Islay Whisky Tour

July 31, 2018July 23, 2023daviddistilled Leave a comment

Join me, David Wood for an ultimate Islay Whisky Tour. I’ve worked in the whisky industry for many years and was Distillery Manager at the biggest distillery on Islay, the mighty Caol Ila Distillery!

Exclusive Islay Whisky Tours With a Distillery Manager

When you join us on Islay you, whether for a few days or for a week, you will enjoy luxurious accommodation throughout your stay in breathtaking scenery. We take care of all your food, all your transport whilst on Islay and all distillery tours, tastings and masterclasses.

During your stay with us, I’ll be your island guide, we’ll visit as many distilleries as you like and see as much of the beautiful Isle of Islay as possible.

Whats Included?

Luxury traditional farmhouse accommodation with stunning Islay mountain views and roaring fires
All food supplied to your requirements
All transport to and from distillery events and transfers to and from the ferry or plane
A full itinerary of distillery tours and tastings
Myself David Wood, former Caol Ila Distillery Manager as your host for the duration of your stay
The opportunity to fish for wild brown trout on the loch adjacent to the house
Deer stalking as an optional extra

Contact Us

We’d love to hear from you. If you would like to make an enquiry about our Islay Whisky Tours, please complete the form below and we will reply to you as soon as we can!

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Islay Distillery Tours With a Distillery Manager

There is nowhere quite like Islay not least because of the fact that there are no less than 8 working distilleries on this relatively small island. The new Ardnahoe Distillery will be in operation in August 2019 and more distilleries are planned.

There is so much to see, from important historical sites such as Finlaggan to the beautiful, empty Atlantic beaches at Machir Bay and Saligo. The scenery is breathtaking and the wildlife abundant, you are more likely to see golden eagle and white tailed sea eagle here than anywhere else in the United Kingdom. Islay has become the eagle island.

If you are a lover of seafood, there is plenty to wet the appetite on Islay. The local fishing fleet brings in crab, lobster and all kinds of shellfish on a daily basis, and there are always oysters available for those who wish to try them as fresh as possible straight from the brine.

Why Join Us on a Guided Islay Whisky Distillery Trip?

If you want to pack as much in to your trip as possible, whatever your time constraints may be, to visit as many distilleries as possible and enjoy the very best of distillery tastings and experiences whilst seeing as much Islay as possible, we can host and plan your trip for you to ensure you get the most out of your trip to Islay.

Each of our Islay whisky tours is different. Many of our trips are bespoke to our clients requirements. Some of our guests like to relax in front of the fire after a busy day visiting distilleries, and we’ll enjoy dinner there. Other guests prefer to enjoy the hospitality of local pubs and restaurants, meeting the locals and enjoying traditional Islay music. Whichever you prefer, we can arrange it for you.

Islay Whisky Distillery Tours and Experiences

We carefully plan your itinerary to ensure that you get the very best use of your time whilst on Islay. We try to fit in as many of the special distillery tours, warehouse experiences and tastings as possible on each Islay whisky tour. Each of the 8 distilleries has a visitor centre and each offer tours and experiences from a simple guided tour of the distillery to an in-depth masterclass with someone who works at the distillery.

Distillery Tours

On a distillery tour you spend about an hour walking through a distillery with a very knowledgable tour guide. Your guide will show you how the whisky makes the very special journey from field to table. After the tour you will enjoy drams with your guide and then be able to ask any questions that you may have about the process and the whisky.

Distillery Warehouse Experiences

We love warehouses, they are the most wonderful, atmospheric places. Each cask sleeping on an Islay warehouse is a piece of history. Each cask end has its own story to tell. Spending time in a traditional dunnage warehouse is an absolute treat, and when you are back at home enjoying a Islay dram, it is to these warehouses that you will be magically transported such an impact they have on your senses. Dunnage warehouses are often earthen floored, the atmosphere is damp and full of sea air, and whisky vapours from the casks of course, otherwise known as the angels share. We like to take guests to Lagavulin where the legend of Lagavulin, Iain MacArthur is your host on the warehouse experience. We also like to take guest to Bunnahabhain and Bruichladdich where similar wonderful experiences can be enjoyed, at Bunnahabhain guests also have the opportunity to fill their own bottles straight from the cask.

