Original Islay Rum will forge Islay’s distilling future

Crafted by The Islay Spirits Company at The Islay Rum Distillery, it comes from the first rum distillery on the Hebridean island, extending Islay’s world-renowned spirit-making heritage into a new category.

Launched in 2022, The Original Islay Rum has quickly gained international recognition including a Double Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2026, a Gold Outstanding medal at the International Wine & Spirit Competition 2026 and Scottish Rum Producer of the Year at the 2025 Scottish Rum Awards.

Inspired by Caribbean distillation techniques and shaped by the island’s rugged Atlantic environment, The Original Islay Rum combines coastal air, traditional craftsmanship and centuries-old distilling expertise to create a rum that is elegant, bold and unmistakably Islay.

The Original Islay Rum is driven by a pioneering team united by a shared ambition to produce a rum reflecting the character, heritage and craftsmanship of Islay. Their commitment to quality, innovation and authenticity underpins every stage of production, from fermentation and distillation to maturation.

At the centre is head distiller Ben Inglis, whose early fascination with distilling was shaped on Islay itself. While whisky surrounded him, it was rum that captured his imagination. Determined to bring this Caribbean spirit to his island home, he learned all about rum production before co-founding The Islay Rum Company and transforming a disused industrial building into Islay’s first rum distillery.

The journey began in 2017 when Brian and Andrew Crook, owners of The Vintage Malt Whisky Company, acquired the Old Lemonade Factory in Port Ellen. Together with Ben and Brian’s daughter Caroline James, they reimagined the site as a new home for island distilling innovation. With a focus on experimentation, provenance and small-batch production, the team is redefining what rum can be when crafted in one of the world’s most respected distilling environments.

Housed in the restored 1959 Art Deco building located on Islay’s south coast, The Islay Rum Distillery is a new focal point for the island’s evolving spirits landscape and is emerging as a new destination on Islay’s renowned distillery trail, offering visitors an alternative expression of the island’s exceptional spirit-making.

Surrounded by the powerful Atlantic Ocean, Islay’s cool maritime climate, coastal air and ever-changing island weather create an environment that influences every stage of the rum-making journey. These natural elements contribute to a distinctive sense of place that defines The Original Islay Rum’s flavour, depth and character.

The Original Islay Rum is crafted using sustainably sourced molasses, which undergoes controlled fermentation to develop layers of fruity, spicy and subtly sweet notes that form the backbone of the spirit’s distinctive character before it reaches the still.

High-quality ingredients are combined with traditional Caribbean distillation techniques in a unique copper pot and twin retort still to create a triple distillation effect in a single run. The copper contact and slow distillation create a smooth spirit full of character.

Following distillation, maturation in Scotland’s cool climate allows the spirit to age more slowly than in tropical regions and the extended interaction with oak casks enhances the colour, aromas and flavours. Whether matured in an ex-Islay whisky cask or macerated for weeks with spices smoked over a peat fire, the result is a handcrafted island-style rum reflecting Islay’s renowned smoky single malt whisky tradition.

A trio of core expressions sit alongside a limited-edition experimental series and exclusive single cask releases, offering a broad spectrum of styles. Each reflects the island’s maritime influence, the distillery’s technical expertise, and its innovative approach to premium rum-making.

The Original Islay Rum Geal is a pure single white rum and the first expression produced by the distillery. Full-bodied and flavoursome, it is a distinctive unaged rum that is fresh and versatile, equally enjoyed neat or in cocktails and punches.

The Original Islay Rum Barrel Aged is a lightly aged rum matured in ex-Islay whisky casks with notes of vanilla, coastal salinity and gentle smoke. It has received international awards, including Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2026.

The Original Islay Rum Peat Spiced – a rum crafted with orange, ginger and cacao nibs smoked over a peat fire, delivering a smoky flavour profile. Made using natural fruit and spices with no added sugar, it balances sweetness, spice and peat to create a distinctive character and has received international recognition, including Gold at the 2024 World Rum Awards.

The Islay Rum Distillery has embedded sustainability across every stage of production to safeguard the island’s heritage for years to come. The distillation process is designed to achieve maximum output with minimal energy input, including a triple-distillation effect in a single cycle. The distillery operates on 100% renewable electricity, uses a closed-loop cooling system to reduce water consumption and reuses a significant proportion of pot ale in fermentation, improving efficiency and reducing waste.

Beyond innovation, The Original Islay Rum is supporting local employment, contributing to Scotland’s premium spirits exports and adding a new dimension to Islay’s established whisky tourism offering through tours, tastings and immersive visitor experiences.