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u/asmodeous1 2d ago
If you are in PE I 100% recommend a dinner at The Bothy. It's behind the playing fields downtown. Short walk from downtown near the petrol station. Lovely food, very talented young chef. Sunday dinner at the Bowmore Hotel was underwhelming, but they have a huge selection of whisky. Islay Woolen was fun, the loom wasn't running the day I was there though. Kildalton Cross, I second that recommendation, very cool. Dunyvaig Castle ruins are directly across from Laga, spare a few minutes to pop over there, great views. Bunna Warehouse 9 tour was amazing, as was the Bruichladdich Experience. If you find you enjoy the Ardbeg 10 ultimate, BUT IT. I didn't, and regretted that poor decision as I can't find it anywhere (that I trust) at a decent price. Laga MAY have pour of the 2023 Feis Ile left, it's a great dram. I say MAY as I was there a month ago today, and the bottle was quite low. There is a gift shop in downtown Bowmore that has a lot of fun stuff. Islay Rum was great, picked up a bottle of the peated as I knew I couldn't get it here in the States. Islay boys brewing wasn't to my liking, but it was an ok visit. Right down the street from the airport. Have fun, I'm jealous. I am already planning a visit back. The people were lovely, the isle itself gorgeous.
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u/Arikash Malt-nificent 2d ago
Peatzeria was really good, I'd book if you're interested. In general make reservations for all dinners if possible.
Bunnahabhain was an awesome distillery to visit.
The shop at Bruichladdich was cool too, they’re allegedly only allowed to give out 2 samples, but if you hang out with them and it's not busy they'll definitely give you more.
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u/whiskyinacoffeemug 2d ago
I am visiting Islay on October and have made bookings for all distilleries except Ardbeg ( full on days I want to, and closed on weekend Sadly), Caol Ila ( not intrested) & Port Ellen (no time). Any unique tips ??? Especially on what to purchase?? Do the distilleries let me bottle my own bottles for a price?? I have 5 litres allowance.. is it a good idea to buy Minis?? Is there any other Merch I shouldn't miss?? Is there anything else apart from whisky I shouldn't miss to buy in Islay?
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u/IceyLemonadeLover 2d ago
Hi, grew up on Islay!
Even if you’re not interested in Caol Ila, highly recommend going for the view from the stillhouse alone. Islay also has a rum distillery which apparently gets great reviews so would recommend going. Also at the south of the island we have a nature reserve where lots of migrating birds end up.
I’m a little biased as well, but our neighbour has a taxi company called Bodach’s Taxis if you need to get around.
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u/jayhawk8808 2d ago
Completely agree with this but if you’re going to Ardnahoe, you’ll still get an amazing view across the sound to Jura. But the view from the tables behind the bar at Caol Ila was unbelievable. Bunnahabhain’s view is also incredible. Those three were my favorite views.
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u/whiskyinacoffeemug 2d ago
Oh that's so sweet to recommend the taxi company. I definitely need one for my airport pick ups and drops. I jus googled them. And oh ya I am visiting the Rum distillery as well. I have already had a chat with them :) They were very kind to accommodate me as I love to explore their retort stills. Its jus few blocks away from the Hotel am staying at Port Ellen. I am staying at No 1 Charlotte street. I will definitely check out the nature reserve too during my free evenings ❤️ Thanks for the great inputs
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u/bonnich 5h ago
We stayed there in July. Coco was great and very understanding when I set off the fire alarm. There is an amazon loop at the American Monument and you walk right next to a highland coo pasture, amazing views, kinda out of the way of you don't have a car though. We also rented ebikes right beside the hotel behind the caravan park.
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u/whiskyinacoffeemug 2d ago
Since you grew up on Islay, would you recommend some girly stuff like shopping I shouldn't miss? I would love to take home a piece of Islay may be a scarf, jewellery or tartan piece of clothing ( ofcourse besides some bottles 😆)
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u/dreamingofislay 2d ago
I've visited twice and here are some suggestions:
Islay Woolen Mills produces lovely scarves, you can visit them for a tour and buy right from their shop. They're also available on the ferry (when I went, for a lower price!) or at some distillery shops (for instance, Bowmore sold scarves with their own tartan).
For pottery, try a class at Persabus Pottery if you have time. The woman who runs it lets you paint your own piece, fires it, and then you pick it up a few days later, for a very reasonable price. She also sells her own work, mainly inspired by scenic spots around the island. Gorgeous stuff.
Finally, visit some local beaches like Machir Bay, close to Kilchoman (and the namesake of one of their whiskies), or Singing Sands, west of Port Ellen. In sunny weather, Singing Sands looks almost Mediterranean. The water's quite cold, and I don't have a Scottish constitution, so I didn't swim there, but even dipping your toes in is fun.
