Of Uisge Beatha and such

As some of you Ladies and Gentlemen may know, whisky is near and dear to my heart, and especially my tummy, so to say. Therfore it has long been a dream of mine to venture to Scotland for a proper "Tour de Whisky", most likely with a few like-minded fellows. (Some of you might remember I have done a Tour de Whiskey in Ireland, and hope to make Tour de Bourbon in the U.S. of A. some day...) Plans have been made and discarded, but this time we actually managed to gather a group, stick to the plan, and purchase travel tickets! Our destination was The Isle of Islay, that modern-day mecca for those of us who like our uisge strong, smokey and peaty! Islay is a rather small island in the far west of Scotland, yet boasts 8 functioning distilleries, and even more mothballed ones. Here are my impressions gathered during the trip, with a wide variety of operators and management styles, as well as selection available at the Distillery Shoppes.

 

Best architecture & grounds: Ardbeg

Very nice compound & grounds, and shoppe/cafe area.

Also the most fun attitude with Islay-lympics &c.

 

Best bar: Bowmore

Upstairs from the Shoppe, a nicely sleek & modern

pub with amazingly blue ocean view!

 

Kindest staff: Bruichladdich

We got here after they had closed, but the staff gave me

a 2 dl bottle for free :)

 

Best name. Nomen est omen.

Got here too late, as well. Not much of a store or selection,

would have been nice to tour a little bit.

 

Least attractive experience: Caol Ila

Meh.

 

Best surprise: Jura

Great little Shoppe with great selection and generous pouring policy.

Also the furthest distillery from anywhere else.

 

Best attitude: Kilchoman, Ardbeg

Keep it small, local, and uncompromised, Kilchoman!

 

Best lounge: Lagavulin

A great, wood-paneled surpise, an old-fashioned Gentleman's Library tucked

away in otherwise so masonry-heavy environment.

 

Best shore view: Laphroaig

Sitting on the pier, this view was my favourite.

If I find the resources and/or time, I will write up more raportage later on. And of course, it might be time to start planning that Bourbon-trip to the Colonies, now!

Slainte Mhath!

Paddlewick, Esq, Society Whisky Connoseur