The Best 20 Whiskies from Islay

Whisky or Whiskey? Who cares!? But what does define a great whisky? Why some whiskies stand over the rest? What makes a dram the best?

So hard questions... but let me make some ideas clear: older doesn't mean better and more expensive usually doesn't mean better neither. So, this list of delightful bottled pleasures is crafted by using the rating I have assigned to each of them when I have tasted them.

I, over all, love young peated whiskies, mid-age sherried monsters, old bourbon casks whiskies and very old grain whiskies. So, don't get surprised if the list shows this personal preference. You can find whisky recommendations list for a community-built list of best whiskies. Help us improve it even more by recommending your favorite whiskeys.

Without more delays, here is the list of the best Drinks available right now. You may want to see this list with all-time best whiskeys.

The Best 20 whiskies from Islay

88
Ardbeg Renaissance
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“The best most fantastic peated whisky that I have had in a lot of time...”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £225.00
88
Ardbeg Still Young
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Simply awesome, mind blowing. Forget Supernova, Uigeaidail or whatever. This is Ardbeg!”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £199.00
87
Lagavulin 16 year
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“This Lagavulin is a superb Islay whisky with its amazing peat complexity. Really one of the best bang for the buck single malts out there.”
86
Ardbeg Corryvreckan
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Really like Ardbeg promised: it is a whirlpool of whisky. Don’t forget your life jacket.”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £71.95
86
Ardbeg Perpetuum
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Damn good malt... so much time without drinking whisky... and this Ardbeg brought me memories of why I loved it”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £110.00
86
Ardbeg Supernova SN2010
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“An awesome release. More complex than Ardbeg 10 years old, definitively hotter and more earthy. If you are in the peat wave do your best to get one.”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £399.00
86
Ardbeg Uigeadail
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“A great dram. One of the best Ardbegs I have tried that has still a reasonable price. It is more complex than Ardbeg 10 years old and has no trace of vanilla.”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £57.95
- Buy on The Drink Shop for £58.48
86
Bowmore 18 year
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“The peat on this truly Islay malt lives together with a delicious citrus freshness altogether with some great notes of cocoa and nuts. Thirsty already?”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £77.55
- Buy on Drink Supermarket for £79.99
86
Bunnahabhain 25 Year Old
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Marvelous! One of the best Bunnahabhain single malts I have had”
- Buy on The Drink Shop for £319.20
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £330.00
85
Ardbeg Alligator Untamed Release
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Perhaps the best Ardbeg I have had. Quite delicious complex nose.”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £350.00
85
Ardbeg Galileo
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Delicious! It is more complex and with more fruity character than Ardbeg 10 years old and at a high strength as an extra. Love it”
- Buy on Whisky Online for £150.00
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £299.00
85
Bowmore White Sands
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Quite spicy almost like a Talisker with a fantastic peat note. I am really enjoying these Bowmore”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £70.55
85
Bruichladdich 15 Year Old / 1st Edition Islay Whisky
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“A great dram. More mature than 10 years old, with more wood and spices. Sweeter. Great.”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £120.00
85
Bruichladdich 23 Year Old 1990 Black Art 04.1
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“An extraordinary Bruichladdich that is like an hurricane of wood and spices. A damn sexy whisky”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £225.00
85
Bruichladdich Octomore 06.1 5 Year Old Scottish Barley
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“If you just sniff it a bit you won't have an idea of the peat punch that comes into your way. Bruichladdich Peat Punch Seal of Approval”
85
Lagavulin 1997 Pedro Ximénez Finish - Distillers Edition
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“That's a better thing ( than last year Laga )... here the finish is more subtle and does a better whisky in my opinion”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £99.95
85
Laphroaig 10 year
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Lovely peat, so healthy in a rainy day like this one! Only Laphroaig delivers this great medicine”
84
Ardbeg 10 year old
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Super solid peated whisky! If you like peated, have an Ardbeg”
- Buy on The Drink Shop for £41.51
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £43.35
84
Bowmore 12 year
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Nice dram ( and consistent ) but it miss that crazy little bit that turns good whisky into fantastic drams. If you want subtle peat punch, then this Bowmore is your dram”
84
Bowmore 15 year Darkest
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Quite nice Bowmore. I was expecting more sherry because of the color but it is a quite quite drinkable whisky”