Islay Whisky Tastings and Masterclasses

In between visits to distilleries, I will be on hand to answer any questions that you might have about distilling on Islay and the whisky industry in general. Guests enjoy masterclasses where we taste rare single cask whiskies and distillery only bottlings from each of the distilleries. I’m often accompanied by my infamous wooden sample box containing rare delights from the past, and one or two cask strength drams.

Your Transport Whilst on Islay

We arrange transport for our guests while they are on Islay. We work closely with a local coach company when designing each itinerary to ensure that your Islay whisky trip runs smoothly and that your time is used efficiently. All of the drivers are extremely friendly and knowledgable, some have even worked at Islay distilleries. I always accompany guests on the coach so that I can point out places of interest as we travel between distilleries and so that I can answer any questions that guests might have. We ask guests to make their own travel arrangements to Islay, whether by ferry or plane, and we then collect from the ferry terminal or Islay airport.

Other Islay Activities

It isn’t all about the whisky (although most of it is!). There are many other activities that we can arrange for our guests. As well as sightseeing, guests can enjoy bird watching, sea safaris, fishing, shooting and stalking. All of these can be included in your itinerary should you wish. Each of our bespoke Islay whisky tours is different and we can quote to include as many activities as you like.

Book Your Bespoke Islay Whisky Trip

If you are interested in joining us for an Islay whisky trip of a lifetime on one of our Guided Islay Whisky Experiences please get in touch. We can answer all your questions about arranging your special trip to Islay. We can put together a suggested itinerary for you, just let us know the duration of the trip you require, how many guests will be in your party, any dates that you have in mind, and we will set to work!

Call David on 07875 405 980 or click here to send an email for more information or to book a bespoke Guided Islay Distilleries Experience.

We would love to host your very special trip on Islay, we hope to see you there soon.

Slainte

David

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Gin Tastings in London

July 31, 2018June 13, 2023daviddistilled Leave a comment

Have Us Host an Exclusive Gin Tasting in London For You!

We host gin tastings in London and throughout the UK. We also host gin and whisky tastings for private parties and at corporate events in London. We’ll host a gin tasting in London at a venue to suit you. Whether the gin tasting in London is for your clients or as a treat for your team , we’ll bring the world of gin to you.

Gin Tastings

During our Gin Tastings guests taste 6 gins neat before preparing the perfect serve gin & tonic with garnishes as suggested by the distillers. Our gin tastings in London are all about the gin, we present gins that we love, gins that have been made properly by authentic distillers with passion and integrity, and above all gins that demonstrate provenance and placeness.

Our tastings are fun and informative and are enjoyed by those both new to the wonderful world of gin and by seasoned enthusiasts!

Private Gin Tastings in London

We arrange private gin tastings for private parties, stag parties, hen parties, corporate events and for special birthdays. We provide all the glassware, the garnishes, tasting notes and of course the gin!

If you are interested in learning more about our gin tastings in London, fill in the form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible!

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Our Gin Tastings

When you join one of our gin tastings you can expect it to be a little different. Having worked in the distilling industry for many years, we know that the distiller who has painstakingly crafted the gin before you, wants you to be able to taste the spirit and to appreciate the difference between their gin and those produced by their competitors. The spirit is the heart and soul of any distillery, whether it be destined for a fine single malt whisky or for a premium London dry gin.

Nosing and Tasting Gin

At the beginning of our tasting I talk guests through the rationale of the choice of glassware that I like to use in comparative spirit tastings. I then demonstrate how to nose, taste and evaluate spirit. I then ask guests to spend a few minutes nosing the neat gins, and to make a note of any aromas that they detect, there are no right or wrong answers, what one person gets will be completely different to the next.

We nose each of the gins ‘blind’, I don’t reveal the brand name of the gin until later, we then go on to having a taste of each neat gin, again to see if guests identify any particular flavours. We then prepare the gin and tonic using garnishes as suggested by the distiller and enjoy our first drink.

