stage and showcases that Islay’s reputation for craftsmanship extends beyond whisky.”
The Islay Rum Distillery transformed the 1959 art deco Old Lemonade Factory in Port Ellen into a modern rum distilling hub. The building was restored by local builder Scott Hastie, grandson of the factory’s original founder, bringing the story full circle while celebrating Islay’s tradition of rural enterprise.