The Isle of Islay is the most southern of the Hebrides, located off the west coast of Scotland. This magical island has for centuries been the whisky capital of the world. Miles of unspoilt coastal stretches, crystal clear waters and an unrivalled abundance of wildlife have all contributed to Islay being labelled the Queen of the Hebrides.

Each of Islays whisky distilleries have a unique and distinct history, many still producing whisky using centuries old processes. The unique flavours that are evident within the islands whiskies are a direct result of the islands salt enriched landscape and fertile peat soilswhich, in turn, help to produce an abundant supply of barley for the distilling process.

The numerous naturally fed hill lochs and endless fresh springs provide the distilleries with a constant supply of pure water. The most southern of Islays distilleries, Bruichladdich and Bunnahabhain are by contrast much milder in taste than the distilleries to the east. These distilleries draw their water directly from the springs, before it has had time to mix with the peat soaked landscape. They also use lightly smoked barley in the production processes, which in turn produces a lighter flavoured product with sweet seaweed nutty aromas. Bowmore Distillery, in the middle of the island on the shore of the stunning Loch Indaal, stands between the two extremes, peaty but not medicinal, with some toffee, some floral scents, and traces of linseed oil. Caol Ila although close to Bunnahabhain, produces a delicate, greenish malt, with some peat/iodine/salt balanced by floral notes and a peppery finish.

Kilchoman is the most recent of Islay’s whisky distilleries and the first to be built on Islay for 124 years. It is the eighth distillery on the Island and opened in 2004. The location of the distillery is near Loch Gorm and only a short walk from Machir Bay on the Atlantic Ocean, providing the perfect ingredients for yet another great Islay Malt.
The most easterly of Islays distilleries such as Ardbeg, Laphroaig and Lagavulin, are the most powerful, producing medium-bodied whiskies, saturated with peat-smoke, brine and iodine. Not only do these distilleries use heavily peated malt, they use the island's brown water for every stage of production.

During your time on Islay you will be staying in the luxurious Eallabus lodge, the seat of the current Lord Margadale of Islay. Quintessentially Escape has unique access to this private property, which is unavailable commercially and undoubtedly offers you with the finest accommodation on the island.

Staying at Eallabus lodge, conveniently located at the heart of the island and within a short distance from all of the whisky distillerys, provides the perfect base for the ultimate whisky experience. The lodge undoubtedly boasts the finest accommodation that the island has to offer. After the days sampling the islands finest whiskies, you will return to Eallabus where you will be met by the lodges friendly professional staff and served a gourmet dinner by the islands finest chef. Every evening your chef will design you a bespoke menu, including lobster, scallops and oysters, all of which are sourced from the nearby shores and wild venison, partridge and woodcock, from the estates surrounding woods and hills.

Accompanying you during your whisky journey will be Caroline Dewar, your whisky specialist. Caroline started working in the whisky industry in the early 1980s where her roles were in international marketing/communications and new product development. After some 15 years she left and set up her own whisky tourism and events company. Nowadays she concentrates largely on tastings and whisky dinners as well as whisky education and writing. She is no stranger to Islay having been marketing manager for Laphroaig and arranges her own whisky dinner there each year as part of the Islay Whisky Festival.

The whisky island of Islay is not only about peat monsters, the ones in bottle, that is. A few of the islands single malts are hardly peated at all. Discover them for yourself in this 4 night/5 day trip to this magical island off Scotlands craggy west coast in a specialist tour designed for 6 - 8 people.

Quintessentially Escape will provide you with the ultimate Islay whisky experience.  Over the five days spent on the island you will visit each of the islands eight working distilleries and be given special VIP tours throughout. At each distillery you will be shown the age old methods involved in the distilling process and sample a wide range of whiskies produced by the various distilleries. Our in depth knowledge of Islay enables us to tailor you the most bespoke of itineraries.