So I woke up around 7:30Am and walked into the Oysters Dining room where Lynn laid out a beautiful spread for breakfast. She had 4-5 different cereals to choose from, yogurt, fruit, bagels, toast, she had only one place setting arranged with a carafe of fresh squeezed orange juice, with assorted marmalade's. Next she walked in with a pleasant greeting, and gave me a personal size coffee peculator. And then the main menu for breakfast, Lynn had several options to tempt the taste buds. I had the smoked salmon with scrambled eggs with cheese. The food was absolutely delicious. Then Lynn suggested to me to car hire for the distillery (because car hiring is not as easy in Islay.) So I went to my room, and got dressed for the Ardbeg distillery. Lynn phoned Fiona, the same nice lovely lady who dropped us off from the ferry. I must say, this was the most beautiful and sunniest day in Scotland.
At Ardbeg, Emma and Yasmine welcomed me and told me that my private tour would begin at 10:30AM. Since I was there early at 10, I looked through their souvenir shop, while sipping on some good ol Ardbeg coffee. Then I walked outside for pictures and to see the lovely views of the island. I then sat on top of one of the highest rocks at the distillery, looked at the water, and kept thinking, "I can't believe I'm here." I felt accomplished, excited, and it was surreal to me.
TOUR TIME:
Bryony started out with the Ardbeg history while I was breathing in the aromas of peat and grains...mmmmmm. She then led me to the main portion of the distillery, and gave me complete details of the distillation process. I was enchanted with the entire procedure, and I was soaring on this high that I haven't descended down from yet.
After the tour, we took some more pictures (Bryony and myself) of the distillery, and we walked over to the chairman's office (not a lot of people have the opportunity to come into the Chairman's study.) There, I had: The Blasda whisky. This was recently distributed, limited edition. Pure Ardbeg peat whiskey. Because it's everything a great Ardbeg whisky should be and more, I gave it 5 stars, it's lightly smoked on the nose, and extremely smooth. Next, I had the Supernova. It's malted at 59% alcohol. And it's HEAVILY peated and smoky. This is 10 stars! Next I had the honor to try the 1975 SINGLE CASK. It's matured in sherry butts, extremely smooth, a little peppery and sweet at the same time. It will cost you about 400 pounds a bottle, and there are only 500 bottles available, which makes this single cask rare, and I can't believe I had the opportunity to taste this!!
Afterwards, Emma was nice enough (just like the entire staff of Ardbeg) to have Yasmine drop me off at Laphroaig. At Laphroaig, I did not feel the need to get footage for the distillery, since Bryony was very thorough in my private tour with her, therefore George Campbell gave me a tasting to film where we tasted four different Laphroaigs. The first was the ten year Chill Filtered whiskey that had, to my surprise, a shorter finish (of course Laphroaig and Ardbeg, being one of my favorite all time peat whiskies.) All these whiskies are 5 stars + at this point, no need to rate them. Next is the 10 year cask strength, unchilled filtered, that is strong, not too medicinal, with a big bite. Next is the quarter cask, which means that this whiskey was produced in a wee cask at 150 liters in a sherry butt. The next is the 18 year (this is replacing the 15 year) it's 48% alcohol, and it's non chilled filtered, with a beautiful honey on the nose, a bit sweeter than the 10 years, not as peaty, but of course, the smoke is present, which is a bit different for my taste, but I actually enjoyed this 18 year.
** SIDE NOTE: All of the Laphroaig whiskey is matured in Makers Mark barrels.
SHOPPING IN THE GIFT SHOP:
I'll have to say that Ardbeg and Laphroaig gift shops are so lovely with so much to offer, which made me spend a lot of pounds in these two places. They have various items to choose from such as 100% slate coasters with matching cheese boards, plenty of nosing glasses, rock glasses, shot glasses, clothing, deodorant, lotions, soaps, anything and everything you could possibly need with a Laphroaig name stamped on it. Then I walked over to film their museum, and inside for the visual learner like myself, the owner has set up a great presentation of their distillation process, the history of Laphroaig, their land, and their glorious people.
Lastly, I walked down the hill outside to the water, I took my shoes off, sat down, and soaked my toes in the beautiful, salty waters. I think a tear came down my face, and I sat there and smoked my fags gazing at the dazzling sun. I felt the warmth of the sun on my shoulders, cupped my hands, put it in the water, and started drinking the Laphroaig salty water.
I just sat there for a while in pure bliss.... When I had to snap back into reality, I ranged Fiona to pick me up and get back to the B&B to check out. When I walked in the Oyster Catcher, Lynn wasn't there, and one thing I have to say about the beautiful people of Islay, they're traditional, loving, kind, sweet, and very old fashioned in the best ways. When I walked into the dining room, Lynn trusted me so much, that she left a note on the table, asking me to put the pounds in the vase, because she was unable to meet me on my return to the Oyster Catcher. So, of course, I put the money in the vase,got back in the van with Fiona and drove back to the ferry port. At this time, we took the opposite route so I could get the full view of Islay.
To be continued....
SLAINTE!
To become a friend if Laphroaig, check out their great link below
http://www.laphroaig.com/index.asp?ReturnUrl=%2Fisland%2Findex%2Easp?expanded%3Dour%5Fisland
For more Ardbeg info, click on the link below:
http://www.ardbeg.com/members/public/index/checkage
For reservations on Islay:
http://www.islay-bedandbreakfast.com/
**I would like to thank the entire staff of Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Fiona's car hire service, and Lynn at the Oyster Catcher***
***For pix on this adventure, become a fan on my FaceBook page by clicking on the above icon above on the right column.***
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