The Islay Whisky Tour - Day 3

Sunday WORLD CLASS PORRIDGE, ARDBEG DISTILLERY, ISLAY WOOLEN MILL & EVENING GOURMET TASTING Today started with a Scotch Porridge talk and demonstration by Islay resident Scott Chance (World Porridge making champion), chef proprietor of Bowmore's Harbour Inn. Scott advises on those difficult points such as 'How much Ardbeg in your porridge?' This mornings visit was at The Ardbeg Distillery, where distillery manager Stuart Thomson provided us a unique insight into how this distillery and local community has been brought back to life and on the latest expressions to be created from the stocks of Ardbeg. The Islay Woollen Mill : Afternoon visit to The Islay Woollen The Mill, built in 1883 (previous mills on the site are dated 1550), it uses traditional looms that are over 90 years old and has the only 'Slubbing Billy' spinning machine (dated 1820) in existence, as well as 2 of the UK's remaining 7 'Spinning Jenny's'. This traditional working, family-run woollen mill, making country tweeds and with their own Finlaggan Tartan, has a shop well stocked with its produce. Tonight's Tasting : Dinner was at The Harbour Inn with food matched or cooked with various local whiskies - The evening tasting focused on Southern Islay & Heavily Peated malts - with some unusual limited edition Islayís reserved for our final examination. Tour variations - our three tour series each varied slightly but we all enjoyed the company of IWS members and - for almost all the days we were on Islay for 2000 - the weather was amongst the best of the British summer (note the photo of one groups visit to the ex-managers house at Lagavulin - a great malt on a great summers day!) click here for Day 1

click pictures for detail What's brewing at Ardbeg? The hospitable Mr Currie Oyster à la Islay - part 1: opening the oyster Oyster à la Islay - part 2: pouring Bowmore Mariner