Brighton Whisky Tasting Masterclass

Whisky Tasting Brighton

Forthcoming Whisky Tasting Events in Brighton

Our next scheduled whisky tasting masterclass in Brighton will be at The Southern Belle on Saturday 9th June 2018. Guests will enjoy 6 stunning whiskies from around Scotland and the 2 hour tutored tasting will be hosted by former Caol Ila Distillery Manager, David Wood.

This fun and informative whisky tasting is the perfect opportunity to learn all about the history of Scotch whisky and how the UK’s number 1 food export makes the special journey from field to table.

Buy A Ticket For Our Next Whisky Tasting in Brighton

You can buy a ticket for our whisky tasting at The Southern Belle in Hove on 9th June 2018 by clicking the link below.

Buy a ticket for our next whisky tasting in Brighton here!

Brighton Whisky Tastings

Our Recent Single Malt Whisky Tasting in Brighton @ The Belle

25 lucky Brighton folk enjoyed a very special whisky tasting at The Southern Belle in Waterloo Street, Hove, a fantastic pub with a wonderful range of real ales, craft gins, vodkas and of course great single malt whisky all served by a fantastic team of people.

You can stay at The Belle, the rooms are of a really high standard but great value too, some even have sea views! Sunday lunches at the pub have become quite famous across Brighton so if you thinking of trying it out, give the lovely people at The Belle a call to book!

Whisky Masterclass Brighton

Jayne the owner of The Southern Belle very kindly allowed us to use the dining room for our tasting. I presented a flight of 6 tasty whiskies without letting our guests know what each whisky was before they tasted it. Quite often at my whisky tasting masterclasses, I like the guests to do the work and to try to evaluate the special spirits in front of them before I reveal their true identities.

What is Involved in a Whisky Tasting?

I can talk about whisky forever. I have to make sure that I keep to an agenda or else the poor guests would be listening to me until midnight. Usually, as well as tasting 6 awesome whiskies, and as well as having the opportunity to get answers to as many questions about whisky as they like, guests can expect to learn about the following:

  • The definition of single malt whisky
  • Other whisky definitions
  • Ideal glassware
  • Personal preference: Water / Ice / and other controversial subjects!
  • How to taste
  • History of whisky production in the United Kingdom
  • How whisky makes the journey from field to table
  • The whisky boom
  • The future of single malt whisky

Whisky Tastings for Your Christmas Party in Brighton

If you are looking for a special event for your office Christmas party, or for your corporate event in Brighton, please give me a call and we can tailor make a whisky tasting or a gin tasting to fit your needs. If you have any questions at all please call David on 07875 405 980.

Whisky Tasting Corporate

 

The Set List For Our Whisky Tasting @ The Southern Belle

Craigellachie 2008 / 8 year old bottled by Signatory 43% matured in two bourbon barrels

‘Ayrshire’ Single Grain 1998 / 18 years old bottled by Signatory

Kilchoman Machir Bay, Islay Single Malt, 46%

‘Burnside’ 20 year old bottled by Chorlton Whisky, 51.7% – the favourite dram of the evening

Bunnahabhain Stiuireadair Islay Single Malt Whisky, 46.3%

‘Bealach Ruadh’ 8 year old bottled by Chorlton Whisky, Islay Single Malt, 58%

We’ll be in Brighton next month, this time I’m definitely going to make it to Nowhere Man for some lovely pancakes!

David

 

 

Whisky Tastings in The Peak District

Bunnahabhain Warehouse Tour

Enjoy a Whisky Tasting In Your Holiday Accommodation

If you are getting together with friends for a break in the Peak District, have us come to you and we’ll host a fun and informative whisky tasting in your holiday accommodation. Prices start from as little as £18 per person for me to come along and host a very special tasting for you. I used to manage one of the largest distilleries in Scotland so when I host a tasting it is authentic and the perfect opportunity for guests to learn from an industry expert, as well as to enjoy damn fine whisky of course!

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. We regularly host stag party whisky tastings as well as hen party gin tastings, in the peak district and throughout the UK.

Whisky 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 me to host a whisky tasting in your holiday accommodation I bring along all the glasses, tasting notes, and of course the single malt whiskies 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 whisky 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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Whisky Tasting
Peak District Whisky Tasting

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.

Peak District Gin Tastings

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.

Large Accomodation Stag Party Hen Party

We hope to see you in the Peak District soon!

