Islay Whisky Tour

Day 1: Getting to Islay

• From Glasgow,
  • By public transport: catch a bus line 926 operated by CityLink from Buchanan to Kennacraig, the ferry terminal for Islay (travel time: 3.5 hours).
  • By car: drive to Kennacraig Ferry Terminal. For car rental options please visit: this link (travel time: 2 hours 40 mins)
  • By plane: book a direct flight to Islay. For booking a flight please visit: Logan Air’s website (travel time: 45 mins)
• Except you are directly flying to Islay, board the ferry from Kennacraig Ferry Terminal to Islay operated by Caledonian MacBrayne (travel time: 2 hours).
  • Note 1: Caledonian MacBrayne has separate timetables for the Summer and Winter seasons. If you are planning the trip for the upcoming season, it may happen that timetables will only be published shortly before the season starts.
  • Note 2: It may happen that the arrival and destination ferry ports will be different (Port Ellen/Port Askaigh), either on purpose or because of the actual weather conditions.
• Arrive on Islay and settle into your accommodation. For accommodation options please visit: this link.
  • Note 1: If you are traveling by public transport please read the Special Notes section on this page before choosing your accommodation.
  • Note 2: Depending on the distilleries you want to visit, the travel method, and your exact arrival/destination time you may book accommodation in one of the towns like Bowmore or Port Ellen. Bowmore is the “capital” of the island and here both of Islay’s public bus lines stop. In Port Ellen, the concentration of whisky related to sights is the highest.
• Notes on getting to Islay:
  • If you are traveling by car or by public transport and you are not living near Kennacraig, then you may calculate that you will spend most of the day with the travel.

Day 2: Islay Distillery Tour 1  – around Port Ellen

• From Bowmore catch a bus line 451 to Port Ellen or travel directly there by car.
• Start with a visit to the Laphroaig Distillery nearest to Port Ellen’s center.

Laphroaig whiskeys are known for their strong, smoky, marine, and peaty flavors. These flavors come from the local environment and the production process, including the peat smoke used to dry the malt. Peat gives the whiskey special aromas and contributes strongly to the characteristic taste of Laphroaig.

To this day, part of Laphroaig’s malt is still dried in peat-heated ovens traditionally. This process contributes to the development of strong smoky and peaty notes that define the taste and aroma of the whiskey.

During the visit to the distillery, we can learn about the entire process of whiskey production, from malting the barley to distillation, to maturation. It is especially unique that we can see the ovens used for smoking that are still actively used today.

• • To select one of their tours visit Laphroaig’s website.
  • Learn more about Laphroaigh’s whiskies.
• After the tour, head to the Lagavulin Distillery, also in Port Ellen.

Lagavulin whiskeys have a strong peaty and smoky flavor characteristic of Islay stills. The drinks contain marine, salty, and resinous notes, which develop as a result of the local environment and the production process.

The Lagavulin distillery also uses peat smoke to dry the malt grains. As a result, the drink acquires special smoky aromas and flavors that provide a broad whiskey experience.

During the visit to the distillery, we can learn about the main processes of whiskey production and taste their best whiskeys.

• • To select one of their tours visit Lagavulin’s website.
  • Learn more about Lagavulin’s whiskies.
• Finish the day with a visit to the Ardbeg Distillery, a short distance away, and enjoy their unique whiskies.

The Ardbeg distillery is also a renowned producer of powerfully peaty and smoky whiskies, and like Lagavulin and Laphroaig, Ardbeg whiskeys have a distinctive flavor profile.

Ardbeg whiskeys have a particularly strong peaty and smoky flavor. The whiskeys also contain marine, salty, and resinous notes, which come from the environment of the island of Islay and the drying process of the malt.

• • To select one of their tours visit Ardbeg’s website.
  • Learn more about Ardbeg’s whiskies.
• Notes on Distillery Tour around Port Ellen:
  • Note 1: Every distillery offers several types of guided tours that let you peek behind the scenes, learn about their whisky-making process, get to know some of their “secrets” and taste their specialty spirits.
  • Note 2: Taking everything into account you most probably won’t be able to join a guided tour in all three distilleries around Port Ellen, but two can fit into your schedule easily.
  • Note 3: It is advised to book the tours in advance.

• In the middle of Islay, there are three distilleries, of which Bowmore and Bruichladdich can easily be reached by public transport. If you are traveling by car then even visiting Kilchoman is feasible.
• Depending on the exact starting time of the Distillery Tours that you booked, you can start the day either in Bowmore, in Bruichladdich, or Kilchoman.
• Bowmore Distillery is located in Bowmore, the capital of Islay.

Bowmore is said to be the oldest running distillery on Islay, and their whiskeys offer a wide range of tastes, from lighter and fruitier versions to more peaty and smoky whiskies. You can often find marine and slightly resinous notes in their drinks.

Although Bowmore does not use peat smoke as intensively as the previously mentioned Laphroaig, Lagavulin, and Ardbeg, they do use light peat smoke when drying the malt grains, which gives the whiskey special flavor notes.

