Looks like my hopes are getting fulfilled. After the Ardilistry Bay video in October and the Oa video in December I’ve just spotted another 180° VR Islay video from this channel. This time they are taking us to the three southern distilleries (Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg) with a short stop in Port Ellen:
Scotland Islay Three Distilleries – Stunning Coastal Walk 8K 180 3D
Same as with the other videos it uses some kind of 180° panoramic technology, meaning you can to an extent change the direction you’re looking. Looks like this was filmed over two or more days, while Lagavulin and Ardbeg get some nice sunshine it’s overcast for Laphroaig and Port Ellen.
Some nice views from Dunyvaig Castle, anyone recognise the tall ship you can spot? Is it the Thalassa?
Back to a more traditional schedule after last year’s late start and AI New Year 2024. Following a fairly noisy night (no, not fireworks, but quite strong and blustery winds in West Berkshire) I left for an early walk, just avoiding the rain which set in mid morning and has turned quite heavy while I’m writing this. Then it was time for the New Year’s Concert 2025 from Vienna, while eating my usual New Year’s Day brunch, scrambled eggs, smoked salmon and homemade rolls. For the encore (including the famous Blue Danube Waltz and Radetzky March) I moved on to dessert:
New Year 2025 Islay Whisky and Chocolate
The whisky is of course the Bruichladdich Port Charlotte valinch OLC: 01 2013 opened on Christmas. The chocolate is another offering from Islay Cocoa, the Salty Sea Dog. I normally avoid salty foods (high blood pressure), but for an occasional treat I make an exception. Very much enjoyed the chocolate, the salt and the chocolate go well together, also nicely complemented by the whisky (and the music from Vienna).
With the concert now over I’m looking forward to a relaxing afternoon, should the rain stop early enough I might venture out for another short walk.
Swiftly following on from yesterday’s Christmas 2024 Islay whisky nr.1 yesterday I’ve opened the second bottle I had picked for this year’s Christmas today on Boxing Day. Not only that, I also got out some nice chocolate to enjoy with it after enjoying some Salmon with lemon pepper earlier this evening.
Christmas 2024 Islay whisky nr.2 (and some Islay chocolate)
This is a Kilchoman 12 Year Old Single Cask bottling, cask 504/2012. Matured in a bourbon casks for over 9 years before being finished in a Calvados cask for over 3 years. My bottle is 114/240. I think it’s a distillery shop only release, so not available online. Quite different to the Port Charlotte I enjoyed yesterday, I’d say much sweeter with my untrained palate. But I also like it a lot.
Now on to the chocolate: I picked up some Islay Cocoa chocolate during my visit in November. I can’t seem to find it online, but the one I started tonight is called “Festive Dark”. It’s a 70% Colombian chocolate filled with salted hazelnut praline and toasted almond pieces. Or in other words, brings together what I like, 70%+ (ideally 80-85%) dark chocolate and nuts. I think I finished probably 80%+ of the bar today, it’s that good. I’ve got another chocolate bar to start, but that’s for New Year’s Eve, so watch this blog….
Christmas 2024 is well under way. Yesterday evening (Christmas eve) I enjoyed some nice Wagyu (or at least that’s what they claimed it to be) burgers with a nice bottle of Sublime Stout by Fyne Ales, picked up during the return drive from my last Islay visit. After some nice chocolate ice it was time for the first bottle open of a nice Islay single malt whisky:
Christmas 2024 Islay whisky nr.1
This is a Bruichladdich Port Charlotte valinch OLC: 01 2013. ask no. 2582, 2nd fill Oloroso butt matured, distilled 17/Apr/2013, 11 aged years. My bottle is 215/810. I’ll leave the tasting notes to someone else, but I’m enjoying it very much.
I haven’t started the chocolate just yet, hopefully will get to that on Boxing Day together with the second Islay single malt bottle opening. More about that soon.