David

Forthcoming Events – Whisky & Gin Tastings Near You!

Whisky Tasting

We have a busy few weeks here at Distilled Events! We have scheduled plentiful whisky tastings and gin tasting events all over the UK as well as hosting a few private tasting events in between. If you would like us to host a whisky tasting for you at your private party or corporate event, or if you would like us to contact a local venue that you think may be interested in hosting an event with us, please contact us here.

Forthcoming Tasting Events

We would love to see you at one of or forthcoming tasting events. We host regular whisky tastings and gin tastings in our home town of Leek in Staffordshire but most of our tastings are further afield within the UK and next year we’ll be travelling outwith the UK. Below is a list of the events we currently have scheduled. We’ll be adding more so please keep an eye on our Facebook page or on our Forthcoming Tasting & Events page on the Distilled Events website.

 

Single Cask Whisky Warehouse Distilled EventsRare Single Malt Whisky Masterclass – Sheffield – 13.10.17 – Picture House Social

Join us at Picture House Social for an evening tasting rare whiskies. This intimate tasting will be for a group of maximum 14 guests. During the tasting you’ll taste 6 whiskies, all cask strength, and all limited editions. You will be tasting whiskies that are only available at the distillery and some will be single cask whiskies. The perfect tasting for the whisky enthusiast.

Buy tickets for the Rare Single Malt Whisky Masterclass here.

 

Gin TastingsGin Tasting Experience – Leek – 31.10.17 – Spout Brew House

Once again we’ll be at the delightful Spout Brew House showing a range of awesome gins.

Guests will taste 6 craft gins neat before mixing the perfect serve G&T as suggested by each distiller. A great opportunity to learn about the history of gin and how it makes the journey from field to tableThis fun and informative event is suitable for those new to the world of gin and for the seasoned enthusiast!

Buy tickets for the Gin Tasting Experience here.

 

Gin TastingsGin & Tapas Tasting Experience – Buxton – 01/11/17 – South 16

We’ve been invited back to South 16 in Buxton in the heart of the Peak District National Park to host a Gin & Tapas Tasting Experience. Guests will first taste 6 craft gins neat before mixing the perfect G&Ts with garnishes as suggested by each distiller. Guests will then enjoy tasty tapas perfectly paired with the G&Ts. This fun and informative event is suitable for those new to the world of gin and for the seasoned enthusiast!

Buy tickets for the Gin & Tapas Tasting Experience here.

 

Bunnahabhain Warehouse TourWhisky Tasting Dinner – Nottingham – 03/11/17 – Alea Casino

We are hoping to host regular tasting events at Alea Casino Nottingham and this will be the first of them. During this fantastic whisky tasting, guests will taste six drams from all around Scotland, three of which will be perfectly paired with a mouth watering three course meal, each course specially selected by chef and David to compliment each whisky. This fun and informative event is perfect for the newcomer to the world of whisky or for the seasoned enthusiast!

Buy tickets for the Whisky Tasting Dinner here.

 

Botanist GinGin & Canapes Tasting Experience – Nottingham – 09/11/17 – Alea Casino

We’ve been invited to Alea Casino Nottingham to host a Gin & Canapes Tasting Experience. Guests will first taste 6 craft gins neat before mixing the perfect G&Ts with garnishes as suggested by each distiller. Guests will then enjoy tasty canapes perfectly paired with the G&Ts. This fun and informative event is suitable for those new to the world of gin and for the seasoned enthusiast!

Buy tickets for the Gin & Canapes Tasting Experience here.

 

whisky tastings islay festivalSingle Malt Whisky Tasting Masterclass – Brighton – 11/11/17 – The Southern Belle

We can’t wait to host our first whisky tasting by the sea in Brighton, we are hoping it is the first of many. During this exclusive event, David will be taking guests on an imbibing tour of the whisky regions of Scotland. He’ll be giving an in-depth explanation of the whisky production process and guests will be taken on a virtual tour of a large malt whisky distillery in Scotland. Oh yeah, there will be 6 awesome drams to enjoy too!

Buy tickets for the Single Malt Whisky Tasting Masterclass here.

More Info?

Please don’t hesitate to contact David on 07875 405 980 if you would like any further information about any of the above events or if you would like to enquire about having a tasting event at your party, corporate event or if you would like to recommend a venue where you think it would be good for us to host a tasting. Please click here to contact us and we will be back to you as soon as possible.

