Kilchoman Founder Reflects on Two Decades, Eyes Future of Single Malt Scotch

Islay distillery Kilchoman marks its 20th anniversary, with founder Anthony Wills sharing valuable entrepreneurial lessons and expressing optimism for the brand's future. Kilchoman was established in 2005 on Islay's west coast, and is one of the entrepreneurs who returned to single malt whisky production after a severe downturn in the Scottish whisky industry in the 1980s.

Currently, this distillery, which practices 'from barley to bottle' integrated production, has an annual output of 650,000 liters, operates 24/7, employs 40 full-time staff, and boasts over 50 distributors worldwide. Kilchoman's success has not only revitalized Islay's whisky industry but also made it the first new distillery built on the island in over 120 years. Despite reaching the 20-year milestone, the entire Scottish whisky industry faces challenges such as stagnant sales and potential layoffs. Anthony Wills admits that Kilchoman has paused capital investment plans for increasing production capacity, but he firmly believes the industry will eventually recover and emphasizes the importance of 'focusing on what's in front of us' at this stage.

Anthony Wills' journey into whisky entrepreneurship was not smooth sailing. After starting his career in the wine industry, he transitioned to whisky in 1995, supplying single casks to the growing market of single malt enthusiasts. However, in the early 2000s, the decision to invest in building a distillery was considered a mad dash by many. Anthony invested his life savings and has persevered through sheer passion for his work. Fortunately, the distillery's private investors had immense confidence in the project and provided strong support in the initial years, with Kilchoman achieving profitability annually since 2010. As independent bottlers shifted towards production, becoming a trend, Kilchoman was at the forefront, with many peers following suit in recent years by establishing their own distilleries.

Kilchoman chose Islay as its distillery location partly because his family had lived there since the 1930s, and partly because Islay's reputation in the whisky world provided a solid brand foundation. As an independent distillery, Kilchoman also filled a market gap on Islay where independent distilleries were lacking, offering distributors who hadn't signed contracts with large multinational corporations an opportunity to enter the Islay single malt market. Despite challenges with logistics and staff housing on the island, Islay's unique peated whisky style makes its products highly sought after.

Following the advice of industry veteran Charlie MacLean, Anthony invited the late Dr Jim Swan to assist in designing the distillery's production equipment. Dr Jim Swan's guidance was crucial to Kilchoman's success. The distillery's initial annual production capacity was 100,000 liters. To meet the requirements for bottling at a younger age, Kilchoman uses small pot stills with long necks to increase copper contact and raise the cut points. One of Dr Jim Swan's most valuable pieces of advice was to use 'high-quality, high-value oak casks,' a principle Kilchoman still adheres to today, with cask suppliers including renowned sherry producer Bodegas José y Miguel Martín and bourbon giant Buffalo Trace.

Kilchoman's first single malt whisky was released in September 2009, and it has since developed multiple acclaimed core products and limited editions. Its flagship product, Machir Bay, launched in 2012, is primarily matured in bourbon casks with a slight increase in sherry cask proportion in recent years. Other core products include Sanaig, rich in Oloroso sherry cask flavors, and Batch Strength, a blend of red wine casks, bourbon casks, and sherry casks. The annual limited release, Loch Gorm, is fully matured in Oloroso sherry casks.

Additionally, the 100% Islay series, made from barley grown on the distillery's own farm, further showcases Kilchoman's unique flavor profile. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Kilchoman has also launched a 20th Anniversary Single Cask series and is holding a lucky draw with a prize of a 20-year-old Kilchoman from its first casks (filled on December 14, 2005).

Despite industry headwinds, Kilchoman continues to expand. Newly completed warehousing facilities are solar-powered, and private cask sales were opened for the first time in 2024. Anthony Wills believes that the flexibility of small and medium-sized distilleries is their advantage, allowing them to adapt quickly. Kilchoman's 'field to bottle' philosophy, especially after acquiring the farm where the distillery is located in 2015, has enabled complete control over the production process, further enhancing its resilience against supply chain fluctuations. The distillery grows barley on the farm; although yields are lower, it ensures the production of spirits they are proud of. Family members are now fully involved in the distillery's operations, including sales, marketing, distilling, and the visitor center, making Kilchoman a successful family business.

2025-09-26

Source: https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-articles/kilchoman-founder-shares-his-lessons-as-islay-distillery-marks-20-years/