Islay Distillery Tours: Standard vs Deluxe

@Wodha There really is a difference in my opinion, but the difference depends a great deal on your objective. If you are interested in the process alone, go for the standard tour; if you want to enjoy a tasting in concert with your tour, and perhaps have a more personalised experience, go for the deluxe option.

The costlier 'deluxe' tours typically involve an enhanced tour, at times with an individual with direct experience on the business end of the distillery (by which I mean the part of the distillery that has nothing to do with 'business' per se, but is all about producing spirit and whisky) and almost always includes a tasting of 3-5 drams during or after the tour. It is typically a smaller group, more personal, and you may get to see parts of the distillery that are not on the 'standard' tour.

But, again, the main difference between standard and deluxe tours comes down to the tasting -- with the deluxe, you will likely be given a variety of drams to taste. It is as simple as that.

Now, if you have a particular distillery for which you have fondness, I would suggest calling or emailing them and asking if they have any special tasting and tour packages -- splurge on this one. Alot of distilleries have VIP tastings in their warehouses, sometimes with the distillery manager -- It is worthwhile and highly recommended!

I would also suggest spending time at Bruichladdich, if only because they are unique among their peers on the island (with the possible exception of Kilchoman, which is also worth a visit) -- as they are independent and have a very strong ethos that informs their practices, their product, and their marketing.

The others are also fantastic (I have not had a lousy time at an Islay distillery, and I have been to most at least 3 times), but truthfully, after you have been on one distillery tour -- there is not that much difference between them; I would stick to the standard tours for the majority and spend your money in the shops.

Another tip for you and your wife...Check out Duffies Bar for a massive selection of drams (pretty much every bottle from every distillery on the island, including Port Ellen) at reasonable prices, and you might want to stop by Port Charlotte Hotel Bar for a wee dram and some great live music as well (their selection is only slightly smaller!) This is a good way to sample the local produce of those distilleries that didn't offer tastings!

If you (or anyone else) needs/wants any other suggestions/opinions about visiting Islay, where to stay/eat/drink, what to see/do (including non-whisky...heaven-forbid!), just send me a message.

I can recommend the Source, Peat, Malt Experience Tour at Laphroaig Distillery. It is tour for only six people visiting the water source, the peat fields (with the opportunity to cut peat) and the distillery. Highly recommendable ... And during the tour you will drink several drams ;-) no better way of enjoying the Laphroaig Cask Strength standing in a peat field with the rain smashing in your face ;-)

@666ppm Is right on the money, the Laphroig tour is well worth the price.. the special tasting at the end covers a lot of ground.. last time I was there it went up to the 30y/o.. (first time there it was the 40). I would also agree that Bruichladdich is worth the extra layout. I don't really know about Bowmore, their tour is good but I'm not a huge fan of their whisky (I don't even know why) so I never paid up for the special tour.

September is a great time to go ( I've been twice in September once in May and once in October) kids are back in school so the tours are smaller (and the part time student guides are gone), the weather can be very good and if you are really lucky you can hit them as they are just starting up after the silent season. Ask lots of questions, (intelligent for preference but really ANYTHING) I do and my wife certainly does, you often get a better tour and cover more areas than standard when the guides know you are appreciative. We've had a number of guides come right out and tell us that many tourists act bored and stay silent which makes the tour disappointing for the guide. These people are typically very passionate about what they are doing and will go the extra mile for an appreciative audience.

Too bad about Caol Ila they have an interesting tour, VERY different from the standard, lots about the technology and automation, an excellent counterpoint to Bruichladdich. I've had lots of people tell me they didn't like it but for me it works well.

Yes visit the Port Charlotte hotel bar, the food is really good and they have a couple island brewed real ale's at the bar that are well worth a try ( other places have them to I'm just plugging the bar here)

If you get good weather and a free afternoon take a walk out to Finlaggan, the ancient seat of the Lords of the Isles, there is a great walking tour you can download as an mp3 from the BBC. If you are there long enough there are lots of beautiful places to hike (don't bother with the Bunahabben to the lighthouse walk no matter what anyone says... i think it is a trick they play on tourists)

@spiritsafe Thanks for the insights. I have recently posted a question regarding Glasgow and Islay if you have any insights please let me know: connosr.com/wall/discussion/…

Personally speaking, if you are seriously interested in whisky then go for the better tours. You can always buy bottles but getting the chance to really talk to the people who live and breath the distilleries and island life is priceless experience. I would highly recommend the warehouse tour with Iiain at Lagavulin and can't say enough good things about Bowmores £40 Craftsman tour. I did mine one on one and, aside from being a guest of a distillery it doesn't get much more in depth than that....also Lynda is a complete gem and a wonderful guide.

