Liz and Paul have been away to Islay (March 2011.) It’s a must for us to catch up on the local gossip, news and new events. Says Paul “A long overdue trip we are making “just for our members” – honest! We need sample drams and places so we can pass on all this glorious info to you.  It’s a hard thankless job, but some one has to do it, dinnae worry, we will struggle through”. Liz; “it’s a first for me and I am really looking forward to it, hope there isn’t too much peat!”  THE BLOG/DIARY of our ROAD TRIP goes like this; we started the trip from Perth, after an Angels corporate whisky tasting, taken by Willie and Don (we couldnee join in – driving y’know).

Leaving Perth approx 7.30pm Wednesday driving to Inveraray where we stopped overnight, a dram or three here in a friends hotel! Early start to Kennacraig … to catch the ferry to Islay … with 8 distilleries to check and several other “must do” not to mention meeting people and, trying to get to Jura, it was a whistle stop trip! WELL, WE ARE HOME AGAIN IN ONE PIECE. It was a grand trip, over two nights, three days on the island we visited all 8 distilleries (Bowmore twice) and Jura making 9 in all. Staying at Bowmore distillery was a good idea, fall asleep and awake to the sweet niff drifting in the slightly open windees… Lagavulin was shut when we got there, but, we were there and its their loss they were shut! Apart from distilleries, we were checkin oot accommodations, visits, historic sites, shops, grub and of course meeting people! Wait for the photos! Kildalton Cross and Kirk were immense, we ate at Holy Coo in Bowmore and a couple of take – away’s!

The ferry to Jura is a landing craft but we just had to have a go! There will soon be some new faces near the distillery, girls, it must be something in the air! Our very best wishes to all the “expecting” mums to be. Back on Islay we met our pal big Lamie, who drove us in his bullet proof Merc, bullet proof on Islay? must be a story there (aye there is), shared a few drinks and stories with him, a few good belly laughs too (if you have seen Paul and Lamie you’ll know how big belly laughs can be!). Just goes to show what whisky can do; a Campbell and a McLean getting on very well and best o friends! While the TV coverage of the darts in Glasgow SECC carried on relentless, we drank with Peter the younger and his lovely mum Linda exploring the wood in the bar, no to mention their own personal collection of excellent bottles.

So many nice people and a special hello to our man at Calmac on the way out of Port Ellen, made us a special place on the ferry. Hello also to the lovely lass at Spar in Port Ellen (from Mull and Dalmally!). Thanks for the butties.  S’funny isnee it, all except Kilchoman are on the water and all with a pier or slip, did they get deliveries by sea? Who is out there who knows?  Now then, who agrees with Liz and Paul, Islay needs a chip shop, a clothes shop (where do they buy socks, undies and jeans?) and a travel agent. We also need start trying to get all restaurants to lower their food costs a wee bit. We are no saying put in a KFC but something needs be done guys.  We also thought (rightly or wrongly) that after doing our best and spending money actually getting there ( no cheap ), that everyone should be made to accept a free bottle of their choice upon arrival or departure! Just as a thanks y’see.  Angels would be very happy to take you to the isle any time you wish. With our tour company MCLEANSCOTLAND you get so much packed in, real value for money and a great experience.

ARDBEG; Current owner: Glenmorangie plc.  Distillery Manager: Michael Heads  www.ardbeg.com What a clean and tidy place this is! Our first call right off the ferry, well, after Kildalton. Our first “spend!” here. Some work going on at the centre, grand wee place, lovely stuff to buy and great views, drams are no bad either! Their marketing and overall packaging matches the drink.

LAGAVULIN Current owner: Diageo. Distillery  www.discovering-distilleries.com Manager: Graham Logie.  Shut!!!

CAOL ILA Current owner: Diageo. Distillery www.discovering-distilleries.com Manager: Billy Stitchell. Doon by the water, chatted with other distillery tourists (on bikes). I would say, the least attractive distillery, big is no always beautiful. Come on Diageo.

LAPHROAIG Current owner: Allied Distillers Ltd. Distillery Manager: John Campbell www.Laphroaig.com Loved it! Big Lamie’s look – alike looked after us! Liz is now a land owner like Paul, enjoyed this distillery and its visitor centre with  museum and so on, enjoyed our drams, we left with gifts.

KILCHOMAN Current owner: Privately. Distillery  www.kilchomandistillery.com Manager: Malcolm Rennie. Eventually got there after our Dutch comrades, we detoured to see the ruined Kirk (Paul wanted this), back at the distillery; past the coos and horses into the barley floor, small but well formed. Our Canadian group coming in May, have a cask here. Some chattin and photos etc before we left for Bowmore.

BRUICHLADDICH Current owner: Bruichladdich Distillery Co. Ltd. Distillery Manager: Duncan McGillivray www.bruichladdich.com Chatted with Mary, shared a dram or several, bought the t shirt and enjoyed it all! Mary; we will be back! But – Dinnae carry on wi that gin! You get a nice feeling here, you know its not a big corporation who owns it and it shows, in a nice way, staff very happy!

BUNNAHABHAIN Current owner: Burn Stewart Distillers plc. Distillery Manager: Vacancy www.bunnahabhain.com A real “workin distillery” dirt an all, its what we thought  and much more, some purchases here at the Barlinnie of the isles. As a wee note Liz and Paul both thought this reminded them of prison, er, that’s another story. A nice drive doon a winding road that leads you to their door, all the time we were there one happy chap was whistling away driving his fork lift, a sign of a good happy workforce and aye, we would go back.

 
BOWMORE Current owner: Suntory, Japanese Whisky Co. Distillery Manager: Eddie McAffer www.bowmore.co.uk what can we say? we stayed there, enjoyed there, drank their drams there, laughed with the lassies there, had a special tour which we both appreciated thank you, and felt at home! Great relax area and bar overlooking the water to Port Charlotte. I tended to favour this one, probably as we were staying with them, wanderin aboot at 7am, the distillery is quiet, you can peep into places, its good to be the only person around at times, och the weather was good too!
 
AYE WE KNOW, Jura is a different isle altogether, aye but it’s nearby and we shall do our best! Jura Prophecy is the fourth of Jura’s classic bottlings and the first to be ‘profoundly’ peated. The whisky takes its name from one of the island’s most famous legends. In the early 1700’s the hated Campbells of Jura evicted a wise old seer. Bristling with resentment, she prophesised that the last Campbell to leave the island would be one-eyed with his belongings carried in a cart drawn by a lone white horse. Was the old seer a Maclean? wouldn’t surprise us. 1938, Charles Campbell, blind in one eye from the Great War, fell on hard times and led his white horse to the old pier for the last time. Ha!  Prophecy is bottled without chill filtration for an authentic taste of 1938. Flavours of peat, smoke, cinnamon and sea spray with bonfire notes give way to soft liquorice and nutmeg.

 http://angelswhiskyclub.com/awc and info@angelswhiskyclub.com