Kilchoman Distillery sits on the wild west coast of Islay, nestled behind a coastal cliff near the broad white sands of Machir Bay. This land holds deep historical significance, once gifted by the island's lords to the Beaton family (or MacBeatha), who arrived from Ireland around 1300 and likely brought with them the secrets of distillation. In 1609, Fergus MacVey was granted an elaborate cross for Kilchoman parish by James I, though this cross may have existed earlier to commemorate another family member. The distillery was the brainchild of Anthony Wills, a wine and spirits merchant who moved to Islay in 2000 after marrying islander Kathy Wills several years prior. In 2001, he leased and renovated the semi-ruined buildings of Kilchoman Rockside Farm. The farm's owner, Mark French, grew distilling barley on adjacent land and maintained a herd of quality cattle to consume the draff and spent grains. The distillery was officially founded on June 3, 2005, with production commencing that December. In 2015, Anthony and Kathy purchased the farm outright. Kilchoman's inaugural 3-year-old single malt release in 2009 was met with tremendous acclaim, establishing a devoted global following—a testament to the brand ambassadorship of the owners' three sons. The distillery expanded from its original two washbacks to four in 2007, with two more added in 2016. The owners are currently constructing a new facility adjacent to the distillery, replicating the existing operational model with a floor malting room, malt kiln, mash tun, and stillhouse. This expansion was completed in February 2020, with production beginning immediately thereafter.

Kilchoman's motto is 'Bringing whisky back to its roots', as it is a genuine farm distillery—much like many that existed in the past. In the early 19th century alone, there were 13 farm distilleries on Islay. While Kilchoman is not unique in this regard today (see 'Daftmill'), it is unique in its ability to complete every stage of production on-site—from barley cultivation to whisky bottling. The distillery features a charming café and a shop run by Kathy Willis. The entire operation has a family feel to it. In 2010, the experienced and well-known distillery manager John McLellan came to Kilchoman from Bruichladdich. In the same year, Kilchoman was named 'Distillery of the Year' by the leading US whisky publication Malt Advocate. John was selected as 'Distillery Manager of the Year' by Whisky Magazine in 2013. Sadly, he passed away in 2016 at the age of 60.