The Hebridean island of Islay holds a special place for me and a place where I feel very much at home. Known as the Whisky Isle or the Queen of the Hebrides, this 600 square kilometer jewel has a population of around 3220. It was the headquarters of the Lords of the Isles for much of the middle ages and thus is a significant location to be included in the book. It may seem remote today but at the time of the Lords of the Isles it was a significant center of the kingdom. At their height, the Lords of the Isles controlled almost all of the west coast of Scotland and all of the offshore islands. Today, the island’s administrative capitol is the town of Bowmore which offers many small shops worth browsing. Its most famous landmark is the Bowmore Round Church built in 1767 by Daniel Campbell.
Islay is a study in contrasts as each part of it boasts its own unique geology and landscape. There are two very well defined peninsulas, the Oa and the Rinns and two large sea lochs, Loch Gruinart on the north coast and Loch Indaal on the south, nearly cutting the island in half. In addition to the whisky distilleries for which it is famous, Islay also produces excellent gin: Botanist and Islay Gin. Interestingly enough, the Botanist, considered one of the best gins in Scotland, is made by Bruichladdich whisky distillery (and even thought to be superior to its whisky!) There is much more to this beautiful island that we will continue to explore.
