The Inaugural Islay Whisky Society Tours - 2000 For three days and nights the group worked on, for there were over 26 Islay and Jura malts included at 8 tastings.

Summer 2000 saw the Islay Whisky Society's first tour programme established from our base at The Bridgend Hotel. 3 small groups made the journey to Islay and were entertained by ex-Laphroaig manager John McDougal. For the summer of 2001 we are pleased to be scaling up our operations by extending the format and including new and exclusive features. A mid-week programme will be added to the weekend programme - and each 3 day visit can be booked as a comprehensive 6-day tour. Everything is included - from 3 evening tastings that include limited edition Islay whiskies, your transport and guiding on the island, and your meals and accommodation. For 2001 we are using a luxurious set of adjoining houses, overlooking a private trout loch (boat fishing is available and included), so that our small parties (only 8 to 12 people on any progamme) can enjoy unique and exclusive facilities - an uninterrupted study of some of the world's finest whiskies. Here are some pictures and narrative from the 2000 tours. Friday's Distillery Visit - BUNNAHABHAIN Our tours started with an early evening tour of Bunnahabhain Distillery with distillery manager John Mclellend. This is a most beautifully situated distillery - the most northerly on Islay - remotely located at the end of a tiny single track road and enjoys a most wonderful setting overlooking the neighbouring Isle of Jura and the narrow seas between the islands. Fridays Tasting - ISLE OF JURA & Northern Islay Malts After leaving Bunnahabhain we arranged a special crossing time on the 3 minute ferry to Jura. We then motored south along the Jura coast to the Isle of Jura Hotel that sits adjacent to the Isle of Jura Distillery. Dinner and tasting was at the Isle of Jura Hotel. "The evening got properly under way once Michael Heads arrived from Jura distillery. He poured us a full range of Jura, from the standard 10 Year Old, through a more elegant 16 Year Old and up to a 33 Year Old distillers edition he had bought from his own stock. The star of the night was a surprisingly orangey Isle of Jura 21 Year Old." Tour Guide Iain Mackenzie click here for Day 2

click pictures for detail Tour Base - The Bridgend Hotel View of the idyllic Lagavulin Distillery Group enjoying a dram in the island sun The whitewashed Bowmore distillery View from the Jura Hotel