Timeline Photos

Harris Comes to the Lodge..

The Firepit Company

Photos from The Lodge - Islay's post

''Twas a great islay Whisky Festival 2017

Photos from The Lodge - Islay's post

The Summer is coming fast and Baggit Boat is ready to go!

Timeline Photos

Timeline Photos

This Fella is a Barrel of Laughs 😜

Timeline Photos

Have you seen our new ad? Tag friends who would love this perfect whisky getaway - rated no.1 B&B in Port Ellen www.thelodgeislay.com

Photos from The Lodge - Islay's post

Timeline Photos

My favourite place! The Islay Festival of Malt & Music is nearly upon us! The Scottish island of Islay may only be a mere 240 square miles in size with around 3500 inhabitants and a few cows, but it has eight distilleries and counting. While this is arguably out of proportion with the population, they do produce incredible whisky in Islay, so rather than raise it as an incongruity, we’ll simply raise a glass. For the uninitiated, the whisky hailing from this Inner Hebridean isle is noted for its smoky quality. It often proves assertive and can frankly scare off the newbie, with bonfire aromas roaring from a glass and even the occasional hints of medicinal TCP. It can prove challenging for the most experienced and tends to be a style of whisky a drinker will progress to rather than start with. But there is plenty of variety on the island, and with a wider understanding, Islay whisky can easily be approached by everyone. And everyone should, because this is whisky of pure heritage. If you follow the moderately contentious notion that the Irish invented the spirit, then you should also accept that, as they took their precious cargo to Scotland, they stopped at Islay en route. They distilled here and with that in mind, this is arguably the home of Scottish whisky. There are eight distilleries on the small Hebridean Island add that to the stunning flavour and you should appreciate Islay’s value. The whisky’s distinct aromas of smoke come courtesy of the peat used to fuel the kilning of the malted barely. Simply put, peat is earth, the accumulation of decaying vegetation that has, over time, compacted and can be burned, and a lack of coal alternative made it a convenient energy source for locals. As with all whisky though, the production means the whisky can be affected in many ways. The levels of peat used vary in each distillery and the wide-ranging shapes of stills employed can impact on the spirit’s flavours. Then you’ll find the influence of wood during aging the spirit dramatically enhances it in different ways, with European and American wood barrels rounding off and adding spicy or sweeter notes; and even the resting of barrels in a warehouse on seaside perch can play a role. Whisky is fascinating and a visit to Islay for any drinks fan is highly recommended, particularly when the community celebrates this special spirit with the glorious Islay festival, or Feis Ile.

The Lodge Islay

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