The Gin Garnish and Tonics

I prepare the garnishes as suggested by the distillers for the ‘perfect serve’ for each gin. I always suggest to guests that they should perhaps taste the gin and tonic before garnishing. I believe some garnishes can totally over power the flavour of the gin. I don’t see the point in spending £40 on a special bottle of gin only to mask its character by adding heavily flavoured garnishes or tonic. I think it is similar in a way to how we drink single malt whisky. There is nothing wrong with adding a large dollop of coca cola to your £50 single malt whisky, it’s just that the end product will taste exactly the same as it would if you had used a £12 blended whisky from the supermarket.

I adopt a similar approach with the choice of tonic for my tastings. There are many tonics on the market to choose from and It is great that people have their own favourites and that it is encouraging consumers to explore the gin category. During a tasting however, it is important that each spirit is tasted in exactly the same way, using the same glassware, some would argue without garnish, and if tonic is being used, exactly the same product for each serve.

Once each gin & tonic has been prepared and tasted, I talk about the gin brand and the history of the distillers who make it. I’ll also talk about the production process and botanicals, both traditional and local, used to make each gin.

We hope to see you at a gin tasting in London soon!

Private Whisky Tastings in London

July 31, 2018January 30, 2024daviddistilled Leave a comment

We regularly host corporate whisky tasting masterclasses for businesses and their clients throughout the UK. We host private whisky tastings in London restaurants, London hotels at offices in London and in event spaces.

Private Whisky Tastings in London

Nobody in London can offer such authentic whisky tastings as we do. We’ve worked in the whisky industry for many years. David was Distillery Manager at one of the largest malt whisky distilleries in Scotland, the mighty Caol Ila Distillery on the windswept and beautiful Isle of Islay. He’s lucky enough to have been given the responsibility of choosing whisky for limited edition bottlings and before moving to Islay regularly bottled his own single casks.

Our competitors hosting whisky tastings in London are brand ambassadors or sales representatives and whilst their events are engaging, they cannot offer the authenticity that we do, given our experience at the coal face of whisky production.

When we host a whisky tasting for your clients in London, we’ll be bringing Scotland to you.

Corporate Whisky Tastings in London

We specialise in hosting whisky tastings for any occasion whether it be a private party, a business reception or a corporate event. We can host a whisky tasting for your employees or clients in London or anywhere else in the UK. We also host private gin tastings in London.

Our whisky tastings in London are bespoke to every clients needs. Sometimes we host whisky dinners for clients in London, we work closely with the chef to ensure that each course is perfectly paired with each whisky. If you would like further information about our private tastings or if you would like to check availability, please complete the form below and we will reply to you very quickly.

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Hen Party Gin Tastings

July 30, 2018July 23, 2023daviddistilled Leave a comment

Hen Party Gin Tastings!

We love to host gin tastings for hen parties! We also host gin tastings for private parties and at corporate events. We host gin tastings for hen parties and corporate events at venues all over the UK. Often our tastings take place in large self catering holiday houses.

Gin Tastings Anywhere in the UK!

During our exclusive gin tastings guests taste 6 gins neat before preparing the perfect serve gin & tonic with garnishes as suggested by the distillers. Our tastings are fun and informative and are enjoyed by those both new to the wonderful world of gin and by seasoned enthusiasts!

We provide everything needed to ensure that your guests will thoroughly enjoy the tasting:

A range of wonderful gins including craft gins
Garnishes for each gin and tonic as recommended by the distiller
Tonics to accompany the gin
All glassware
Tasting notes
An industry expert to host the tasting

We specially select the gins that we present at our tastings very carefully. We present authentic gins that we believe have been made properly by passionate distillers who have integrity, knowledge and skill. Above all we present gins that we enjoy and that truly speak of their provenance and placeness due to careful selection of botanicals by the distillers.

Gin Tastings For Hen Parties

As well as our regular scheduled gin tasting events around the UK, we arrange private gin tastings for private parties, stag parties, hen parties, corporate events and for special birthdays. We can host a private tasting for you and your guests in your home.

Please contact us here if you would like more information or to book us for a private tasting event. Alternatively please call David on 07875 405 980.

To enquire about a gin tasting anywhere in the UK, please call David on the number above or complete and submit the form below and we will get back to you very quickly.

