Islay: whisky, gin and cows on the beach

Islay is the “Queen of the Hebrides”, an island with such clear seas and bright beaches it sometimes felt like we’d been zapped to the Caribbean… until the sheep and cows came wandering along the sand.
But it’s really all about the single malt whisky with the hard-to-pronounce names (though Brian Cox will show you how).
The whisky was a bit lost on me (Laphroaig review: “Tastes like punishment”) but I heartily recommend The Botanist, the gin made by Bruichladdich. Hands down the best I’ve ever thoroughly sampled!
Cover for Gareth’s new prog album
Ardbeg Distillery
All misty like the marketing copy
Token cask pic
Tropic of Scotland
How good would an Islay single malt spelling bee be?
At Laphroaig
Laphroaig stills | Port Charlotte pub
Coos on the beach
Sheep on the beach
Ever more sheep
Beautiful bays… delicious food…
Machir Bay. We snoozed; they surfed.

P.S. MIL Mary update! She’s now out of ICU and making steady progress. She’s a tough cookie

Source: The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl - July 25, 2013 Category: Other Conditions Authors: shauna Tags: Travel Source Type: blogs