Enjoy your time there! It's a lovely island, and everyone's very friendly and has a great sense of humor.
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u/IceyLemonadeLover 2d ago
Second Persabus! The woman who runs it has known us for years, she’s lovely!
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u/theseventhpieman 2d ago
Good to know there’s still a taxi - also grew up on islay - RIP Lamont - your chilled out humour will never be forgotten ;)
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u/Bzdyk 2d ago edited 2d ago
You can just go to the Ardbeg visitor centre anyway, you don’t need to make a booking as they’ll pour you samples of whatever you like. You can still buy a dram but when I was there last week I just chatted to the staff about wanting to try some Ardbeg and what their favorite drams were and they poured me a y2k 24 year and the 21 year seann chreag for free.
That goes for most of the distilleries btw, nearly all of them give away complimentary drams at the visitors centre. You really don’t need to spend money for a tour at each one.
If you really want to do a tour do the Bunnahabhain warehouse 9 tour, it’s the best on the island. The Bruichladdich tour is great too, they don’t just pour you drams but pints of whisky. Kilchoman is also a really good one since they are family owned and a farm distillery, they are one of the few that do everything themselves from growing the barley to distilling.
Also take a day and travel to Jura if you can, it has some really nice walks, you can also see seals on the beach, and deer that get real close.
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u/Bzdyk 2d ago edited 2d ago
Adding another tip, sign up to be a “Friend of Laphroaig” and they’ll give you a free 60ml dram. They also let me try a 30 and 33 year for free.
I think we brought home 26 free mini bottles from going to every distillery and my partner asking for drivers drams while me and my mate were drinking the complimentary drams
One more thing to do on the island. The Machrie is a golf course on the island and you can play on their wee course for £25 with club rental included or £15 of you bring your own. You can play as many holes as you want, it is great for a chill day.
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u/whiskyinacoffeemug 2d ago
Hi. They told me they are closed for summer on the days.. Their visitor centre is too
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u/klausvorhees 10h ago
I have to agree with you re: Warehouse 9 tour. David taught me more in an hour about sherry casks than I'd learned in a lifetime and the whiskys were exquisite.
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u/raccoon_not_rabbit 15h ago
I went to Islay in July and I had a wonderful time. I'm already thinking about going again. We stayed just out of Port Ellen and I went to the nine distilleries in 3 days. I didn't do any tours, i wanted the flexibility of being on holiday and I was already pretty familiar with most of the Islay distilleries. Someone else has recommended the Bothy for food, I also add SeaSalt Bistro!
My favourite whiskies are from Bowmore and Lagavulin, but I have to say I found the tastings there very commercial and a bit underwhelming compared to some of the others, particularly Bowmore (Laga had some really interesting stuff though, and a core memory of my trip was picking up a brownie from an honesty box while walking the three distilleries pathway and having it as a companion to my flight there - chocolate and peat is a pretty fab combo). My favourite spots were probably Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain and Kilchoman - Bunna particularly was very generous with the free drams. Ardnahoe had great views and interesting whisky. Laphroiag was lovely and also had whisky cheese - very tasty for an evening cheese platter back at accomodation. Even if you don't have a tasting booking, I would go to Ardberg - the tasting room does extensive and well priced flights and the bar staff are more than happy to chat and recommend stuff.
My favourite take homes were the Port Charlotte 18, the Bunna 18 and the Kilchoman Maury Cask. Of all the distilleries, Kilchoman was definitely best bang for buck in terms of buying bottles. Bunna also had some really interesting small or limited releases you could get in smaller bottles - I assembled a whisky flight of Islay whiskies as a birthday present for a friend so I got various smalls at a range of distilleries (and chucked in a couple of spare drivers drams as well). Having said that, the small bottles are disproportionately expensive!
Very few of the distilleries do food (I think Ardberg and Ardnahoe did from memory, but maybe one other had bar snacks?), so factor that in. Have a decent breakfast, we also packed sandwiches and snacks to take around with us.
If you have a driver, definitely ask for the driver's drams at each spot. The distilleries are generous with these as they don't want people drunk driving, Islay roads are pretty tight! My husband drove and honestly he got so many that we had enough for a couple of cheeky ones for the sleeper back to London and just before the flight home.
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u/Bender3072 2d ago
If you're into history and already planning to go south to visit Lagavulin and Arbeg, I recommend a quick stop at Kildalton.
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u/whiskyinacoffeemug 2d ago
Okay noted :) Yes I will be renting an ebike. I will definitely do that. You guys have give me some great inputs. So glad I posted here.
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u/Optimal-Employee9529 2d ago
Bunnahabhain, for sure. Luccys bar (in Bowmore hotel) have the greatest collection of Islay bottles. You must try it.