Scotland, Day 10: Nineteen Drams Around Islay
Scotch Tallies
| Scotches drunk today | Unique Scotches today |
|---|---|
| 19 | 19 |
Breakfast at [The Bowmore House][bowmore-house] came with a house-blend dram. A useful start to a day of distillery visits.
Bunnahabhain
We started at [Bunnahabhain][bunnahabhain] around ten. The 16-year-old Ruby Port Finish was spicy, fruity, and sweet up front. The nose reminded me of paint.
The 2014 Canasta was something else: caramel smell, caramel color, caramel taste. Chocolate, too. Like a candy store.
Toiteach A Dhà was lightly peated, light in color, and easy to drink.
Bruichladdich
At [Bruichladdich][bruichladdich], we tasted straight from the casks. They make unpeated Bruichladdich, heavily peated Port Charlotte, and very heavily peated Octomore. Also [The Botanist gin][botanist-gin].
| Whisky | What I thought |
|---|---|
| 2009 Bruichladdich, 16 years old | Berries on the finish, iodine, and a malty flavor from the Bere barley. No peat. |
| 2015 Port Charlotte | A sweet nose that carried into the first taste, with smoke on the finish. “That’s nice.” |
| 2011 Octomore | Super caramel, an earthy nose, and plenty of peat. The smoke was all in the finish. |
| Octomore Polyphonic | Funky, almost mushroomy on the nose. Smoky but smooth. Nice! |
Kilchoman
[Kilchoman][kilchoman] was a great tour. Lunch was Cullen skink and a selection of sandwiches, like high tea. Christie led the tasting.
We literally watched the guys shovel barley while drinking the 100% Islay release. Hard to improve on that timing.
| Whisky | What I thought |
|---|---|
| 100% Islay, 14th Edition | Oily, with bourbon and sherry casks. An “ideal breakfast dram.” |
| Machir | Sweet on the nose, floral, and citrusy. |
| Loch Gorm | Deep color, Oloroso sherry casks. |
| Distillery exclusive, 13-year-old ex-Buffalo Trace cask | Light in color, with some of the mash on the nose. |
There was a bonus taste at the end, too.
More Whisky, Then Oysters
The [Islay Whisky Vault][whisky-vault] sold old, rare, and unusual whisky. Somebody’s description of the job: “I’m selling art.”
There was [Ardnahoe Infinite Loch][ardnahoe], fruity and menthol on the nose; [Bowmore 15][bowmore], with a little smoke and a floral finish; [Lagavulin 8][lagavulin], salty and seaweedy; and a [Caol Ila][caol-ila] distillery release with salt, smoke, sweetness, and an oily texture. An Ardnahoe inaugural release and more Bruichladdich rounded out the day: a special-cask 16-year-old and a dark-caramel 14-year-old with rich, warm spices.
Dinner back at the [Lochside][lochside]: four oysters and the scallop special.
Part of our August 2025 Scotland and London trip. Trip summary.
From the Notebook
[ardnahoe]: https://ardnahoedistillery.com/
[botanist-gin]: https://www.thebotanist.com/
[bowmore]: https://www.bowmore.com/en-gb/
[bowmore-house]: https://www.thebowmorehouse.co.uk/
[bruichladdich]: https://www.bruichladdich.com/
[bunnahabhain]: https://bunnahabhain.com/pages/experience-bunnahabhain
[caol-ila]: https://www.malts.com/en/products/caol-ila-12-year-old-single-malt-scotch-whisky-70cl
[kilchoman]: https://www.kilchomandistillery.com/
[lagavulin]: https://www.malts.com/en-gb/distilleries/lagavulin
[lochside]: https://www.lochsidehotel.co.uk/
[whisky-vault]: https://www.islayinfo.com/about-islay/key-places/bridgend