Islay News – (New) IslayBlog.com, a blog about the Isle of Islay, Scotland

Four Islay links for mid September 2025

Having a baking Saturday afternoon (nothing Islay related, just my normal bread baking. Two Hemp Hearts breads and one Walnut and Cashew) is a good afternoon to review and share some Islay related links I’ve found. I hope you find them interesting as well:

Islay has several standing stones dotted around, one of them was one Peter Ross was after: ‘A tantalising mystery’: could I find the standing stone on a Scottish island from a childhood photo?
An interesting link between Islay whisky and Māori cooking: Islay via Aotearoa
I think Amy Fallon is from Australia, but somehow there seems to be some Canadian in there as well. No matter, as some ancestors came from, you guessed it, Islay: Queen of the Hebrides! A visit to the Scottish island that a family matriarch once called home.
To close a cute picture of two Islay calves: Heart-warming moment from the Carrabus farm calves

That’s it for this afternoon. I hope you found at least one of the links interesting, but ideally all four. Maybe let us know in the comments?

Islay April Fools 2025

That’s enough for another year, as the vast majority of you of course spotted the Islay Gisky release was this year’s April Fools from this here blog. The German speakers among you probably spotted the names, Gibtihnnicht means as much as “doesn’t exist” and AllesErstunkenUndErlogen as much as “all made up and a lie”. Of course I wasn’t the only one trying it out, in particular on Facebook (meaning you will probably need to be logged in to see them) I noticed a few more Islay related April Fools:

Laphroaig offering stays in a whisky barrel
Explore Islay & Jura announcing picture perfect replica wildlife
Billy Stitchell sharing a view of the Loch Lily micro distillery
West Coast Motors announcing their expansion into an airline

What will we come up with next year?

First Islay Gisky launches today

Some fascinating news for Islay whisky and gin drinkers today: German scientist and inventor Bernd Gibtihnnicht after moving to Islay is launching a world first, a genuine fusion of whisky and gin. Not a blend, but a genuine fusion of the two drinks, creating completely new and previously unknown taste experiences.

Picture of a bottle with Gisky written on it, a nosing glass next to it — Islay Gisky (1)

With his unique, patented and trademarked (as well as TOP SECRET!) AllesErstunkenUndErlogen® parallel dual still Doppelkondenser technology Bernd has been able to distil a unique drink on Islay that merges yet maintains the taste profiles and characteristics of Islay whisky and Islay gin. Of course it includes various Islay grains including rye, barley and wheat, but is also infused with various rugged Islay botanicals including gorse and dune grass.

Picture of a bottle with Gisky written on the label — Islay Gisky (2)

Bernd is convinced that both Islay whisky connoisseurs as well as Islay gin enthusiasts will love his innovative fusion of the two drinks. Further details about availability and where to buy the Gisky will be released through the course of the day.

Some Islay links for an October Sunday read

It’s a rather wet October Sunday morning where I’m writing this (and rather breezy on Islay), a good time to stay in for some Islay reading. So here are a variety of links to articles and more I’ve found. I hope you’ll find something interesting:

The Telegraph boards the well known Flying Dutchman for Learning the science of whisky on a Hebridean cruise
I’m not entirely sure if this is an Islay specific way of making it, but here’s a proper Cock-a-leekie soup recipe
Scotland Outdoors has two podcasts (an hour each, so that should keep you busy for a while), Islay Part 1 and Islay Part 2
But wait, there’s more: Out of Doors, The Island of Islay is another one from BBC Scotland
Camra has a list of Pubs & Clubs around Isle of Islay (not so sure about the clubs bit)
Royal National Mòd Gold Medal winner Ryan Johnston shares his secrets on winning (see also BBC report Lewis and Islay singers win gold at the Mòd in Oban)
A bit of Islay history/archaeology: Rare island find reveals everyday life in ancient Scots kingdom
The last one for today is probably mostly for any Canadian readers I might have (the postage costs to the UK are a prohibitive £27), found via this Threads post are these The Islay Smokeshow Made with Ardbeg Wee Beastie (Box of 6 Cookies)

I hope you found something of interest, please leave your thoughts in the comments.

