18 whisky distilleries you can tour while visiting Scotland's islands

The Port Ellen distillery is one of many you can tour during a trip to one of Scotland's beautiful islands.

placeholder image — The Port Ellen distillery is one of many you can tour during a trip to one of Scotland's beautiful islands.

There are over 900 islands in Scotland, 94 of which are inhabited, and they include some of country's most picturesque and popular holiday destinations.

They are also home to some of Scotland's greatest distilleries, making whiskies that are enjoyed around the world.

Here are the island distilleries that welcome visitors, making your island stay even more intoxicating.

Expect a tour of the distillery, including some facts about the processes involved and the whiskies they produce, before the all-important tasting and a visit to the shop to stock up on your favourite tipples.

Arran

Arran, known as 'Scotland in Miniature', has two whisky distilleries.

The Isle of Arran Distillery at Lochranza has been making whisky since 1998 and has an award-winning visitor centre.

A sister distillery opened at Lagg, at the other end of the island, in 2019.

Islay

The Isle of Islay is known as 'Whisky Island' for good reason - it's home to no less than nine distilleries, with another two in the pipeline.

Visit one or two yourself, or book a tour to enjoy an epic whisky voyage around the island and take in the sights of the Ardbeg, Ardnahoe, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain (pictured), Caol Ila, Kilchoman, Lagavulin and Laphroaig distilleries.

Islay whisky is one of five whisky distilling localities and regions in Scotland whose identity is protected by law.

Jura

Just a short ferry trip from Islay takes you to the sparsely populated Isle of Jura, where George Orwell completed his novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.

The Isle of Jura Distillery is in the main village of Craighouse, which also contains the island's only pub, and welcomes visitors.

Mull

With a view over the picture postcard pastel-painted houses on the Tobermory seafront, a visit to the town's distillery is a popular choice on the beautiful Isle of Mull.

Established in 1798, it's one of the oldest commercial distilleries in Scotland.

Skye

Whisky-lovers visiting the Isle of Skye shouldn't miss out on visiting the famous Talisker Distillery, set on the shores of Loch Harport with dramatic views of the jagged Cuillin mountains.

Smaller, though no less interesting, is the island's Torabhaig Distillery which opened in 2017 and offers a visitors centre with cafe and shop.

Raasay

Located between Skye and the mainland, the Isle of Raasay welcomed its very own whisky distillery in 2017.

While learning about one of Scotland's newest malt whiskies you can also enjoy incredible views over the sea to Skye.

Harris

The Isle of Harris Distillery is a recent addition to the island's economy - creating malt whisky along with the award-winning Isle of Harris Gin.

Visitors to Harris can also tour the island's Abhainn Dearg Distillery, which also creates both whisky and gin and is located near the pristine golden sands of Uig Beach.

Orkney

Orkney's Mainland offers visitors two fine whisky distilleries to tour. In Kirkwall, the Highland Park Distillery was founded by former whisky smuggler Magnus Eunson, who illegally distilled alcohol on the site for nearly 30 years before receiving a licence in 1826.

A short hop south takes you to the on the shores of Scapa Flow and the Scapa Distillery, founded in 1885.