The last weekend in May sees the small Island of Islay in celebration mood. The Islay Festival of Malt and Music brings crowds of whisky enthusiasts to mingle with fans of Gaelic music and culture. Islay's eight working distilleries produce some of the world's most famous whiskies as well as being one of Islay's most important industries.
In a packed programme of musical and cultural events Islay's whisky takes centre stage. The festival offers the whisky lover a wealth of events throughout the week with each of the distilleries having its own open day with a variety of special events. These will include distillery tours, whisky tastings and master classes. Other entertainments on offer are Highland Dancing, the Islay Pipe Band, guided walks, sporting event and children's amusements. Refreshments featuring local produce and ingredients will be available at many of the events.
Immerse yourself in Gaelic culture at An Evening of Gaelic Song and Traditional Music at the Gaelic College Bowmore on the evening of 27th May. Enjoy performances from local artists including the Islay Gaelic Choir. There will be a raffle and refreshments.
A highlight of the week for the real whisky aficionado will be a whisky tasting Ceilidh on the evening of the 25th May. If you think you can tell Ardbeg from Bowmore or Bruichladdich then all the distilleries will be there with their whiskies so go along and test your whisky tasting skills. Musical entertainment at the event will be by the Islay Fiddle and Accordion Band.
Islay's peaty soil and brown peaty water combined with its exposed position all contribute to the unique characteristics of its whisky. Salty sea spray is brought far inland on wild winter gales, soaking deep into the peat. The same salty, seaweed scented breeze dries it out again in calmer weather conditions. The result is some of the strongest flavoured of all the malt whiskies.
The distilleries in the south of the island include Ardbeg and Laphroaig. These produce some of the most powerful of Islay's whiskies. The brown, peaty water is used together with a heavily peated malt in the distilling process. The whisky has a flavour that has been described as peat smoke, brine and iodine. Sometimes even "medicinal".
The distilleries to the north of Islay include Bruichladdich. They produce a much milder whisky. They don't use the brown peaty water but draw water from the springs before it has a chance to come into contact with the peat. A lightly peated malt is also favoured. The whisky produced is still dry but much lighter with mossy overtones rather that peaty and the flavours of the sea are not so pronounced.
On the shores of Loch Indaal, in the middle of the Island, lies Bowmore distillery. In character it is somewhere in between the whiskies of the north and those of the south. While peaty flavours are very much in evidence it is not medicinal. The sea, salt, seaweed and iodine can be still be detected but the more delicate floral notes are able to come through and the whisky has a peppery finish.
Islay is known as The Queen of the Hebrides and a visit offers much more than the festival. Try a taste of island life with stunning scenery and amazing wildlife.
In a packed programme of musical and cultural events Islay's whisky takes centre stage. The festival offers the whisky lover a wealth of events throughout the week with each of the distilleries having its own open day with a variety of special events. These will include distillery tours, whisky tastings and master classes. Other entertainments on offer are Highland Dancing, the Islay Pipe Band, guided walks, sporting event and children's amusements. Refreshments featuring local produce and ingredients will be available at many of the events.
Immerse yourself in Gaelic culture at An Evening of Gaelic Song and Traditional Music at the Gaelic College Bowmore on the evening of 27th May. Enjoy performances from local artists including the Islay Gaelic Choir. There will be a raffle and refreshments.
A highlight of the week for the real whisky aficionado will be a whisky tasting Ceilidh on the evening of the 25th May. If you think you can tell Ardbeg from Bowmore or Bruichladdich then all the distilleries will be there with their whiskies so go along and test your whisky tasting skills. Musical entertainment at the event will be by the Islay Fiddle and Accordion Band.
Islay's peaty soil and brown peaty water combined with its exposed position all contribute to the unique characteristics of its whisky. Salty sea spray is brought far inland on wild winter gales, soaking deep into the peat. The same salty, seaweed scented breeze dries it out again in calmer weather conditions. The result is some of the strongest flavoured of all the malt whiskies.
The distilleries in the south of the island include Ardbeg and Laphroaig. These produce some of the most powerful of Islay's whiskies. The brown, peaty water is used together with a heavily peated malt in the distilling process. The whisky has a flavour that has been described as peat smoke, brine and iodine. Sometimes even "medicinal".
The distilleries to the north of Islay include Bruichladdich. They produce a much milder whisky. They don't use the brown peaty water but draw water from the springs before it has a chance to come into contact with the peat. A lightly peated malt is also favoured. The whisky produced is still dry but much lighter with mossy overtones rather that peaty and the flavours of the sea are not so pronounced.
On the shores of Loch Indaal, in the middle of the Island, lies Bowmore distillery. In character it is somewhere in between the whiskies of the north and those of the south. While peaty flavours are very much in evidence it is not medicinal. The sea, salt, seaweed and iodine can be still be detected but the more delicate floral notes are able to come through and the whisky has a peppery finish.
Islay is known as The Queen of the Hebrides and a visit offers much more than the festival. Try a taste of island life with stunning scenery and amazing wildlife.
About the Author:
Rachel Wilson is a travel writer with a love for Bowmore whisky. The Malt & Music Festival is the ideal place to sample a variety of single malt scotch whiskies.
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