Whisky Galore at The Islay Festival of Malt and Music
The last weekend in May sees the small Island of Islay in celebration mood. The Islay Festival of Malt and Music brings crowds of whisky enthusiasts to mingle with fans of Gaelic music and culture. Islay's eight working distilleries produce some of the world's most famous whiskies as well as being one of Islay's most important industries.
The festival programme includes a variety of cultural and musical events including Highland dancing, the Islay Pipe Band, guided walks, sporting events and children's amusements. However I don't think anyone would argue that Islay's whisky will take pride of place. The malt whisky enthusiast will be able to visit each of the distilleries on their open days. On offer will be distillery tours, master classes and whisky tastings. Refreshments and food tastings featuring local produce and ingredients will be available at many of the events.
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.
A highlight of the week for the real whisky aficionado will be a whisky tasting Ceilidh on the evening of the 25th May. If you think you can tell Ardbeg from Bowmore or Bruichladdich then all the distilleries will be there with their whiskies so go along and test your whisky tasting skills. Musical entertainment at the event will be by the Islay Fiddle and Accordion Band.
The peaty soil and brown peaty water, together with the exposed position of Islay have combined to create the unique characteristics of the island's whisky. The island is almost completely covered in peat, soaked through with the salty sea spray brought far inland by winter gales. In balmier summer weather the gentler salty, seaweed scented breeze dries it out. 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. - 18758
The festival programme includes a variety of cultural and musical events including Highland dancing, the Islay Pipe Band, guided walks, sporting events and children's amusements. However I don't think anyone would argue that Islay's whisky will take pride of place. The malt whisky enthusiast will be able to visit each of the distilleries on their open days. On offer will be distillery tours, master classes and whisky tastings. Refreshments and food tastings featuring local produce and ingredients will be available at many of the events.
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.
A highlight of the week for the real whisky aficionado will be a whisky tasting Ceilidh on the evening of the 25th May. If you think you can tell Ardbeg from Bowmore or Bruichladdich then all the distilleries will be there with their whiskies so go along and test your whisky tasting skills. Musical entertainment at the event will be by the Islay Fiddle and Accordion Band.
The peaty soil and brown peaty water, together with the exposed position of Islay have combined to create the unique characteristics of the island's whisky. The island is almost completely covered in peat, soaked through with the salty sea spray brought far inland by winter gales. In balmier summer weather the gentler salty, seaweed scented breeze dries it out. 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. - 18758
About the Author:
Rachel Wilson is a travel writer with a fondness for Bowmore whisky. The Malt & Music Festival is the ideal place to sample a wide range of single malt scotch whiskies.
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