Edinburgh to Oban

Depart at 10:00am from 242 Morrison Street, Malones Pub, Edinburgh.

On our way to Islay, we make the journey from Edinburgh to Oban. On the way to Oban, we drive through and past the world-famous Loch Lomond and Trossachs national park.

Although this is an Islay Whisky Tour, we know that Highland distilleries provide a great introduction to traditional whisky distilling.

Our usual lunch stop is the Drover’s Inn. With over 300 years’ worth of visitors, the walls of the Drover’s Inn could certainly tell a tale. This historic and well-known building has welcomed hundreds of thousands of people, including Rob Roy and Gerard Butler! Other places, we use for lunch are Deanston distillery, Glenturret distillery and the Tyndrum Green Welly.

Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park is a national park in Scotland centred on Loch Lomond and the hills and glens of the Trossachs, along with several other ranges of hills. It was the first of the two national parks established by the Scottish Parliament in 2002, the second being the Cairngorms National Park.

The Park consists of many mountains and lochs, and the principal attractions are scenery, walking, and wildlife.

When we arrive in Oban, we will visit the Oban distillery.

Most people agree that the best way to travel to Islay on an Islay Whisky Tour is to break up the travel time with a stop in the Highlands. The time in Oban includes: a fantastic distillery tour and tasting at Oban distillery. Time to visit Oban town, have a meal and relax before we travel to Islay on day two. The small and historic Oban distillery is located in the charming coastal town of Oban.

Oban distillery takes its name from the town where the Highland mainland meets the Islands and nestles below the steep cliff that overlooks Oban. This coastal location is said to be reflected by the character of the Oban 14-year-old single malt whisky.

Duration: 7 hours. No meals included on this day. Accommodation included: Overnight B&B or Guesthouse stay at a local accommodation in Oban.

We use well-reviewed accommodation such as the Whisky Vaults.

Islay Whisky Tour

Depart your hotel around 9:00am

Tour and tasting at Kilchoman distillery – gain a behind scenes look into the day-to-day running of the distillery starting on the malt floor with a dram of their 100% Islay whisky.  You will have the opportunity to walk through the distillery production area accompanied by one of their friendly guides, visit the warehouse and finish with a dram in the lovely Visitor Centre.  A tasting glass is included and driver’s drams are available if required.

Bruichladdich Distillery, a stop for a quick tasting and look around the fantastic gift shop. Bruichladdich distillery is located on the southwestern tip of Islay. Bruichladdich distil four unique spirits and home to Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte and Octomore single malt whiskies and the Botanist Islay dry gin.

Bowmore Distillery, shop visit and a quick taste. The distillery, which lies on the South-eastern shore of Loch Indaal, is one of the oldest in Scotland and is said to have been established in 1779. The distillery is owned by Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd, a holding company owned by Japanese drinks company Suntory. Morrison Bowmore also own the Auchentoshan and Glen Garioch distilleries and produce the McClelland’s Single Malt range of bottlings.

Lunch in Bowmore at the Bowmore hotel – situated in the island’s ‘capital’, Bowmore, in Jamieson Street and close to all the village amenities.

The lounge bar is used as the main lunchroom serving great food. Homemade soup, toasted sandwiches, fish and chips, baked potatoes, pasta bake etc all feature on the lunchtime menu.

The hotel stock a good range of beers and lagers. However, the 700 malt whiskies, mostly from Islay are what brings the majority of people to the most famous whisky bar on the island. This hotel is a fond meeting place for many whisky enthusiasts on an Islay Whisky Tour.

Tasting at Bunnahabhain – Very picturesque part of the Island. The Bunnahabhain Distillery was founded in 1881 near Port Askaig. The Bunnahabhain whisky is one of the milder single malt Islay whiskies available and its taste varies greatly from other spirits to be found on the island of Islay. The majority of its spirit is unpeated. Great selection of rare casks and styles to be found here.

Shop visit and a quick tasting at Caol Ila distillery, the new home of Johnnie Walker on the Island and a must visit.

Tour at Ardnahoe distillery – Ardnahoe prides itself on being a modern distillery, set beautifully in a stunning location, which employs rigorously traditional methods and values. The spirit being produced is sweet, smoky and smooth yet peaty and spicy – unique and dynamic to its very core.

Duration – 9 hours. Breakfast included. Accommodation included: We pick well-reviewed B&Bs and hotels for accommodation.