Slainte and happy drams!

Bespoke Islay Whisky Tours With Distilled Events

Feis Ile 2018

The first time you visit Islay is a magical experience, there is nowhere in the British Isles quite like it. I first visited in 2005, having fallen in love with a whisky called Caol Ila a couple of years before. I didn’t think I liked whisky, until the then landlord of my favourite pub, The Earl Grey in Leek, thrust a glass of Caol Ila in my hand. I nosed it, tasted it, and right there Islay introduced herself to me and it was a life changing moment. Little did I know that ten years later I would be the Distillery Manager of Caol Ila.

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. 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 an Islay Whisky Trip?

Islay is the perfect base for any holiday. If you have a week or two to spare, and if you are intending to return again, then you can spend your week leisurely exploring the island, visiting distilleries, joining a tour or two, and sampling the local delicacies and drams.

If on the other hand 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.

Fresh Local Islay Seafood

If you join us on an Islay whisky trip, and take part in our Guided Islay Distilleries Experience your accommodation is a very comfortable, spacious, traditional Scottish sporting estate house with roaring fires and beautiful spaces to relax with a dram with friends in the evenings. The house is very well equipped and we ensure that it is packed with all the provisions that you need. On our most recent trip, guests enjoyed a seafood banquet, all freshly caught local shellfish, matched perfectly with Islay whiskies.

Islay whisky tour

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.

Islay Whisky Tour

Islay Whisky Tour

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.

Islay whisky tours

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 send an email to david@distilledevents.co.uk 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

Islay whisky tripIslay Whisky TourIslay Whisky TourIslay Whisky Tour

Guided Islay Distilleries Experience, April 2017

It All Started With Whisky Tastings in Leek

Thats me just back from a fantastic trip to the magical Isle of Islay. I’ve hosted trips to Islay for groups of whisky enthusiasts for many years, and this was the first of 2017. Our group was made up of 7 enthusiastic folk, some new to whisky, some seasoned enthusiasts, all set to visit Islay for the first time. We’d first talked of arranging this trip way back in September 2017, and it didn’t take long to fill it as word got round the regulars at The Earl Grey Inn in Leek that we would be Islay bound next spring.

Pinkie Lagavulin

Preparing for an Islay Whisky Trip Of a Lifetime

I had tried to prepare those that signed up for the expedition, I’d tried to explain what incredible experiences awaited them on the whisky isle, but it is very hard to do, very hard to describe the beauty and magic of Islay. The only way is to experience it at first hand, to make the long journey by road to the Calmac ferry terminal at Kennacraig, around the sea lochs of Argyll, to visit the distilleries and historic sites and to meet the people of Islay who make most beautifully complex whiskies in the world.

There is nowhere else in the world that makes whisky that truly speaks of the landscape, whisky that when you stick your nose in the glass and have a good sniff it transports you to where it was distilled, the peat reek betraying it’s provenance. The island is certainly responsible for luring me in to the whisky world many years ago, I remember being given a glass of Caol Ila for the first time and being left in a state of shock by the intensity of its nose alone, even before I experienced the wonderful acidity and zestiness on the palate.

My guests were in for a life changing treat.

Islay Distillery tours

The Perfect Base For a Whisky Trip

Our guests were due to arrive on the Monday evening ferry arriving at Port Askaig, they would then be collected by minibus from Islay Taxi and Minibus Hire. After a long journey from Staffordshire I knew they would be ready to sit in front of a roaring log fire and enjoy a couple of drams, even if they’d probably taken advantage of the malt of the month offer in the bar on the ferry.

Our accommodation for the week was to be Octovullin Farmhouse which I often use for both whisky and fishing trips as it is extremely comfortable, spacious and well equipped.

Islay Whisky Trip Itinerary

TUESDAY

After a grand night’s sleep, and a hearty breakfast with meats supplied by Porters Butchers in Bowmore it was time to introduce our guests to Islay. (I’ve included our full itinerary below so that you can see exactly what one of our Guided Islay Distilleries Experiences looks like in detail). At 9am our cheerful driver Kenneth arrived to collect us and off we weeched our guests to their first distillery, the first distillery being Ardbeg no less. Here our guests enjoyed an in-depth tour with Ross and after that, they were to be treated to a tasting of many whiskies from the full range of Ardbeg. Smiles were all around, the biggest of all being on the face of our Paul who had set himself the challenge of finding a whisky to beat his favourite, Ardbeg 10 year old. He was to have much fun in his quest. And so were we.

