Islay produced some big-hitters in 2025, and as we move into 2026, the strength of its core releases and limited bottlings shows no sign of slowing. From powerful cask strength expressions to quietly brilliant sherried malts, the island continues to set the pace for peat-forward whisky.
This list focuses on bottles that are worth seeking out over the year ahead. Some are well-established classics, others are newer releases, and a few sit firmly in the “keep your eyes open” category. Whether you’re buying to drink now or to savour later, these are the Islay whiskies we think genuinely deserve a place on your shelf in 2026.
1. Ardnahoe Cask Strength Batch 2, £65/$81 (Batch 1)
A late arrival in 2025, but one of the most impressive new Islay releases of the year. Following conversations with the team at Ardnahoe, a second batch is now on the way.
Batch 1 was fully matured in ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 60.1%, delivering rich custard, vanilla, soft tropical fruit, and a distinctly youthful combination of salt and smoke.
If Batch 2 follows the same trajectory, this will be one of the standout cask strength Islay releases to watch in 2026.
2. Ardnahoe Bholsa, £58/$72
Ardnahoe’s Bholsa takes a different approach, using full maturation in ex-Oloroso sherry casks. The result is a whisky that balances Islay smoke with a deeper profile. Take all that delicious Islay smokiness and wrap a warm southern Spanish blanket around it.
Expect sweet toffee, dried cranberries, dark berries, and sun-dried raisins, followed by lingering coastal salinity and gentle peat. It’s a well-judged sherried expression that adds real depth to Ardnahoe’s growing range.
3. Kilchoman Sanaig Cask Strength, £72/$85
Kilchoman has long excelled at marrying peat and sherry, and bottling Sanaig at cask strength (57.8% ABV) takes that combination to another level.
The distillery’s signature savoury, almost bacon-like smoke is amplified here, layered with rich maple syrup, cocoa nibs, dark sherry wine, and assertive peat. It’s bold, intense, and unapologetic, yet still balanced.
One of Kilchoman’s most successful recent releases.
4. Kilchoman Machir Bay Cask Strength, £60/$75
Machir Bay Cask Strength (58.1% ABV) showcases Kilchoman’s ex-bourbon-led style at its best. The familiar smoky, savoury core is lifted by bright vanilla sweetness and maritime saltiness, creating a remarkably well-balanced whisky despite its strength.
The finish is long and persistent, lingering well beyond the final sip. You won’t need a whole hip flask on a walk, one sip before you leave the house, and you’ll be tasting it for the entire journey.
It remains one of the most convincing arguments for Kilchoman’s place among Islay’s modern greats.
5. Port Charlotte 10 Year Old, £52/$60
Here come the classics. Port Charlotte has seen some unusual and experimental releases in recent years. Some great, some less so. But like many other peated whisky lovers, I keep coming back to this higher-strength, core release: Port Charlotte 10 Year Old.
It’s arguably one of the few bottles that truly sums up what Islay single malt is about. Bold, unapologetic, and powerful, yet with a gentler side if you’re willing to look for it.
You can never go wrong with a bottle of this on the shelf.
6. Lagavulin 12 Year Old (Prior Releases), price varies
This is an odd recommendation, but hear me out. This is as much about timing as it is about the whisky itself.
As newer, higher-priced Diageo releases arrive, older editions of Lagavulin 12 Year Old are often left sitting on shelves and quietly discounted.
I managed to pick up the 2022 release for just £50 in the summer of 2025, which felt like an absolute steal. If you spot one reduced, it’s well worth taking advantage.
7. Laphroaig 10 Year Old Cask Strength, £50/$62
A similar situation applies to Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength, which has been widely available and increasingly discounted in parts of the UK. Some of it is being reduced to around £50 a bottle. Buy as much as you reasonably can.
At its best, this is one of Islay’s most characterful whiskies: medicinal, smoky, and powerful.
Like Port Charlotte, it’s massive in flavour, but there’s real nuance and delicacy behind the fiery front. Hunt out the bargains and drink exceptional whisky as a result.
8. Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old, £113/$141
Unpeated Islay often gets overlooked, but Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old remains one of the island’s most refined and rewarding expressions.
I was genuinely surprised to see retailers like Master of Malt and The Whisky Exchange offering this stunning unpeated Islay whisky at this price. It’s usually closer to £125 to £140.
Rich sherry influence dominates, offering dried fruit, gentle sweetness, and polished oak, while a subtle coastal salinity keeps everything in balance. For those who prefer depth over smoke, this is a standout option.
9. Ardbeg 10 Year Old Cask Strength, 61.7%, £75
I have been waiting for Ardbeg to do something like this for years. Given how many limited releases they’ve produced, a cask strength version of the 10-year-old feels like something that should have happened a long time ago. Well, 2026 is finally the year.
Coming in at £75 RRP, Ardbeg 10 Year Old Cask Strength is well-priced and will certainly pack a punch. I can’t wait to try it.
10. Living Souls Kildalton Bottlings, 42%, £125+/$155+
Living Souls has built a strong reputation as an independent bottler, and its 19-year-old Islay blended malt under the Kildalton name was one of the more interesting releases of 2024.
Labelled as Batch 1, it has fuelled speculation that a follow-up release may arrive in 2026.
While not inexpensive, it offers a different perspective on Islay whisky, combining maturity, balance, and distillery character in a way few blends attempt.
Where Islay Stands Heading into 2026
And there you have it. Our 10 best Islay whiskies to buy in 2026. Now all that’s left to do is track them down, open them, and enjoy them.
Let us know in the comments if you’ve tried any of the available bottles already, and what you thought of them.
Read the full article at 10 Best Islay Whiskies To Buy In 2026
