Islay Rum
Member Spotlight
Ask most people to name a spirit from Islay, and the answer will almost certainly be whisky thanks to its long association with smoky, peaty single malts. But at The Old Lemonade Factory in Port Ellen, a small yet dedicated team has spent the last few years proving that the island has room for an entirely different tipple.
Starting production in 2022, Islay Rum has set out to change the distilling market on the island, while still honouring its distinct heritage.
“It really began with a bit of curiosity and a lot of ambition”, explained Ben Inglis, Head Distiller & Co Founder of The Islay Rum Company. “We asked ourselves, ‘Why has no one ever made rum on Islay?'. The island is famous for its whisky, but rum felt like a chance to do something genuinely different while still staying true to Islay’s distilling heritage.”
The curiosity found its home in a building with a story of its own. The Old Lemonade Factory was originally owned by Harold Hastie of Hastie Lemonade, and rather than let the storied structure slip further into disrepair, the team set about restoring, renovating and giving the building a new purpose. After plenty of hard work and patience, the team fired up the still in January 2022, officially becoming Islay’s first rum distillery.
One detail brought the project full circle; the renovation was carried out by local Islay builder Scott Hastie, Harold’s grandson, which Ben believes “helped ensure the building was treated with the care and respect it deserves”.
Fitting modern distilling equipment into a historic structure on a small island, came with no shortage of ups and downs, but seeing it transformed into a working distillery, creating jobs and welcoming visitors through the doors, has made the project worthwhile.
Since then, momentum has built quickly, from launching the first white rum to experimenting with peat, barrel ageing, and overproof styles. Leading that creativity is Ben, whose curiosity has shaped the style of Islay Rum from the early days. Every batch begins in a copper pot still fitted with twin retorts, giving a triple-distillation effect in a single run, and a spirit that is smooth yet full of character.
The distillery’s location also plays a role, as Islay’s cool, maritime climate slows maturation right down, letting the flavours develop gently rather than rushing them along. One favourite experiment has been ageing rum in heavily-peated ex-Islay whisky casks, lending subtle smoke and coastal notes that give the barrel-aged expression its Islay twist.
Ben added: “It’s these little touches that help give our barrel-aged rum its unmistakable Islay twist.”
The recognition has quickly followed, with the team securing Distiller of the Year at the Scottish Rum Awards, while Islay Rum Overproof received a Gold Outstanding at the IWSC 2026, and a Gold Medal at the World Rum Awards, which was awarded for both taste and style.
What's more Islay Rum Barrel Aged won Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2026, and was awarded a 3-Star Great Taste Award, the highest award given by the Guild of Fine Food – out of around 15,000 entries, only 275 products received a 3-Star rating, making it an incredible achievement.
Yet for Ben, the proudest moments go beyond the trophy cabinet. “Turning on the still for the first time and knowing we were making the first rum ever distilled on Islay was a big one” he said. “Just as meaningful, though, is the support from locals and visitors who come in, try the rum, and genuinely connect with what we're doing.”
Islay Rum is now available direct from the distillery and online, alongside a growing number of specialist retailers and bars in the UK and overseas, with particularly strong interest in the Barrel Aged and limited-release expressions. Looking ahead, the team’s focus is on carefully growing distribution, realising new and experimental expressions whilst developing the visitor experience further, building on tours and tastings and getting out to festivals, events and trade shows to share the Islay Rum story with more people.
Being a part of Scotland Food & Drink has played its part in the distillery’s journey, too.
“Being part of Scotland Food & Drink has been a real asset for us,” explained Ben. “It’s helped us connect with the wider industry, learn from other producers, and gain visibility at important stages of our growth. That sense of shared purpose and community support is especially valuable for a young, small business based on an island.”
From a derelict lemonade factory to Islay’s first rum distillery, Islay Spirits is proof that even an island built on whisky heritage still has room for a new chapter in its history.
