Here comes my retarded and unorganized day fueled with too much anxiousness. I misread my citylinks itinerary and I got to the Buchannen bus station too late from the Perth Scott rail! The rail arrived 10 minutes late, which didn't help me out either; then I had to wait for the 1:30 bus and walk over to the Ingram Pub (which is located at 136-138 Queens Street Glasgow.)
At this pub, I met 2 great bartenders named Toni and Kalye. I had local brews: T ( lager), Behaven (Best Original), Ossian, from Perth. The "T" was supremely golden, with a A.B.V of 4.1 percent, and they nicknamed this beer "The Heart of Scotland". I also had their old fashioned Haggis, Neeps, and Tatties, along with fried mushrooms... what a treat! Toni then poured a drizzle of Laphroaig 10 year on my haggis to bring out the flavour, and it was awesome! I also met Mr. Allan Caldwell an AC News Investigator from BBC and we shared smokes, beers, and great conversations. Upon the 1PM timeframe, I had to dash back to the station to my journey to Islay.
The bus from Glasgow, which is the Buchannan to Kennacraig took about 3-3 1/2 hrs, and the views on the countryside were astonishing. The castle, hills, and fresh air took me away. I sat next to a lovely woman who was on her way to the Isle of Jura to visit her parents for 10 days, I don't remember her name, it was something like Jacqueline, but she was such a pleasant woman. I regret I didn't get her contact information.
The bus ride was so amazing. I laid my head against the glass window, and took a nap. I woke up to take our break. There I was taken aback again by the beautiful waters and hill with the lush vegetation and beautiful calm waters. It was such a beautiful sunny day in Scotland. I got about 2 sunny days there... and that was the first full day of no rain. I was just sitting there on the wooden bench with Jacqueline smoking, so at peace and relaxed. Everything was standing still. After the break, we were headed back to bus for last hour trip, and there we approached Kennacraig. We got off, went to ferry gate to buy our tickets. Then the winds started gusting, then this huge ferry comes into dock. And when the passenger was exiting, huge doors opened up and semi trucks, cars, motorcycles came out of nowhere. I had no idea that a ferry could hold so many tons of cargo. This is where Jacqueline and I separated.
At boarding, as I was smoking my fag, I met 3 young girls from the Glasgow area named Christine and 2 Sarah's. "The Glas Girls" were of course friendly, and great company on the ferry. We had Cider Beer "Black Thorn" made from apples, lightly sweet on the nose, with a sweet and fruity taste, which is from Shepton ,Mallet, somerset England (I give it two stars but if you like sweet beer, then it is 4 stars) and I sampled beer from the Islay Isles Company, which was Laphroaig's Islay Mist. That is a blended whiskey from Laphroaig, which is lightly smokey, smooth, and lightly sweet, which I'd give 4 1/2 stars. Next I had 1992 Connoisseur's Choice, from Jura, and which whisky is sexy and spicy, and on the nose, it's peppery and sweet, I'd give it 5 stars. Then to finish off the great whiskys I had, I had the Black Rock Ale, and this was dark and delicious, almost like a stout. You can find all of the Islay local beers at http://www/islayales.com
The atmosphere on the ferry was relaxed, happy, and almost everyone was so darn merry while drinking their whisky. Everyone was sharing stories, joking around, and the staff was extremely professional and pleasant. I sipped on local whisky that I never had before, but I knew the distilleries, the Islay Mist was a pleasant surprise due to the fact that it was a blend. Normally, the only blended whiskys to my liking is from the Yamazaki Distillery, and Compass Box blends.
As we drew closer to Islay, you can see the Isles of Jura, and it began to become very cloudy and misty as the wind picked up even more, but Jura looked so breathtaking.
Arriving at the gate at Islay. Me and my new Glas girlfriends shared a cab from Fiona's Taxi Service, in which Fiona was very nice , very courteous, and made us feel very comfortable... she is reachable at (01496-30-2622) 24 hour service, distance is no object.
As we arrived to Port Askaig, where we was picked up from Fiona, I was taken to my Bed and Breakfast, called the Oyster Catcher, which is on the other end of the island. The schedule on that Saturday could only take me to Port Askaig, instead of Port Ellen(which would of been closer). That ride would cost you about 35 pounds, and would take about 30 mins.
Fiona dropped the girls off first, then me down the street. When I walked to the Oyster Catcher, later than schedule. I knocked on the door, no answer, no doorbell. But, I wondered if the door was unlocked, due to the safe and relaxed community. I was right, and I walked in. No one was around, and I checked the dining area, and there was Lynn, the manager of the B&B.
She knew exactly who I was, and greeted me by saying my name, "Hello Carmen, I thought you was going to get here a little bit earlier." I felt so welcome, because not only did she welcome me by my first name, but she greeted me as though I was someone familiar. That minute, I knew I was at a very special warm, cozy, homelike atmosphere. Lynn then briefed me about transportation, breakfast, then she returned with a coffee tray prepped for my liking for the rest of the evening.
As I settled in, I got on the Internet, and the next thing I knew, the Glas Girls were tapping on my window (cause I left the shades open) as they was walking past the B&B they saw me and shouted, "Let's go drink!" I gathered myself, headed out the door, and we headed to the Ardview Bar, which was about 4 buildings down the same block of the B&B. It was absolutely superb. There, I had Bruichlladich 21 year, which is unavailable in the US. It was released to my belief, last year, at the Islay festival only. The Queen had partnership with this distillation and approved it for consumption in Scotland. And it only cost me 8 pounds. Next I had the 'Black Bottle' whisky, which is a 7 blend from the 1879 distillery. It has a lightly sweet and smokey aroma, very smooth, spicy, short finish with a great punch at the end.
**As a side note, if you're in Scotland, you must have the McCoy Crisp, the two flavors I favor is the salt and malted vinegar and the cheddar and onion. These crisps are so darn tasty!
Back to business. Next we headed over to another whisky bar, where I had the Mackey and Whyte blended whisky, from the highlands. Since I wasn't much of a blended whisky drinker till I got there, I found this brand a decent dram.
Nightcap: As the night grew late, I returned to my B&B and prepped for the distillery tours in the morning. And this was my day 1 in Islay, hell, I give it five stars, even though I was terribly late.
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Slainte!!!!
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