RideEatCamp

Islay Whisky

Europe

We caught the ferry from Ballycastle to Islay this morning. Here’s a rundown of stuff that I remember from the day.

The Lagavulin distillery sits in a pretty harbor.
The Lagavulin distillery sits in a pretty harbor.
We're all smiles after the Laphroaig tour.
We’re all smiles after the Laphroaig tour.
At Laphroaig they still malt some of their barley on the floor.
At Laphroaig they still malt some of their barley on the floor.
One of the five stills at Laphroaig. It was nice and warm in here, a good place to work on this chilly island.
One of the five stills at Laphroaig. It was nice and warm in here, a good place to work on this chilly island.
After the Laphroaig tour we got to taste a few different whiskies they make.
After the Laphroaig tour we got to taste a few different whiskies they make.
At our campsite at Kintra Farm we watched a storm approach from the Atlantic.
At our campsite at Kintra Farm we watched a storm approach from the Atlantic.

– Scotland is cold
– all of the buildings are painted white with black trim
– this color theme matches the starkness of the climate
– rode to Lagavulin distillery for tour and tasting
– barley tastes good after it’s roasted and smoked in a kiln
– making whisky is similar to making beer, plus a thousand more steps
– we both enjoyed the 16-year-old batch that we sampled
– rode to Laphroaig distillery for tour and tasting
– Laphroaig uses more old school methods
– they still harvest the peat by hand
– we sample many different bottlings
– I like the triple wood, which is aged in two bourbon and one sherry barrels
– we feel the effects of the whisky and decide not to visit Ardbeg for a third round of touring and tasting
– we camp at Kintra Farm on a bluff overlooking Laggan Bay
– this is the prettiest campsite we’ve ever seen