The Covid stuff taken very seriously with one poor girl having to follow and wipe everything behind us. Covid is a wake up call to us. Share page. “We have therefore taken the difficult decision today to temporarily close Bruichladdich Distillery’s production functions for two weeks – possibly more, depending on how the situation unfolds. "The tour was led by Dougie Tours and our guide was incredibly knowledge of every aspect of Islay history, from the neolithic settlers to types of trees growing on the island to the founding of the distillery." “Tourism is a vital industry for Scotland, and it’s been one of the sectors hardest hit by the coronavirus. Recently opened & newly announced Islay distilleries Kilchoman: A Farm Distillery. *Please note that this event will take place in London. Hours Today: 9:45 AM ... Save hours of research time looking for the best whisky distilleries, and enjoy a guide’s shortlist instead. We’ve got an afternoon of live broadcasting lined up for Sunday 24th May, when we would have had our open day as part of Feis Ile 2020. These rugged islands, drenched in mist and buffeted by the roar of the Atlantic, are hugely important to the Scottish whisky industry. Visit multiple distilleries, ... One of the very few distilleries on Islay doing tours and tastings. Hikes, sailing, and distillery tours on the magical Hebridean isle of Islay is how this author is going to toast the end of Covid-19. Bikes are available to hire or buy and a full repair service is also available. At least among the Laddies, the rest of the whisky industry having long since given up on the noisily irreverent rebels. Known as the centre of “whisky tourism”, Islay hosts the annual Fèis Ìle, … I can spend a lengthy article on the ins and outs of the virus outbreak but the long and the short of it is that most businesses, hotels, and tourist attractions on Islay are closed for the foreseeable future. And whisky itself is vital for the Scottish economy. Islay's first new distillery for nearly 15 years has officially ... Ardonahoe brings the number of working distilleries on Islay to nine. We extend our apologies to everyone affected by this announcement. The Laing family, having been involved in the Scottish whisky industry for generations, are highly respected in their field. "We're fortunate that we will get back up to our 500,000-liters annual target by end of the year, with no extra costs," says manager David Livingstone. Instead, people can join in from home through our instagram account. Islay Ales... by Islay Boys! Islay’s Feis Ile committee met yesterday to discuss emergency plans relating to the spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus, and the implications for this year’s Malt and Music Festival in the midst of this global crisis. At Lagg, which produces Lowland whisky on the island's southern coast, manager Graham Omand soon had his computerized distillery up and running again. "But we had to close our doors for four months. Please check back here for our latest statements, and information on Scotch Whisky distillery closures. The scale of the impact is still unknown, and we want to do our part to protect our community. As the situation escalates in the UK, the decision has been made to temporarily suspend operations at Bruichladdich Distillery from the 20th March 2020. This inevitably means that we cannot offer an experience in line with our expectations or the expectations of those who have come to know what a visit to Bruichladdich should feel like. The new route should encourage the local economy by allowing easier access to Islay House Square. "Distillery tours were to begin again on 14 September," says Graham Omand, "but new government guidelines prohibiting mixing more than two households and having more than six in a group has made that unfeasible, even though we were only going to run two tours a day with clean-downs in between. Happy New Year, distilleries, and cheers to you for helping keep us safe!" The only ferries that arrived were delivering supplies (99% of what sustains the islanders arrives by boat). A special bottling was commissioned (of course) and dubbed the ‘Whisky of Mass Distinction’ (geddit?) After careful consideration, it is clear there are significant operational and safety complications preventing the re-opening of the Bruichladdich visitor centre whilst the current COVID-19 restrictions remain in place. ", Instead Lagg is offering tutored tastings in a room that Graham says is "big enough for two groups to keep their distance while enjoying the whisky we have to offer.". Everything what was normal is no longer so due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Until the Scottish government lifts its restrictions, the number of visitors will continue to be low and an additional source of income will be denied. The construction will offer employment which may be difficult in the future. The precautionary closure of the distillery for all staff and visitors will continue while we wait to see what form the outbreak will take in our area. This means, that when we open again in early Spring 2021, you will be welcomed back to fantastic new facilities and visitor experiences. It was a … "It's a terrible thing that we're not able to offer full distillery tours. Many members of our workforce have volunteered to work alongside emergency organisations within their respective villages, and we’re open to suggestions for any resources that may be put to good use. All the distilleries are making whisky again, but on Islay only Ardnahoe is offering tours to visitors.". We need to build on this. The last one to open was Kilchoman in 2005. Sign up here >. We are Donald MacKenzie and Mackay Smith, owners of Islay Ales Co Ltd, Islay's only brewery since 2004. By entering you accept the use of cookies to enhance your user experience and collect information on the use of the website. The empty 20,000+ sq ft distillery warehouse can accommodate over 350 people for vaccinations. One of the stills from Inverleven was dutifully set up outside the old Victorian buildings, and became an iconic sight, with a pair of Duncan’s old wellie boots sticking out of the top to represent those weapons inspectors searching for dangerous chemicals deep in its copper bottomed interior. Distilleries that helped out in the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic by making alcohol-based hand sanitizer won't have to pay a hefty fee the government charged them this week by mistake. Kilchoman (pronounced kilhoman) is a Farm Distillery and the first to be built on Islay for 124 years. The Scottish Isle of Islay, also referred to as Queen of the Hebrides, has 9 working whisky distilleries, stunning scenery, amazing wildlife, fabulous