For the last five years, I've been a huge fan of Islay scotch.
Like, the "I'm not an alcoholic, but if you look at my whiskey shelf at home you'd think I was" kind of fan.
And ever since I first fell in love with a Laphroaig 10 year old, I knew one day I would have to make the pilgrimage to the the small island of Islay off the western coast of Scotland, to experience all of the distilleries for myself.
Well that time came this month, when my friend Matt Kepnes of Nomadic Matt fame, invited me out to Scotland to experience Islay with him.
If you have zero interest in scotch or whiskey, move on, we'll be back to our normal content on lifestyle entrepreneurship next week, but if you like whiskey, are visiting Scotland, or even better, are planning a visit to Islay, my goal is to make this the only post you need to plan your trip and get going.
How to Pronounce Islay
Before we go any further, let's answer the biggest question most people have: how do you pronounce Islay?
It's actually pretty simple.
Eye-Luh.
Not is-lay.
Not is-luh.
Eye-luh.
Like you know the hot red headed girl from the movie wedding crashers? Here name is Isla Fischer.
Just like that, but spelled differently.
What is Islay Scotch?
The next biggest question most people have is what is Islay scotch?
The obvious answer is it is scotch made on the island of Islay.
To officially be recognized as scotch you must have three components:
- Must be distilled in Scotland
- Must be aged for a minimum of 3 years
- Must be aged in oak barrels.
If you meet those requirements you've got scotch.
But generally speaking Islay scotch is known for two very distinct characteristics: peat and smoke.
Most likely if you've ever tasted a scotch that was more like a campfire in your mouth, it was an Islay scotch.
Maybe it goes back to some deep rooted childhood memories of mine at my grandmas cabin or camping, but I love the smell and taste of anything smoky – so Islay scotch was right up my alley from the beginning.
What are the distilleries on Islay?
On the island of Islay, Scotland there are currently 8 distilleries:
- Ardbeg
- Bowmore
- Bruichladdich
- Bunnahabin
- Caol Ila
- Kilchoman
- Lagavulin
- Laphroaig
Each of these has their own characteristics, so I'll share a few of the highlights of each, and then talk specifically about the distillery experience and what you can expect, so you can hopefully plan your trip better.
There are 4 primary areas of Islay where you'll find distilleries:
- Port Ellen on the SE corner of the island
- Port Askaig on the NE corner of the island
- Port Charlotte on the NW corner of the island.
- Bowmore near the center of the island
Soon we will update this post with breakdowns of the distilleries and travel advice for the island including where to eat, where to stay, and if it's worth renting a car.
The post Islay Scotch: The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Islay, Scotland appeared first on Location Rebel.
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