Made almost mythical by the critically acclaimed film, "The Angel's share" in 2012, it is hard to believe that Malt Mill distillery was an actual place. But it did exist.
The buildings which once housed the Malt Mill distillery have been absorbed into Lagavulin, the former's distillery building now serving as reception center for the latter. The site is located on the Southeast rim of Islay, overlooking the Bay of Lagavulin.
The story of Malt Mill distillery is a truly interesting tale. Eccentric Whisky baron Peter "Restless Pete" Mackie, founded the Malt Mill distillery in 1908, inside of the Lagavullin distillery, and closed in 1962.
Malt Mill was a small distillery founded for the purpose of imitating neighboring Laphroaig. Mackey lost ownership of Laphroaig and, in his spite, set out make his own Islay style malt to edge out the competition.
The distillery was smaller in stature than its nearby brothers, producing only 25,000 gallons of proof spirit annually. The facility operated through 1962, before becoming part of Lagavulin, where its coal-fired stills operated for another seven years.