@Wodha I was on Islay 3 weeks ago with my boyfriend, we toured 4 of the distilleries (Bowmore, Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig). Often, there is a good range of different tours depending on your budget. We went for the good value, but good tasting sessions. At Bowmore we went for the standard tour were you have a complementary dram of the 12yo and a nip of Auchentoshan and GlenGarioch for 6pounds. At Ardbeg we went for the 'in between' tour. For not more than 12pounds, there was a nice tour of the distillery and a cosy tasting session of their 5 standard whiskies (this was a all you can drink, but it is hard to exagerate with Ardbeg!). At Lagavulin we took the standard tour which included a nice tasting session of their 16yo, and 3 of their other products. At Laphroaig, we took only Betsie's tasting session, were, in a small group we enjoyed 3 drams combined with a little bit of food. The explanations were great, and even if it was the 10th session we went to, we learned something. Of course, if you can afford it, the more you pay the more you get to try older and unusual drams, (I can confirmed for the 30yo at Laphroaig, I saw that bottle in the deluxe tour!) but you often have a 'middle' option, not to expensive and you can still try a good range! Enjoy!

Thanks to everyone for the input on this question. We will be in Scotland late Sept./early Oct. and I am finding this a very helpful and informative thread. I am with Wodha on this and would much rather spend the money on whiskys that I would never have the opportunity to taste here at home. 80 quid (around $125 Can.) for herself and I to tour Bowmore could buy some pretty good whisky. @spiritsafe, @Andrew and @Maude, thanks for the good tips re: bars, hotels and tour options. Any suggestions for good, reasonably priced accomodation? I have been budgeting 60-70 pounds per night, double and about the same per day for food. We will be in Scotland and England for 1 month. Does that sound reasonable? Also renting a car for the whole time and wondering if it is worth taking the car over to the islands, particularly Islay and Skye, or is it better to just do a walk on for the ferries?

Lots of questions, but that's what I love about this forum. Somebody always knows the answers.

Cheers.

@bluenote I would recommend renting a car.. (but don't pick one up at the airport.. airport cars tend to be a rip off) Try to pick it up in either Glasgow or Edinburgh, get a diesel and keep it close to full. On my first trip over we could not find an open gas station between Kennicraig (spelling?), the ferry from Islay, and Glasgow( very long trip to do when the needle is saying “E”) . The bus and taxi options on Islay are available but not great and a car just makes things easier, on Skye though you really do need a car.(BTW you can drive to Skye .. but the ferry is much prettier.)

If the budget is an issue look into the Scottish Youth Hostels Association

www.syha.org.uk

don't let the youth thing fool you.. I'm 48 and was far from the oldest using the system. A couple trips ago we met people staying at the one on Islay and they were quite happy with it, since then I've been to a few, some are dumpy but some are surprisingly OK and all are cheap. Their site has reviews if you are concerned.

On Skye is a restaurant called "The Three Chimneys" www.threechimneys.co.uk If you or anyone in your party is any kind of foodie you need to eat there, not cheap but it still ranks as the best meal I've ever had (and as my waistline will attest I really enjoy food).

Finally if you want to be trying whiskies you will not find at home you should also be looking for bars like these as well (all these are conveniently attached to hotels)

ardshiel.co.uk www.portcharlottehotel.co.uk www.craigellachie.com

The distilleries are good but for the most part they have what is available currently, to be sure they often have more expressions than you would normally see but not necessarily all that many.

Finally.. you are in Canada? Where?

Have you seen this? whiskymag.com/directory/regional/…

The list is fee based and some good ones are missing and some crap ones included (speaking for Toronto anyway) but it might give you an idea or two.

@Andrew. Thank you!! This is exactly the type of info I was hoping for. We are flying into Gatwick and a small car for the month is about $600 Can with all the insurance and tax extras. Going directly up to Scotland for a couple of weeks and then working our way back down to the south of England. I've got relatives in both Scotland and England that I need to see before we all shuffle off to wherever we go.

We are in BC on the Sunshine Coast (where it has been the wettest, crappiest summer ever that I can remember). Just up the coast from Vancouver. This is BC where the government is addicted to the avails of addiction...gambling, booze and tobacco...but for those of us who aren't alcoholics they offer very little at ridiculous tax inflated prices. They list about 120 single malts which includes 3 or 4 sizes of all the standard brands.

But I digress. I'm going to the motherland and I can't wait, it's been 12 years since the last time. I just wish I could bring a few extra bottles back without having to worry about what Customs may or may not nail me with for duty and taxes. I guess we'll just hit all those bars you mentioned and try as many as possible. Thanks again. I love this forum!!

@Wodha. You're the man brother, you always seem to get the best discussions going. Cheers.

@BlueNote, I have to say that you are right: Wodha IS the man. And Wodha probably wears those same sunglasses on a dark and stormy night on Islay. Or on a dark and stormy night on his island New Islay.

Here I am moments from boarding the Finlaggan car ferry. Next stop Islay!

i.imgur.com/z4oyOl.jpg