beaches and a lot more. The Isle of Islay is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides and is known as ‘The Queen of the Hebrides’. Our health and well-being will be improved by having easy access to the open air and countryside. Similarly on the island of Jura, which sits less than half a kilometer east of Islay and is home to a single distillery (also known as Jura), there are no plans to open to visitors. Douglas Laing & Co has offered a brand new warehouse in Hillington, near Glasgow, for 24/7 use for the coronavirus vaccine roll-out. The Open Insurance COVID-19 ... Islay: 2 nights from only £289pp. As one of the most heavily peated spirits on Islay, Ardbeg is often seen as one of the beasts of Islay. Welcome to the Islay Event Calendar. Beautiful, luxurious and tranquil, the Bowmore Distillery Cottages offer a unique place to stay at the heart of Islay’s oldest distillery. Bowmore is said to be one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland, dating back to 1779. I estimate it will take two to three years for us to make back what was lost during lockdown. We will provide updates via email to all of those on our masterclass list, and will keep everyone well informed of any developments. Now, it is the second smallest, although due to its huge worldwide following, its community is bigger than ever. Visitors to Islay always make straight for Port Ellen where Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig stand together on the coastal road, but Ardbeg and Lagavulin have only reopened for tastings -- with no distillery tours -- while Laphroaig hasn't reopened at all for visitors. Coronavirus: Gin distilleries switch to make hand sanitiser. This inevitably affected the local economy. We look forward to welcoming you to Ardnahoe Distillery. Islay Tourism Islay Hotels "It took six weeks to get things back to normal," says John Campbell. ISLAY COVID-19 UPDATES. Ardnahoe Distillery is one Scottish family’s dream unfolding as well as being the next chapter in the captivating story of the Whisky Isle of Islay. It's just lost.". The nearest ITU beds to Islay are in Glasgow so we have to be aware of what is happening on the mainland as part of our health care picture. A parallel universe where the conventional laws of whisky wisdom cease to exist. We must do everything we can to stay safe, and look after one another. Visitor center admissions provide only a small addition to a distillery's primary profits, but footfall can still be significant. In light of concerns about the spread of Covid-19, we have taken the difficult decision to temporarily close the Distillery to all visitors again. Islay actually has eight active whisky distilleries and it is the island’s second largest employer, after agriculture. 12 April 2019. COVID-19 Islay: 2 nights from only £289pp. If there is any change to the current situation, we will of course notify you as soon as possible. Whisky Distilleries Islay - Tasting Map 24x34cm: Islay - The Whisky-Island | Hirst, Rüdiger Jörg | ISBN: 9783944148038 | Kostenloser Versand für alle Bücher mit Versand und Verkauf duch Amazon. Islay Gin Ltd. where to find us. Entries are open to over 18s only. We are delighted to let you know that we are reopening the Visitor Centre at Ardnahoe Distillery … Bikes are available to hire or buy and a full repair service is also available. Take a break from visiting the Islay Distilleries by enjoying a scenic hike. Information will be fed in from a variety of key sources. We brew a range of beers which are available in 500ml bottles and, for some, 50L kegs, for our trade partners. Ardbeg's new The Shortie Smoky Porter beer. SWA statement on COVID-19 “The health and wellbeing of the Scotch Whisky industry’s employees continues to be our primary concern. ... Covid-19 Announcement. ... How bourbon enthusiasts get creative during COVID … You can now search our website to see what businesses are open and signed up to the Good to Go scheme. The figures below state the average representative values per serving giving 10g alcohol, or per standard 25ml measure: It started with our friend ‘Demolition Dave’ helping Duncan McGillivray and his gang to demolish the old Inverleven distillery – buying up all the old equipment for scrap and loading it onto barges on the Clyde. Protium Green Solutions (£73,818), lead in London with a distillery partner in Islay: Using a low emission hydrogen boiler. Open Now. Audrey previously worked at an Islay spirit distillery and is an expert in global customer care and the export of spirit drinks. Scotch Whisky tourism is an important part of this, with more than 2 million visitors now coming to our distillery visitor centres around Scotland every year. Opened in 1815, at one time Ardbeg was the largest distillery on Islay, supporting an entire community. Getting to Islay takes a little bit of effort. Dear Guests, Friends & Fellow Ileachs. Welcome. The Isle of Islay is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides and is known as ‘The Queen of the Hebrides’. This information will be stored until your request is fulfilled, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions. All of which made great headline-grabbing copy in the febrile media atmosphere then prevailing around WMD. Our Chief Executive, Douglas Taylor, has released a statement on current matters: “As COVID-19 spreads, we are taking additional safety measures to protect our team and our fellow islanders. Dear all our customers and suppliers, We hope that you are all well and getting used to the new normal way of life! With less than 3,300 residents, this is the ideal trip for whisky-lovers looking for an educational, whisky-infused, quiet getaway. As we temporarily close the distillery gates, we are making considerable efforts to keep our lines of communication open to all who may need us. Bunnahabhain Distillery: Shop open but no facilities due to Covid - See 496 traveler reviews, 407 candid photos, and great deals for Port Askaig, UK, at Tripadvisor. In 2019 the Whisky Association recorded over two million visitors coming to Scottish distilleries, and a tenth of that number -- 200,000 -- come to stay on Islay. "It was very quiet on the island and good to be able to go out for a walk and not meet anyone.". Just as the champagne industry cannot be allowed to fail in France's Champagne region, so Scotland protected its whisky industry as best it could during the Covid lockdown. Ten thousand people work in the Scottish whisky industry, the majority of them -- 7,000 -- in remote areas like the Highlands and the islands. To win a chance to be at our brand new Octomore tasting experience in London, fill in the form below. 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