Forging Islay’s Distilling Future: Legendary Whisky Isle’s First Rum Distillery Conquers World Stage

With soft white sands and lush palm trees, Islay could easily be mistaken for the Caribbean. Now Scotland’s whisky isle is giving more tropical destinations a run for their rum after taking home a Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2026. 

Islay’s first rum distillery, The Islay Rum Distillery, has won the medal at the world’s most prestigious spirits competition, with The Original Islay Rum Barrel Aged scoring 98 points. The accolade signals the growing emergence of premium Scottish rum internationally and marks a significant milestone in Scotland’s spirits export story. 

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition sets the industry standard for excellence, and the Double Gold medal means every judge on the blind-tasting panel awarded gold unanimously, making it among the most rigorous endorsements in the sector. 

Handcrafted on the legendary whisky isle of Islay, The Original Islay Rum marks a new chapter in the island’s distilling story. Produced by The Islay Spirits Company at The Islay Rum Distillery, it is the first rum ever distilled on the Hebridean island. 

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

The rum is crafted using sustainably sourced molasses, which undergoes controlled fermentation to develop layers of fruity, spicy and subtly sweet notes before reaching the still. A unique copper pot and twin retort still create a triple distillation effect in a single run, with the copper contact and slow distillation producing a smooth, characterful spirit. 

The Original Islay Rum Barrel Aged is a lightly aged rum rested in oak casks previously used to mature peated Islay single malt whisky, with Scotland’s cool climate allowing the spirit to age more slowly than in tropical regions. The result is a balanced rum combining gentle smoke with notes of vanilla and coastal salinity which creates a natural bridge between rum and whisky, offering something both familiar and distinctive for whisky drinkers exploring the island.

The expression forms part of the distillery’s portfolio of three core range rums which also features The Original Islay Rum Geal pure single white rum and The Original Islay Rum Peat Spiced smoked over a peat fire, alongside a limited-edition experimental Overproof series and exclusive single cask releases.

The Islay Spirits Company is driven by a pioneering team with a shared ambition to produce a rum reflecting the character, heritage and craftsmanship of Islay. 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 company and transforming a disused industrial building into Islay’s first rum distillery. 

The journey began in 2017 when father and son Brian and Andrew Crook, owners of The Vintage Malt Whisky Company, acquired the former 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. 

Ben Inglis, head distiller and distillery manager at The Islay Rum Distillery, said: “Surrounded by the powerful Atlantic Ocean, Islay’s cool maritime climate, coastal air and ever-changing weather create an environment that influences every stage of our rum-making. These natural elements contribute to a distinctive sense of place that defines The Original Islay Rum’s flavour, depth and character. 

“Our Barrel Aged rum is an expression I’m particularly proud of. Maturing the spirit in casks that once held peated Islay single malt was a deliberate choice to root our rum in the island’s rich heritage. To have that recognised with a Double Gold in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition is a real validation of what we set out to achieve.”

Since launching in 2022, The Original Islay Rum has quickly gained international recognition, including a Gold medal for The Original Islay Rum Barrel Aged at the International Wine & Spirit Competition 2025 and the title of Scottish Rum Producer of the Year at the 2025 Scottish Rum Awards.

Caroline James, Co-Founder of The Islay Spirits Company, added: “For generations, Islay spirits have set a global benchmark for excellence. The Islay Rum Distillery builds on this heritage, applying the same dedication to quality that defines the island’s whisky tradition to create a new category of world-class Islay spirit.

“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.

The distillery is also establishing itself as a distinctive addition to Islay’s world-famous distillery trail, offering visitors guided tours and tastings and the rare opportunity to experience rum-making in a place globally synonymous with exceptional spirits.

For further information about The Original Islay Rum, visit www.islayrum.com