Whisk(e)y Tours

2022 Islay 4 day Whisky Tour

2022 saw us arrange to do a 4 day whisky tour of Islay in September. The whisky gods weren't exactly smiling on us. Sadly, Queen Elizabeth passed away and her funeral was scheduled for the Monday the first full day Iof our tour of slay. Everything was closed down that day, so we didn't get to any of our distillery tours that were planned. The tour did proceed the following day. We got to do distillery tours of Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Bunnahabian and Ardbeg.

Now, while we did basically lose one full day, but our tour company (Scottish Routes) and the B & B (Bowmore House) did make up for things to an extent. Our Scottish Routes tour driver/guide, Moray,  took us around the island and we had several drams of whisky outside various distilleries and on Machrie Beach....thanks Moray!!!

I can't recommend Scottish Routes Tours enough!! In fact we booked another Islay Whisky tour with Scottish Routes again for 2023, but this time we booked the 5 day Tour! The 5 day tour will get you around the island to visit all 9 current working distilleries.

This includes:

Ardbeg

Ardnahoe

Bowmore

Bruichladdich

Bunnahabain

Caol Ila (home of Johnnie Walker)

Kilchoman

Lagavulin

Laphroaig

There are 3 more distilleries in the process of being built on Islay. The only question I have is, how will their current infrastructure be able to support the influx of tourists throughout the year visiting these, now 12 distilleries? There aren't that many B & B's or hotels to support the increase, in my opinion. Sure there now becomes an opportunity to build and/or start B&B's, but, tours have a window of opportunity through the year... basically the summer time.

2023 Whisky Tour

We managed to complete this years Islay whisky tour without incident (thankfully).  Again it was a fantastic time with Scottish Routes and Bowmore House B & B!

One recommendation from my perspective, the 4 day tour was good, but the 5 day tour was more worthwhile. I say that because your first day and your last day are travel days to get to and from Islay, so that really only leaves you 2 days on the 4 day tour and 3 days on the 5 day tour of distilleries. Now that is if you want to see all 9 distilleries. 

Did we sample whisky??  I think I remember 'some' whiskies over the 3 days of touring distilleries... somewhere around 30 whiskies NOT including side trips and evening outings to the Bowmore Hotel Pub.