After our tasting we wandered down to the pier with a dram and gazed out to sea. Who else should put in an appearance but the otter. Perfect, right on cue.

Ardbeg Distillery

Islay Distillery Tour

A packed itinerary meant that there was no time to stay for lunch at the popular Old Kiln Cafe as we had a date with Bruichladdich Distillery at 1pm. No horses were spared during Kenneth’s mission to deliver us in time for our next tour and tasting at Bruichladdich. This distillery built in 1881, the same year as Bunnahabhain in the North of the island, was built at a time when the whisky industry was in boom, due not least because of the decimation of the vineyards in Europe through the outbreak of the phylloxera epidemic. Cognac and Claret had been the alcoholic drinks of choice at the time and the canny Scotts stepped in to save the day by developing and marketing the Scotch industry.

We had another great tour at what is about as close as one can get to being a working Victorian distillery, and then it was time for our guests to enjoy their first visit to one of the island’s fine dunnage warehouses for a tasting, this time straight from casks, and hosted by my former Caol Ila colleague Heather. Heather has first hand experience of many of the Islay distilleries, after being lucky enough to work in many of them. She was good craic and kept our guests fully entertained and supplied with awesome vintage Laddies.

Islay Distillery Tour

We tasted some wonderful drams straight from the cask, the most popular being a stunning 1989 vintage American oak matured laddie. Delicious. After a full range tasting at Ardbeg, and now another flight of truly awesome drams my guests were beginning to feel the effect so it was off to the shop to pick up some bottles including the distillery only bottling known as ‘Valinch’. There is always at least one cask at Bruichladdich where visitors can bottle their own whisky, it is named valinch after the pipette type instrument used to draw cask samples. I’m told that valinch means ‘cask thief’ in Gaelic.

Islay Distillery Tour

We thought that after all that whisky, a little fresh air was the order of the day so Kenneth pointed the bus in the direction of Machir Bay and of we set for the beach, however, we would of course need to call in to Kilchoman Distillery as it seemed a while since we’d had a dram. Once again, bottles were eagerly gathered and finally we made our way to the beach. For one of us, tired and emotional, a wee paddle in the sea was the perfect antidote.

WEDNESDAY

If Tuesday wasn’t busy enough for my lucky guests, Wednesday was to packed with distillery activities and once again we headed off down to the South end of the island, to the Kildalton coast to visit the iconic Lagavulin and Laphroaig distilleries.

At 9.30, the guys joined the tour of Lagavulin Distillery hosted by Sophie, before being taken down to a stunning dunnage warehouse where they would meet the Lagavulin Legend, Iain McArthur, a man who I’d had the pleasure of working with regularly in my years at Caol Ila and Lagavulin. Iain’s Warehouse Demonstrations are famous the world over and people travel thousands of miles to hear his anecdotes and to have good craic whilst tasting awesome drams straight from the casks filled with various vintages of lovely Lagavulin. The tasting began though with a wee taste of the 2016 Islay Jazz Festival bottling which were still available in the distillery visitor centre, there would be a few less in the shop that morning.

Islay Distillery Tour

After visiting the Kildalton Cross and Chapel, it was time for Laphroaig where we would enjoy a distillery tour followed by drams. It was great to see traditional malt floors and kilning, and perfect for demonstrating how peaty Islay drams really speak of their provenance. The peat reek was starting to come in to play.

Islay Distillery Tour

We had an hour or so spare at the end of the day so Kenneth took us back up through Port Ellen and Bridgend via the High Road to Finlaggan, once the seat of The Lord of The Isles, and one of the most important historical sites in all of Scotland. The guests certainly appreciated a few lung fulls of good Islay fresh air after another day packed with stunning drams.

Islay Distillery Tour

THURSDAY

And so the final day had come, and it was time to head for good old Caol Ila where until recently I was Distillery Manager. Caol Ila is by far the largest distillery on Islay, but that does not mean that the quality of spirit is any less. My go to dram was, and still is, and probably always will be from Caol Ila. We were met by my successor, Ed Thom who kindly looked after us for the morning, for which I and my guests were most grateful not just because of how well he looked after us but because he was also off on annual leave. Half way through the tasting, I realised that everyone had gone very quiet as we were sat in the cooperage at Caol Ila. I realised that a lot of pennies were beginning to drop and that guests were now really starting to understand the array and diversity of different spirit styles, flavours and profiles. They were also starting to realise that they were having the time of their lives.