So there we are, Christmas 2024 has arrived, Christmas Eve today. Time for some Christmas greetings and more. A selected few have received the physical form of these greetings, unfortunately I couldn’t send them to everyone. This year’s Christmas cards come courtesy of Islay Prints and have a maritime theme:
Christmas Wreath Cards courtesy of Islay Prints
A slightly different take on a Christmas wreath, inspired by the sea all around Islay. And I wrote on these cards to relatives and close friends under the light of the Islay lamps I’ve mentioned previously.
Have a great Christmas, hopefully with a few Islay treats. I’ve got some chocolate from Islay Cocoa and of course some Islay whiskies to open. I haven’t decided which ones yet, but I will aim to share my choices over the coming days. Feel free to share your treats in the comments.
Back in October I shared an interesting 180° VR video from a walk to Ardilistry Bay. I noted that the channel was quite new and wondered if there were going to be further Islay videos. That question has now been answered, as there’s now another video, a video from a boat trip around the Oa:
Scotland Islay Skerries – Wild Marine Music Adventure VR 8K 180 3D
I’m not sure why they say Skerries, as far as I know the cliffs of the Oa are not part of the Skerries. Maybe I’m wrong. Either way, some great views up the cliffs with the American Monument on top, also some interesting views around Soldier’s Rock. Same as with the other video it uses some kind of 180° panoramic technology, meaning you can to an extent change the direction you’re looking.
Over the last few days I’ve seen a few posts, mainly on Facebook, about Crom Dubh na Nollaig, a mystical creature which was used to scare children on Islay to behave around Christmas. Usually the post contained some AI generated image of said creature, so I couldn’t resist to create my own version before we get to what the story behind it is:
Crom Dubh na Nollaig (as imagined by AI)
Usually the story went something like this:
On the Isle of Islay, people once told the story of Crom Dubh na Nollaig, a creature like Krampus, to scare children into behaving at Christmas. Legends said that screams from the chimney marked his arrival, though it was often just the sound of the winter wind. This Scottish Christmas monster is mostly forgotten now, but it was once an important part of the holiday season.
Several Ileach have commented on it, some had heard of it, many others hadn’t. As usual there is some truth in the story:
Back in 1969 Peggy Earl (who passed away in 1978) told Mary MacDonald about celebrating New Year and a Christmas creature:
The contributor says that although New Year was an important celebration, Christmas was also kept. Children were threatened with ‘Crom Dubh na Nollaig’, a creature that howled down the chimney.
I believe the comparison to Krampus is a later addition, but I don’t think it’s right. While Krampus was used to scare Children I think the link is mainly made to get people familiar with the better known Krampus interested.
From some articles I’ve seen the creature isn’t only an Islay story, it seems to also be known in other parts of the Hebrides, possibly also Ireland (if anyone from Ireland reads this and knows, can you let us know in the comments?).
Either way, a story worth preserving, I hope you found it interesting as well.
Found a rather nice Islay and Jura drone video this evening. It was filmed and edited by Phil Curry, you can find quite a few drone videos on his channel, from Scotland and many other places. But as this blog is about Islay (and Islay’s neighbours) we of course focus on this video:
Islay & Jura 2023
Beaches, dolphins, a walking excursion to the Corryvreckan whirlpool north of Jura, lighthouse, hills, many great views of Islay. I hope you enjoyed the video.
With Christmas just around the corner I remembered I should write about an Islay present some of you might like, available at The Celtic House in Bowmore. I came across them during my visit in June and have one hanging on my wall at home. It’s a replica Islay road sign, in my case pointing to Port Charlotte:
Replica Port Charlotte road sign
I think they are really well done, they even have some rust spots even though they are not made of metal. I’ve put it next to my Gaelic map of Islay and Jura:
Replica Port Charlotte road sign next to Islay and Jura map
And they’ve done it again. I’ve shared videos by the BadLads Diving before (eg their tribute to the Otranto), now I’ve come across their 2024 video. Some fantastic views from above and below the water in a variety of locations around Islay, also some wildlife thrown into the mix:
Seaweed & Seals 24
Thanks for sharing these videos, gives us non-divers some great views we would never otherwise experience.