Ian Macleod Distillers has officially opened Laggan Bay Distillery on Islay. The first cask was filled on 2 April 2026, making it the island’s 11th active distillery and beating Portintruan to the milestone.
The distillery received planning permission in 2022. Originally set for a 2025 launch, the opening was pushed back to March 2026. Leonard Russell, IMD’s managing director, filled the inaugural cask alongside his son Tom Russell, head of international business development, and distillery manager Malcolm Rennie, an Islay native with decades of experience in Scotch whisky production.
Style and production
Laggan Bay’s stated focus is on clarity of spirit and balance of flavour, aiming to add a distinct style to Islay’s landscape rather than replicate what already exists. The distillery uses handmade copper pot stills and traditional double distillation. The project is a collaboration between IMD and The Islay Boys, who acquired Islay Ales, the island’s only brewery, in 2018.
Russell said: “We are not here to replicate what Islay already has. We’re here to add to it, with a whisky shaped by its place, our people, and the choices we make from the start.”
Rennie added: “Coming home to Islay to help shape Laggan Bay single malt is something I’m proud of. It’s a rare chance to create a new whisky with a strong sense of place, rooted in the character and traditions that define Islay.”
Location and sustainability
The distillery sits at Glenegedale, along the windswept Laggan Bay coastline and opposite Islay Airport. The two-hectare site also houses the new Islay Ales brewery. The distillery’s logo draws inspiration from the bottlenose dolphins that frequent these waters.
Sustainability is built into the design: wetlands manage liquid waste while supporting local wildlife. The distillery is exploring renewable energy solutions with Islay Energy Trust and Scottish Power.
Laggan Bay will host its first public event during Fèis Ìle 2026 on 31 May. Details on whisky style, cask programme and future releases will follow as the spirit matures. Visitors can find the new distillery on the interactive distillery map, near the airport on the island’s south coast.