Islay Distillery Tour

Islay Distillery Tour

Proud to boast and show off my signatures and initials on various bottles in the distillery visitor centre, much to the amusement of Ed, many bottles were gathered and it was time to point the bus North, to another old stomping ground of mine, and a distillery very close to my heart. Bunnahabhain. At Bunnahabhain we were treated to a comprehensive tour and warehouse experience by the ever enthusiastic and knowledgeable David. We tasted incredible Bunnahabhains from an array of single casks but this time guests were able to buy and bottle their own drams in wee bottles, many of which will no doubt be proudly displayed in Staffordshire whisky cabinets.

It was time for the last distillery visit of the week, this time at Bowmore, the first distillery on Islay to be given a license to distill back in 1779. Although this was the last distillery visit, it was not the last whisky experience. I had quietly planned with the help of a very good friend that my guests would enjoy a little peat cutting to round off their Islay experience, which all enjoyed, not least because of the tutor host.

 

Join Us on a Whisky Trip to Islay

We had enjoyed perfect weather throughout our week, the food was fantastic, our hosts obliging, the whisky sang as ever and our guests eager to enjoy the experience as much as possible. Whether it is fishing experiences or whisky trips that I’m arranging it sometimes feels like cheating. Whether stood in a loch casting a line, catching or not catching, whether enjoying a dram on an Islay beach or in a dunnage warehouse, Islay does my work for me, my guests are blown away by the surroundings, the landscapes, the people, and the whisky. It is indeed a stunning place, and a place that is life changing for each who visits.

If you would like to join us for an experience of a lifetime, please get in touch. We arrange scheduled trips during the year but we also arrange bespoke Guided Distillery Experiences for groups of friends or colleagues, we can tailor the trip to suit your time constraints, size of group and the amount of activities you would like to enjoy. As well as distillery tours and experiences we arrange sea safari adventures, shooting, fishing and many other exciting things to do.

Lagavulin Warehouse Experience Distilled Events

Islay Shooting

Islay Distillery Tour

 

 

ITINERARY (For info)

MONDAY 03/03/17

8.25pm            Ferry arrives at Port Ellen Islay

8.30pm            Guests collected by Islay Taxis Minibus from Port Ellen Ferry Terminal

9.00pm            Guests arrive at Octovullin Farmhouse, rooms allocated on arrival

9.30pm            Welcome drams in the drawing room

TUESDAY 04/04/17

9.00am             Minibus collects guests from Octovullin

10.00am           ARDBEG DISTILLERY. Distillery tour followed by Full Range Tasting

12.10pm            Minibus collects guests from Ardbeg

1.00pm             BRUICHLADDICH DISTILLERY. Distillery tour followed by Warehouse Experience

3.30pm             Minibus collects guests from Bruichladdich

4.00pm             KILCHOMAN DISTILLERY. Brief visit to shop, weather dependent trip to Machir Bay

5.30pm             Minibus returns guests to Octovullin

WEDNESDAY 05/04/17

8.30am             Minibus collects guests from Octovullin

9.30am             LAGAVULIN DISTILLERY. Distillery tour followed by Warehouse Experience

12.15pm            Minibus collects guests from Lagavulin. Visit Kildalton Cross and Claggan Bay

2.00pm            LAPHROAIG DISTILLERY. Distillery Tour

3.30pm            Minibus collects guests from Laphroaig

4.00pm            Visit Finlaggan Castle

5.00pm            Minibus returns guests to Octovullin

THURSDAY 06/04/17

8.30am            Minibus collects guests from Octovullin

9.30am            CAOL ILA DISTILLERY. Distillery Tour

10.45am          Minibus collects guests from Caol Ila. En route to Bunnahabhain chance to see new site of Ardnahoe Distillery.

11.30am           BUNNAHABHAIN DISTILLERY. Tour and Warehouse Experience

2.00pm            Minibus collects guests from Bunnahabhain

2.30pm            BOWMORE DISTILLERY. Distillery Tour

3.45pm            Minibus collects guests

4.00pm            Visit ISLAY ALES and ISLAY STUDIOS in Bridgend Square

5.00pm            Minibus collects guests and returns to Octovullin

FRIDAY 07/04/17

8.30am            Minibus collects guests from Octovullin and takes to port for ferry departure