At the Kilchoman Distillery Co. Ltd. on Islay, a windswept island two hours by ferry from the west coast of Scotland, a banner nailed to a weathered barn proclaims "Better Together," the rallying cry of the group opposing Scottish independence.
Unraveling the 307-year-old union with England "is not something we should even be considering," Anthony Wills, Kilchoman's founder and managing director, said in the distillery's wood-floored tasting room.
Islay, with eight distilleries making some of the world's priciest whiskies, highlights a paradox of the debate leading up to the referendum a week from Thursday: It is tough to find support for a "yes" vote among makers of a product that rivals tartan plaid and haggis as a national symbol.