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Accommodation For Hen Parties

We can host your gin tasting wherever you are in the UK, whether in your holiday accommodation or in your own home. We regularly hold gin tastings in the Lake District and the Peak District in large self catering houses. Here are two recommendations for accommodation providers who we work with regularly, please click on the link for more info:

Party Houses UK

Peak Venues

Our Gin Tastings

Nosing and Tasting Gin

The Gin Garnish and Tonics

Contact Us

Please click here to contact us!

We hope to see you at a tasting soon!

Chin chin

David

Gin Tastings on Your Peak District Holiday

July 30, 2018January 30, 2024daviddistilled Leave a comment

Enjoy a Gin Tasting In The Peak District

Whether it is a hen party gin tasting in the peak district or a gin tasting for your peak district holiday accommodation we will arrange the perfect gin tasting in the peak district for you and your guests!

Authentic Peak District Gin Tastings

We’ve worked in and managed some of the most iconic distilleries in the United Kingdom. You can expect a fun but above all authentic experience for your guests when we host a peak district gin tasting for you.

Gin Tastings in Your Peak District Holiday House

We are based in the Peak District so it is easy for us to get to any location within the national park. If you book us to host a gin tasting in your holiday accommodation we bring along all the glasses, tasting notes, garnishes, gins and tonics and set up in plenty of time for your guests getting together for the tasting.

If you would like to contact to enquire about a private gin tasting, please complete the form below and we will be back to you as soon as possible! Alternatively please call David on 07875 405 980.

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Gin Tastings in the Peak District

During our gin tastings we present 6 gins from around the UK. We are passionate about quality gins. We select gins that are distilled properly, where the distillers are authentic and have integrity, and above all, we select gins that we love because of their provenance and their ability to demonstrate placeness.

We taste the 6 gins neat in the first instance, so that we can compare and contrast each of the spirits. We then mix the perfect serve G&T with tonic and garnishes as suggested by each distiller. Our tastings are all about the gin. We encourage guests to mix classic gin and tonics, we’re not making gin cocktails.

During the tasting I talk about the history of gin production and also explain exactly how gin makes the special journey from field to glass. Space permitting I often give a virtual tour of a distillery in order to explain the process.

If you would like to contact to enquire about a private gin tasting, please complete the form below and we will be back to you as soon as possible!

The Peak District National Park

The Peak District National Park is a wonderful place to holiday, with breathtaking scenery and activities galore for all the family to enjoy. The Peak District became the first national park in the UK in 1951, and with excellent transport links coupled with its proximity to Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent, Derby, Sheffield, Birmingham, the M1 and the M6, it attracts millions of visitors every year.

The Peak District is the perfect destination for large groups to get together, whether it be a family gathering, a stag or hen party or a business meeting, there are dozens of large self catering houses available for hire on a weekly basis or just for a weekend.

Peak District Activities

There is so much to see and do in the Peak District, there really is something for everyone. There are miles of paths to explore, market towns to visit like Buxton, Bakewell, Leek and Ashbourne and many places of historic interest. Outdoor activities such as climbing, sailing, canoeing are very popular.

Fishing in the Peak District

The Peak District is one of the best places to fish in the UK. Many rivers rise in the hills above Leek and Buxton. Within only a couple of miles of each other the rivers Wye, Dove, Dane, Manifold, Goyt and Churnet all emerge and start their long journeys towards the sea. Having so many mountain rivers makes the peak district the fly fisherman’s paradise. The rivers of Derbyshire and Staffordshire are world famous for Trout and Grayling not least because of Izaak Walton and Charles Cotton.

We can arrange fly fishing for you, we can also arrange fishing guides. Please contact us for more information or to arrange fly fishing.

Links to Large Self Catering Houses in the Peak District

Peak Venues: www.peakvenues.co.uk

Peak Venues have many quality large group self catering houses in the Peak District National Park. They have houses that can accommodate 2 to 43 guests. Celebrate birthdays, wedding anniversaries, hen weekends, stag weekends, family reunions, corporate breaks in fabulous rural or village locations.

Large Accommodation Stag party hen party

Party Houses: www.partyhouses.co.uk

Party Houses have many top quality large self catering houses in the Peak District and across the Midlands. Again these venues are perfect for family gatherings, corporate breaks and special occasions.