World Rum Day lands on Saturday, 11 July, and one of this year’s standout bottles comes not from the Caribbean, but from the whisky stronghold of Islay.
The Original Islay Rum Overproof has put the Hebridean island firmly on the rum map, securing Gold Outstanding with an impressive 98 points at the International Wine & Spirit Competition 2026. Produced at Islay’s first dedicated rum distillery, the expression challenges expectations from a postcode more commonly associated with peat and barley.
Bottled at a punchy 63% ABV, Overproof forms part of the distillery’s experimental limited-edition series. It is crafted from five separate distillation runs, combining both three-week fermentations and extended six-week ferments. These longer ferments are driven by wild yeast, mature dunder and native Islay bacteria, creating a spirit that is as much shaped by its environment as it is by the distiller’s hand.
Crucially, these wild fermentations are only possible during the island’s warmer summer months, when conditions allow the naturally occurring yeast and bacteria to thrive. The result is a richly layered rum, delivering notes of ripe tropical fruit, warming spice and notable depth.
The distillery itself carries a story as distinctive as the spirit. Housed in a restored 1959 art deco lemonade factory in Port Ellen, the site was acquired in 2017 by Brian Crook of The Vintage Malt Whisky Company. Restoration was led by local builder Scott Hastie, the grandson of the factory’s original founder, bringing the building full circle within the community.
At the helm is Head Distiller and Distillery Manager Ben Inglis, an Islay native who grew up immersed in whisky culture but found his passion in rum.
“Growing up on Islay you’re surrounded by whisky, but rum was the spirit that got hold of my imagination,” he said. “Overproof is the most Islay thing we’ve made: the yeast and bacteria that drive it live here, and we can only ferment like this in the island summer.”
The distillery was named Scottish Rum Producer of the Year at the 2025 Scottish Rum Awards, further cementing its position as a serious player in the category.
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For those marking World Rum Day at home, the distillery recommends its Blush & Brine serve, combining 50ml Overproof with 15ml maraschino liqueur, 20ml fino sherry and 20ml fresh lime juice, topped with pink grapefruit soda over ice, and finished with a pinch of Orsay Sea Salt and a grapefruit twist.
Key facts:
- The Original Islay Rum Overproof, 63% ABV (70cl)
- £59, available via islayrum.com
- Gold Outstanding (98 points), IWSC 2026
- Small batch, unaged, limited edition
- Five distillation runs with wild and commercial fermentation
As World Rum Day approaches, Islay’s latest release is a reminder that even the most established spirits regions can still surprise.
