Kilchoman was conceived by Anthony Wills after a 20-year career in the drinks trade, and the company was incorporated in 2001. Anthony and his wife Kathy built the distillery from derelict farm buildings at Rockside Farm on Islay, chosen for its buildings and its reputation for growing good malting barley, and filled the first cask on 14 December 2005. Kilchoman malts barley on its own floor and kiln, distils in copper pot stills, and since 2011 has bottled everything on site. Machir Bay became its flagship in 2012, and its 100% Islay range is made only from barley grown on the island. The company leased the farm buildings at first, bought Rockside Farm in 2015 and expanded the stillhouse in 2019. It remains owned by the Wills family, with Anthony as managing director.