The Billion-Dollar Industry Thriving on a Remote Island.

Islay, a remote island off Scotland's west coast, is home to nine of Scotland's 145 active distilleries, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year for its distinctive smoky single malt whisky. Whisky production underpins Islay's economy and represents a significant portion of Scotland's international exports. Despite periods of boom and bust, the industry is thriving, with multinational companies buying up some of Islay's historic brands. As the whisky industry continues to grow, keeping production local will be key to its survival, believes Kilchoman's general manager, Islay Heads.