New Islay ferry delay

Just last week I shared the news of the old Islay ferry MV Hebridean Isles upcoming retirement. To my understanding that can’t be pushed out, as its certificate expires in November. That could potentially create some issues as news emerged today that the replacement, the new Islay ferry MV Isle of Islay, is going to be delayed:

You can also read the Interim Update on MV Isle of Islay on the Scottish Parliament website.

Not the news anyone wanted to hear, hopefully Calmac can somehow work around this delay without significant impact to the lifeline ferry service.

Islay ferry MV Hebridean Isles to be retired

An era is coming to an end. For many years the MV Hebridean Isles was one of the ferries on the Islay route, I’ve done many many crossings on her, don’t know how many. Initially it was together with the MV Isle of Arran (still in service, at times still on the Islay route), more recently with the MV Finlaggan. With the two new ferries coming into service later this year and next year this is now coming to an end.

Picture of the ferry MV Hebridean Isles in the Sound of Islay, a lighthouse in the distance — MV Hebridean Isles in the Sound of Islay

In November the MV Hebridean Isles will be retired after 38 years in service, as reported widely:

As someone who likes to be outside during a ferry crossing if possible I will certainly miss her. While I’m not sure about the exact layout of the two new ferries I believe they will be more like the MV Finlaggan in regards to outside spaces accessible to the public, much more limited than the older ferries.

Islay April Fools 2024

OK, I assume most or even all of you have figured out that the Islay Space Port news was this year’s April Fools. After all April Fools has a long tradition on this blog. I didn’t spot any other ones on other websites or blogs (if I missed any Islay related one please let me know) but noticed a few on social media:

Isle20 has the Haggeriis whisky, distilled on the tiny island of Texa just off the south coast of Islay
The Explore Islay & Jura marketing group has Calmac themed pedalos and more in their effort
The Glenegedale House crew is expanding into Haggis rearing with their guests

I hope you enjoyed this year’s efforts, if I missed any publicly accessible Islay related ones please let me know and I’ll aim to add them to the list here. Let’s what we can come up with next year.

Islay Space Port to open in 2024

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?

This Is Islay asks: What Makes Someone an Ileach?

During my walk this morning I finally managed to catch up on some podcast listening, specifically the This is Islay podcast. In the latest episode it raises an interesting and to an extent controversial question: What Makes Someone an Ileach? For some it’s a very narrow definition, for them you have to be born and bred on Islay. Others draw the line far wider and make your connection and integration to the community their criteria.

This Is Islay: What Makes Someone An Ileach?

With most babies being born in Paisley these days instead of on Islay the narrow definition might become challenging in the future. In the podcast they also raise the question of siblings where one was lucky enough to be born on Islay while the other was born in Paisley even if they returned to Islay the next day. Otherwise they both have the same upbringing on Islay. Does that make the latter a lesser Ileach?

A topic that can probably be debated for hours, the podcast is planning to return to it in upcoming episodes.

On a slightly personal note there might be an even narrower definition which could be used: I was born and grew up in Bremen, Germany (although I haven’t lived there for over 30 years now and haven’t been for 7 years). I was very close to be a “Tagenbaren” (or “tagenbarer Bremer”), which is someone born and grown up in Bremen where not only both parents but also all grandparents were born in Bremen. I failed the criteria on account of one of my grandmothers.

Reopening of Islay’s Port Ellen distillery receives a lot of press coverage

As was to be expected the reopening of one of Islay’s (not) lost (any more) distilleries received quite a lot of media attention. After a lot of work Port Ellen distillery is back in business, looking quite fancy in parts. They are quite similar to an extent (at least partially based on a press release I’d assume), but here are a few press mentions:

scottish licensed trade news – Port Ellen revival promises a ‘trailblazing new light’ for Scotch Whisky
Whiskey Raiders – ‘From Islay to the World!’: After Over 4 Decades of Slumber, Iconic Port Ellen Scotch Whisky Distillery Awakens
The Whisk(e)y Wash – Port Ellen Distillery Finally Reopens
The Spirits Business – Port Ellen distillery back in business after 40 years
The Financial Times – The rebirth of Port Ellen whisky
The Scotsman – Port Ellen Distillery on Islay reopens – here’s what visitors can expect including free tours

Those are the main ones I came across, there were more….

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