Islay is the “Queen of the Hebrides”, an island with such clear seas and bright beaches it sometimes felt like we’d been zapped to the Caribbean… until the sheep and cows came wandering along the sand.
But it’s really all about the single malt whisky with the hard-to-pronounce names (though Brian Cox will show you how).
The whisky was a bit lost on me (Laphroaig review: “Tastes like punishment”) but I heartily recommend The Botanist, the gin made by Bruichladdich. Hands down the best I’ve ever thoroughly sampled!

Cover for Gareth’s new prog album

Ardbeg Distillery

All misty like the marketing copy

Token cask pic

Tropic of Scotland

How good would an Islay single malt spelling bee be?

At Laphroaig

Laphroaig stills | Port Charlotte pub

Coos on the beach

Sheep on the beach

Ever more sheep

Beautiful bays… delicious food…

Machir Bay. We snoozed; they surfed.
P.S. MIL Mary update! She’s now out of ICU and making steady progress. She’s a tough cookie