Whisky Lovers Flock to Islay for Malt Festival
The annual, week long Islay Festival of Malt and Music starts the last weekend in May. The small Island of Islay is famous around the world for its malt whiskies with no less than eight working distilleries. This makes the malt whisky industry one of the most important sources of income for the island.
Each of the islands distilleries will be having its own open day during the festival and the whisky lover will be able to enjoy whisky tastings, master classes and distillery tours. In addition a busy programme also includes a variety of musical and cultural events, Highland dancing, the Islay Pipe Band, sporting events, guided walks and children's amusements. Many of the venues will feature food tastings and refreshments using local produce and ingredients.
Immerse yourself in Gaelic culture at An Evening of Gaelic Song and Traditional Music at the Gaelic College Bowmore on the evening of 27th May. Enjoy performances from local artists including the Islay Gaelic Choir. There will be a raffle and refreshments.
For those who pride themselves on being able to distinguish Ardbeg from Bowmore or Bruichladdich a whisky tasting Ceilidh will be a highlight. The distilleries with all their whiskies will be there to test your whisky tasting skills, all to the accompaniment of the Islay Fiddle and Accordion Band.
Islay's peaty soil and brown peaty water combined with its exposed position all contribute to the unique characteristics of its whisky. Salty sea spray is brought far inland on wild winter gales, soaking deep into the peat. The same salty, seaweed scented breeze dries it out again in calmer weather conditions. The result is some of the strongest flavoured of all the malt whiskies.
The distilleries in the south of the island include Ardbeg and Laphroaig. These produce some of the most powerful of Islay's whiskies. The brown, peaty water is used together with a heavily peated malt in the distilling process. The whisky has a flavour that has been described as peat smoke, brine and iodine. Sometimes even "medicinal".
The Northern Islay Distilleries, including Bruichladdich, produce a much milder whisky. They use the spring water before it comes into contact with the peat and only lightly peated malt. This results in a much lighter whisky with mossy rather than peaty flavours, with the same dry finish but with less of the flavour of the sea about them.
Bowmore Distillery lies in the middle of the Island, on the shore of Loch Indaal. Its whisky also lies in between the characteristics of the North and South. It's peaty but not medicinal. The sea, salt and iodine flavours can be detected but are balanced by delicate floral notes with a peppery finish.
In addition to the Festival, Islay offers visitors stunning scenery, amazing wildlife, sandy beaches and a long and rich human history to investigate. There is bound to be something for everyone. - 18762
Each of the islands distilleries will be having its own open day during the festival and the whisky lover will be able to enjoy whisky tastings, master classes and distillery tours. In addition a busy programme also includes a variety of musical and cultural events, Highland dancing, the Islay Pipe Band, sporting events, guided walks and children's amusements. Many of the venues will feature food tastings and refreshments using local produce and ingredients.
Immerse yourself in Gaelic culture at An Evening of Gaelic Song and Traditional Music at the Gaelic College Bowmore on the evening of 27th May. Enjoy performances from local artists including the Islay Gaelic Choir. There will be a raffle and refreshments.
For those who pride themselves on being able to distinguish Ardbeg from Bowmore or Bruichladdich a whisky tasting Ceilidh will be a highlight. The distilleries with all their whiskies will be there to test your whisky tasting skills, all to the accompaniment of the Islay Fiddle and Accordion Band.
Islay's peaty soil and brown peaty water combined with its exposed position all contribute to the unique characteristics of its whisky. Salty sea spray is brought far inland on wild winter gales, soaking deep into the peat. The same salty, seaweed scented breeze dries it out again in calmer weather conditions. The result is some of the strongest flavoured of all the malt whiskies.
The distilleries in the south of the island include Ardbeg and Laphroaig. These produce some of the most powerful of Islay's whiskies. The brown, peaty water is used together with a heavily peated malt in the distilling process. The whisky has a flavour that has been described as peat smoke, brine and iodine. Sometimes even "medicinal".
The Northern Islay Distilleries, including Bruichladdich, produce a much milder whisky. They use the spring water before it comes into contact with the peat and only lightly peated malt. This results in a much lighter whisky with mossy rather than peaty flavours, with the same dry finish but with less of the flavour of the sea about them.
Bowmore Distillery lies in the middle of the Island, on the shore of Loch Indaal. Its whisky also lies in between the characteristics of the North and South. It's peaty but not medicinal. The sea, salt and iodine flavours can be detected but are balanced by delicate floral notes with a peppery finish.
In addition to the Festival, Islay offers visitors stunning scenery, amazing wildlife, sandy beaches and a long and rich human history to investigate. There is bound to be something for everyone. - 18762
About the Author:
Rachel Wilson is a travel writer with a love for Bowmore whisky. The Malt & Music Festival is the ideal place to sample a variety of single malt scotch whiskies.
posted by X - Men at
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