Cask Strength since 2006
Calum and Jess went for a camping and walking and whisky/gin holiday on Islay. They stayed at Kintra from where they walked out to Soldier’s Rock. They also visited Bruichladdich for the Botanist Gin tour. Enjoy the video:
Calum also blogs at Cal McTravels.
When I was on Islay back in June I bought a bottle of 100% Islay from Kilchoman distillery, but so far hadn’t opened it yet. Tonight being Friday evening I decided to finally open it and enjoy a wee dram (or may be two) with their latest video:
Oh, and here’s a picture of the bottle and the first dram poured from it:
Less than a month to go to the Islay Sessions 2017 taking place in Port Charlotte and Bruichladdich. And after having to miss it last year due to my heart operation I’ll be back to enjoy them even more this year. This years programme includes a variety of artists, some I’ve seen before, others will be new to me.
The Islay Sessions 2017 start on Friday 17/Nov with a Concert in the Conservatory at the Port Charlotte Hotel. Adam Sutherland and Mark Clement will be performing. After the concert there will be informal sessions in the Port Charlotte Hotel bar, I expect until late into the night.
There will be workshops on Saturday morning, the participants will then also perform at the big concert on Saturday evening 18/Nov at Bruichladdich Hall. I hope many local musicians young and old will join Tannara, the Joy Dunlop Trio and Jenn & Laura Beth.
The weekend will close with another Concert in the Conservatory at the Port Charlotte Hotel on Sun 19/Nov (followed by more informal sessions in the bar I hope), this time with Innes Watson.
I understand there will also be a whisky tour during the weekend, details haven’t been posted yet as of writing this. Check the Islay Sessions Twitter account and the Islay Sessions Facebook page for updates. For tickets to the concerts go to the Islay Sessions Eventbrite page.
A nice short video of a cycling tour of Islay, Jura and Arran by Lyndsey and Paul. Camping, ferry crossings and distilleries feature among other things. Also some sheep.
Another drone video of Islay, some nice beautiful sunny views in this one. Good views of a big surf in Machir Bay. Interesting views from under some of the old bridges, something not seen before. Enjoy:
Portnahaven as a mini-world (I think that’s what they call it), looking a bit different than the usual views:
Same as last year (and the year before. And the year before. And the year before. etc) Islay is represented at the Birdfair in Rutland. There’s one difference this year though, this year the Islay stand is a double stand. Much easier to find and more space to sample some of the liquid offerings from Islay and Jura while discussing the bird- and other wildlife. Here are two impressions of the stand:
We are all set for @TheBirdfair tomorrow. Hope you can join us? #islay #gin #ale #whisky @VisitScotland @ExploreArgyll pic.twitter.com/YVBu25Hybu
— Explore Islay & Jura (@Islay_Jura) August 17, 2017
All set for #Birdfair . Come and join us for a dram, and chat all things #islay in Marquee 7 pic.twitter.com/I8WCyQtL4c
— davidwood (@davidwoodislay) August 17, 2017
As you can see there’s whisky and gin from all the distilleries as well as beer from Islay Ales. There’s also some generous helpings of Walker’s shortbread I’m told (I think it might be what’s visible just right of the table under the ‘visit The Oa’ poster). So if you’re at the Birdfair head over to Marquee 7 Stand 14/15 to meet the Islay crew, have a chat and enjoy a sample.
Something rather cool tonight: Laphroaig invites us to a 360° video tour of the bay, the peat bogs and of course the distillery on Islay. While watching the video you can move the viewing angle (either with the dial on the top right or by just ‘grabbing’ the video with the mouse pointer and moving it around) and look into all directions. Left, right, up, down, whatever you like. And all the while you are flying over Loch Laphroaig, the peat bogs, through the still house and more. Quite amazing technology, I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did:
PS: If you don’t like the 3D 360° video there’s also an old fashioned 2D version available:
I prefer the 3D version. Which one do you prefer?
For various reasons my own video of Port Ellen and Carraig Fhada is still waiting to be edited, I only managed to upload a teaser so far. Leon Murphy (who has shared a number of Islay from the air videos already, you’ll find several of them I blogged about in the archives here) got a bit further and yesterday uploaded his take on the area:
Certainly picked a nice day for it, some beautiful bright sunny views!
A quick update to the Updates from the Great Islay Swim posted last week. Bruichladdich have posted a nice video from the Sound of Islay leg of the swim, taking them from McArthur’s Head lighthouse to Rhuvaal lighthouse. I’ve walked from Bunnahabhain to Rhuvaal several times, I can’t imagine swimming all that (not to mention the rest from McArthur’s Head to Bunnahabhain). Watch the swimmers in action in the sun and the rain:
For more and where to bid for the pillaged whisky see The Great Islay Swim.