Category: Islay Businesses

My Christmas evening 2025 Islay dram and chocolate

Islay Fun

And suddenly the end of 2025 is rapidly approaching. But before that it’s time for some blogging, food and drink. Islay drink of course. It’s been quiet here since early October (driven by an injury followed by an Islay holiday), time for a bit of catching up. Here is what I’m enjoying tonight:

Picture of a dram of Laphroaig PX cask next to a bottle, in front of it some Islay Cocoa chocolate
My Christmas evening 2025 Islay dram and chocolate

Slightly more difficult to get as it’s only in travel retail and at the distillery, this is the PX Cask, one of my favourite Laphroaig Islay single malts. With it I had a first for me, a special chocolate from Islay Cocoa. I believe it’s only available at the distillery, it’s a dark chocolate bar filled with a Laphroaig whisky ginger caramel and crystallised ginger. I usually mainly have plain dark chocolate (usually around 80-85%), so the ginger isn’t something I’m used to. I very much enjoyed the experience, I thought the ginger went very well with the whisky.

Tomorrow, Christmas Day, I will probably wander over to the other side of Islay. For the whisky that is, the chocolate will also be from Islay Cocoa (although with a collaborator from the Rhinns of Islay).

Another replica Islay road sign

Islay Fun

Another post on this bank holiday weekend while enjoying a dram of my selected bank holiday Islay whisky. A follow up in a way to a post from December last year. During my visit in November last year I bought a Port Charlotte replica road sign at The Celtic House in Bowmore, this year in June I bought one of its siblings:

Picture of two replica Islay road signs either side of a framed Gaelic Islay and Jura map
Another replica Islay road sign

This one is the B8018 to Kilchoman sign, nicely complementing the A847 to Port Charlotte sign. As you can see it nicely fits on the other side of my Gaelic Islay map, especially as it points to the right, on to the map.

There are plenty of other signs available for other places on Islay and Jura, hopefully of your favourite place as well. If you have one let me know which one you’ve picked and where you’ve put it.

New Year’s Concert 2025 with Islay whisky and Islay chocolate

Islay Fun

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:

Picture of a bottle of Bruichladdich Port Charlotte valinch, a nosing glass filled with whisky and a chocolate bar named Salry Sea Dog
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.

Happy New Year 2025!

Christmas 2024 Islay whisky nr.2 (and some Islay chocolate)

Islay Whisky News & Links

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.

Picture of a bottle of Kilchoman 12 year old single cask Islay single malt whisky, a dram next to it. Also some Islay Cocoa chocolate in the foreground.
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….

Merry Christmas with some Islay wreaths

Islay Events

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:

Picture of two Christmas cards showing maritime Christmas wreaths
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.

Replica Islay and Jura road signs at the Celtic House

Islay Businesses

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:

Picture of a replica Port Charlotte road sign
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:

Picture of a replica Port Charlotte road sign next to a framed Gaelic Islay and Jura map
Replica Port Charlotte road sign next to Islay and Jura map

The ones currently in stock you’ll find under Islay and Jura Road Signs in the Celtic House shop. Further signs should become available again in spring 2025.

Of course you’ll also find plenty other Islay books and gifts, browse their online shop or drop into the store in Bowmore.

My little Islay Cottage (courtesy of Islay Celtic Craft)

Islay Businesses

Back in June I bought my first Islay cottage. Not one I can stay in, my budget doesn’t stretch that far, only a tiny one I can enjoy looking at standing on my Islay shelf. It comes courtesy of Gordon and Mairi Want’s Islay Celtic Craft Shop. This is how it looks:

Picture of a small model of a decorative cottage with a rowing boat outside
Islay Cottage from Celtic Craft (1)

It’s a small cottage at the shore, a rowing boat tied up on a pole just outside. A chimney for the fire of course. You won’t be able to buy this specific one, as each of the cottages they sell is handmade and unique. You can find more of them on their Facebook page (link above) or even better by visiting their shop just outside of Portnahaven on the back road past Kilchiaran to Port Charlotte.

Picture of a small model of a decorative cottage with a rowing boat outside
Islay Cottage from Celtic Craft (2)

When you visit the shop you’ll find all kinds of great local art and Islay things. If you’re lucky you also get to meet a very friendly cat (unfortunately can’t remember its name). Not to forget, Gordon was very helpful and found the perfect box to get my cottage home safely.

Oh, and the cottage wasn’t the only thing I bought. But that’s for another post…

Nice Islay light (courtesy of Islay Prints)

Islay Businesses

This is a long overdue post, but better late than never. I think I first saw them back in November 2023 at a Christmas fair in Bruichladdich Hall. Bonnie of Islay Prints had some lamp shades with Islay nature related prints on her stand. We had a chat about them and I learned that they come in different sizes and various prints and colours are available. I thought they would look great on two lamps I had, especially as I wasn’t too fond of the original shades.

Picture of a Wet Meadow lampshade in ochre from Islay Prints
Wet Meadow lampshade in ochre from Islay Prints

We agreed that I would measure the sizes I needed when I got home and then order the ones I wanted. For various reasons I didn’t manage to do that for a few months, but just before my visit in April 2024 I finally got my act together and finally placed my order. I decided to go for the Wet Meadow motif in ochre for both, as I wanted some mild warm light from the lamps.

Bonnie was extremely helpful and managed to make the shades while I was on Islay, so that I could pick them up from her workshop and save on the postage. They were safely packed in a cardboard box and travelled home on my passenger seat. Once I arrived home I quickly exchanged the old shades for them, very simple and easy to do.

I’m very pleased with them, they are exactly like I was expecting them. Only thing to point out for this particular version I think they need a bulb with a warm tone. I had a more white bulb in one lamp first and a warmer more yellow in the other. It made a significant difference and I soon changed the white bulb to a warmer yellow as well. One is standing next to me as I’m writing this, providing some background light at my desk. The other one is on my dining table.

If you’re interested, check out the Handmade Lampshades section on Bonnie’s website. While you’re there also check out the Handprinted Greeting Cards (I’ve got a few of those as well), Linoprints and Homewares (I’m considering some of them as one of my next purchases)

Islay Space Port to open in 2024

Islay News

Some amazing news from Islay this morning: After some long and secret negotiations I can reveal that an Islay Space Port is expected to open in late 2024. Scotland has long been the prime location for the development of spaceports, now Islay is joining this effort to establish Scotland on the forefront of space exploration.

Picture of a Space Shuttle lifting off next to a whisky distillery
Artist’s impression of the Islay Space Port

This development will create many highly qualified jobs on Islay. It is expected that Islay High School will create some specialised courses leading to space engineering degrees at Glasgow University. I understand the space port will be located on the south coast of Islay (I believe between Lagavulin and Ardbeg) and some of the Islay distilleries will contribute to the specialised rocket fuel.

What do you think? Is this an exciting and positive development for Islay? Or is this too much and will put further strain on ferry capacities?

A great tour around Islay with a drone video

Islay on Video

And he’s done it again. Stuart has put out another great Islay from the air video, mostly filmed during his travels around the island as a taxi driver. This one is a compilation of views from pretty much all over the island, some during the day, some during sunset and you even get to see a rare snowy landscape:

Islay in all its glory 4K drone footage

A very enjoyable 5 minutes, I hope you enjoyed the video as much as me or even more. I’m sure there will be more to share over the coming months and years.