• • To select one of their tours visit Bowmore’s website.
  • Learn more about Bowmore’s whiskies.

• From Bowmore catch a bus line 450 to Bruichladdich or travel directly there by car.
• The Bruichladdich Distillery is 350 yds (320m) from the bus stop, known for its diverse range of whiskies, including heavily peated and unpeated ones.

The specialty of Bruichladdich whiskeys lies in the fact that they range widely in taste. Aging time, cask types, and innovative approaches create whiskeys that can be lighter and fruitier, but also powerfully peaty or smoky.

The Bruichladdich distillery is renowned for its spirit of experimentation and innovation. They had projects that featured different aging techniques, cask types, or malt drying methods, thereby creating special whiskeys. They are also the producers of The Botanist gin.

Bruichladdich excels in emphasizing the importance of terroir (local geographic and environmental influences). Burnt-dried malt and the peculiarities of the local environment all contribute to the unique character of the whiskeys.

• • To select one of their tours visit Bruichladdich’s website.
  • Learn more about Bruihladdich’s whiskies.
• Kilchoman Distillery is 6 miles (9.5 km) from the Bruichladdich distillery without public transport service, thus not especially reachable on foot.

Kilchoman Distillery was founded in 2005, making it one of the newest Scotch whiskey distilleries. As the distillery is still relatively young, its novelty and fresh approach to whiskey-making stand out.

The Kilchoman Distillery emphasizes the importance of manual processes. The malt is turned and aerated by hand, which contributes to the whiskey’s unique character.

The Kilchoman Distillery boasts the title “farm distillery”, which means that the distillery uses barley grown on its grounds to produce its whiskies, thereby strengthening the local connection and quality control.

• • To select one of their tours visit Kilchoman’s website.
  • Learn more about Kilchoman’s whiskies.
• Notes on Distillery Tour in the middle of Islay:
  • Note 1: Every distillery offers several types of guided tours that let you peek behind the scenes, learn about their whisky-making process, get to know some of their “secrets” and taste their specialty spirits.
  • Note 2: Taking everything into account you most probably won’t be able to join a guided tour in all three distilleries in the middle of Islay, but two can fit into your schedule easily.
  • Note 3: Kilchoman Distillery is not very likely to be reached on foot because of its distance from public transport coverage (6 miles (9.5 km)).
  • Note 4: It is advised to book the tours in advance.

• From Bowmore catch a bus line 451 to Port Askaig or travel directly there by car.
• Visit the Caol Ila Distillery, located nearby, and enjoy the stunning views of the Sound of Islay.

Caol Ila whiskeys are characterized by a slightly peaty and smoky flavor, which can be lighter and more balanced than the intense peatiness of whiskeys from other Islay distilleries. In addition, seafood and fruit notes can be found in the drinks.

Caol Ila is a significant contributor to many blends, particularly Johnnie Walker.

• • To select one of their tours visit Caol Ila’s website.
  • Learn more about Caol Ila’s whiskies.
• Return to Port Askaig and take a 60-minute walk or go by car to Ardnahoe Distillery, situated on the northeastern coast.

The Ardnahoe distillery opened its doors on the island of Islay in 2019. The owners of the new distillery, the Morrison family, have long been involved in the whiskey industry and decided to go ahead with the Ardnahoe project.

There is still little information available about the taste of Ardnahoe whiskeys, but they likely produce drinks with a slightly peaty and smoky taste in keeping with the traditional Islay style.

• • To select one of their tours visit Ardnahoe’s website.
  • Learn more about Ardnahoe’s whiskies.

• Bunnahabhain Distillery is only a 30-minute walk from the Ardnahoe Distillery, more to the north, but it means that if you are on foot, then going back to Port Askaig will take around 90 minutes.

Bunnahabhain is a renowned Scotch whiskey distillery on the island of Islay. Its name means “over the bay” in Gaelic, referring to the distillery’s location next to a secluded bay. It is an Islay distillery, but Bunnahabhain whiskeys have a distinctly milder and less peaty flavor than those from other Islay distilleries.

Bunnahabhain whiskeys are famous for their slightly peaty and less smoky taste. The drinks usually have fruity, malty, and marine notes that are the result of the local environment and production process.

• • To select one of their tours visit Bunnahabhain’s website.
  • Learn more about Bunnahabhain’s whiskies.

• It’s time to head back to your accommodation after the tours.

• If you are leaving by car or by public transport, then take the ferry from Islay to Kennacraig.
  • Note: The port of departure may be different from your port of arrival. The port can even change depending on the weather conditions. Please follow Caledonian MacBrayne‘s announcements.
• From Kennacraig, take a bus back to Glasgow.
• If you are traveling by plane, then head to the Islay Airport.
• Notes on getting to Islay:
  • If you are traveling by car or by public transport and you are not living near Kennacraig, then you may calculate that you will spend a whole day with the travel.