Here’s one from the archives. We made the trek to Islay in July of 2002. Jim Murray, master distiller and true gentleman, had extended us an invitation some months back. If we covered the airfare, he’d feed and house us, and let us work in the distillery. We leapt at the opportunity.
Ah. what memories we have of the beauty of Islay. When our puddle-jumper plane landed at Islay’s tiny airport, we smiled wide at the sheep grazing at side of the runway.
Lush green hills all about…. Night spent quaffing whisky at the Lochindaal Inn; mornings spent regretting the nights and choking down the 5,000 calorie English breakfast…. Glorious.
The Bruichladdich distillery is a beauty. (See it at http://www.bruichladdich.com/.) We spent a morning or two with “Young Davey,” followed Duncan about during the afternoons, and spent a night with the unbelievably loquacious “Budgy.”
Check out this video of the Bruichladdich mashtun at work (turn on your speakers):
It is a heavenly place. Go see it soon.
More of our distillery visit videos may be seen at http://www.youtube.com/user/AlcoholReviews1.
