Right, day one of whisky holiday proper. My guilt starts here for the widow I’m making of Claire this week!

Up at 6:30am to get from Oban down to the ferry which left at 9:45am and got in at 11:50am.

First stop, our accommodation at Ballygrant… Then on to Caol Ila for a Premium Tasting…. Bugger up #1, that’s a tasting, not a tour, I should have read that closer (apparently lots of people have made that mistake today). Still, I did the tasting anyway, which was a one to one with the helpful lady, and included 5 drams, including a new make spirit, 12yr unpeated, 12yr standard, 18yr and 25yr. I also then blagged a dram of the distillery only bottle, which I then purchased. 😉 – Going back tomorrow for the actual (free) tour, with no pictures!!! (See previous blog post on that moan).

Next, as I hadn’t had the tour at Caol Ila (and so had extra time) we hot footed it over to Kilchoman in time for their 3pm tour; what a good plan as previously that one wasn’t on my list, other than for a quick visit because of the timings.

Very glad I did that tour, highly recommended… Less than a fiver, and just 3 of us being shown around, so nice and personal. You can stick your nose anywhere, and take as many pictures as you like, how refreshing. It’s a great small distillery that does every part of the process itself, also very refreshing!

We tasted wort directly out of the washbacks, new make direct from the stills, watered down new make ready for cask filling (i.e. cask strength) and then tried 4 different expressions plus a blackberry based whisky liqueur. One distillery only single cash bottle purchased. 😉

I won’t bore you with any more details quite yet (pictures will have to wait till I’m home). Needless to say, I’m very impressed, and 13 (small) drams on my first day has made my head hurt!

For evening entertainment we went to Bruichladdich for a Welcome to Islay evening, very glad we did, pipe music, traditional dancing and singing with some short and interesting talks. A great way to finish the day, and a good taster for a later visit/tour in the week. I think I also have a crush on Helen (?) who was on the staff there. 😉

Off to Bunna, Caol Ila and Bowmore tomorrow… So bye bye for now!