Caol Ila Distillery The distillery with a view (and the biggest on Islay)

Caol Ila Distillery If I had to be a still, this is where I wanted to be: a view indeed!

Caol Ila Distillery Another nosing&tasting. Your first dram at 10 AM! Don’t make a habit of that.

Caol Ila Distillery New manager Graham Logie explains the charcteristics of Caol Ila whisky.

Port Ellen Maltings If you arrive at Port Ellen the buildings of the Maltings are the first to see. Inside there is an interesting process going on.

Port Ellen Maltings Manager Peter Campbell is happy to tell us all about it.

Port Ellen Maltings Steeping of the barley is the first step. With the adding of water the grains get really moving.

Port Ellen Maltings Eight huge drums provide for the barley to germinate.

Port Ellen Maltings Germination is stopped by drying the malt. Here’s the peat fire that does the trick. That’s why Islay whiskies are so “peaty”.

Port Ellen Maltings Finished malt to be delivered to the distilleries.

Nosing and Tasting Monday’s tradition is the blind nosing (not tasting!) competition at Ramsay Hall in Port Ellen. Glasses are coloured so your nose is your only “weapon”. Some get nine out of ten right.

Nosing and Tasting Ardbeg manager Stuart Thomson (left) talking to the later winner the Swedish Anders Johansson.