Caol Ila Distillery Visit

The first of our fabled Edinburgh University Water of Life Society Distillery visits occurred just after we stepped (well drove!) off the ferry to Islay! Much mayhem and hilarity ensued, I recall being bemused firstly by the clearly Eastern European accent of our tour guide and secondly her inability to stray from the “Diageo Distillery Tour 101” mantra despite assuring us this wasn’t the standard tour. I guess as we entered each area she triggered her usual spiel. Anyway we got to see a little character of the place. Impressive from the outside and a stillhouse that uncannily resembles Aberfeldy.

The mini-warehouse tasting of the Caol Ila range and cask sample were much more rewarding. Also getting to finish the cask sample outside on the pier on a glorious Islay day and enjoy the view over to Jura (and back at the Distillery itself) will never leave me.