Festival Celebrates Islay's Malt Whisky Heritage
The small island of Islay is getting ready for the annual week long Festival of Malt and Music which starts the last weekend in May. The whiskies of Islay, from no less than eight working distilleries, are famous throughout the world and the malt whisky industry is one of Islay's largest employers and sources of revenue.
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 whisky tasting Ceilidh on the evening of the 25th May will challenge the real whisky buffs who can tell Ardbeg from Bowmore or Bruichladdich. All the distilleries will be there with their whisky so go along and test your whisky tasting skills. Musical accompaniment will be by The Islay Fiddle and Accordion Band.
The distinguishing characteristics of Islay's whisky are due to its peaty soil, brown peaty water and exposed position. The winter gales bring salty sea spray inland to most parts of the island. This soaks into the peat which dries out again in the salty, seaweed scented breeze, imparting some of the strongest flavours of all the malt whiskies.
The distilleries of Ardbeg and Laphroaig lie to the south of Islay The distilleries of the south produce some of Islay's most powerful whiskies. The heavily peated, sea scented malt is used with the brown, peaty water in the distilling process. This makes for a whisky that is strongly peat flavoured with the taste of the sea, the brine and the iodine. It has even been described as 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.
Islay is known as The Queen of the Hebrides and a visit offers much more than the festival. Try a taste of island life with stunning scenery and amazing wildlife. - 18423
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 whisky tasting Ceilidh on the evening of the 25th May will challenge the real whisky buffs who can tell Ardbeg from Bowmore or Bruichladdich. All the distilleries will be there with their whisky so go along and test your whisky tasting skills. Musical accompaniment will be by The Islay Fiddle and Accordion Band.
The distinguishing characteristics of Islay's whisky are due to its peaty soil, brown peaty water and exposed position. The winter gales bring salty sea spray inland to most parts of the island. This soaks into the peat which dries out again in the salty, seaweed scented breeze, imparting some of the strongest flavours of all the malt whiskies.
The distilleries of Ardbeg and Laphroaig lie to the south of Islay The distilleries of the south produce some of Islay's most powerful whiskies. The heavily peated, sea scented malt is used with the brown, peaty water in the distilling process. This makes for a whisky that is strongly peat flavoured with the taste of the sea, the brine and the iodine. It has even been described as 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.
Islay is known as The Queen of the Hebrides and a visit offers much more than the festival. Try a taste of island life with stunning scenery and amazing wildlife. - 18423
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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