When you marry a whiskey man (or whisky man, as they say in Scotland) with whom you share an affinity for first editions, bedroom slippers, bran cereals, Ken Burns documentaries, gardening, and heavily peated scotch (we are essentially grandparents in the chrysalis) it’s tough to decide on a honeymoon destination.
Oddly enough, we both landed on a tiny island off the coast of Scotland through independent research (another beloved Hunt-Ralston hobby) and soon realized it would be the perfect spot to unwind after exploring the wilds of Ireland and bustling Brussels.
The Isle of Islay
Halfway between Ireland and mainland Scotland, the remote Hebridean Isle of Islay is home to whitewashed harbor villages, deserted beaches, windswept hills, ancient ruins, a visit here and there from Ron Swanson – and some of the very finest whisky and gin that this good earth has to offer.
We set out through the Scottish Highlands with our trusty Nikon D3300 and a notebook in hand and came back with the most unforgettable experiences, new friends, memories, and some seriously heavenly drams.
The 4-Day Scottish Routes Islay Tour
Read Mr. Ralston’s travel journal and tasting notes over on the ASW Distillery blog, learn about the Scottish Routes Islay Tour here, and find my favorite trip sips at the bottom of this post. Everywhere we visited:
Deanston Distillery
The road to Islay
Oban Distillery
Around Islay + Bowmore Inn Bed & Breakfast
Peat fields of Islay
Lagavulin Distillery
Cemetery-side honor-system coffee stand
Laphroaig Distillery
Bruichladdich Distillery
The Islay Woollen Mill Company
Kilchoman Distillery
Bunnahabhain Distillery
Caol Ila Distillery
Favorite sips
The Lagavulin 23 and 34 were my very favorites, but, alas, Iain told me these are tough to come by outside the warehouse casks — then he kindly passed a takeaway dram over. “What’s the best whisky in the world?” he winked. “Free whisky!” I replied with a grin.
Tippling accoutrements
Get the look
Also on this trip
Galway, Ireland | Killarney National Park | Edinburgh, Scotland
Trip Packing List | My Camera Kit
these photos are so so beautiful
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Looks soooo beautiful! 🙂 x
Helena – Swedish girl in Tokyo
https://www.ilenczfalva.com/
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Your website is looking amazing Jess! I’m in awe having a look around, great job!
These photos are stunning & I love your joke at the end – I wonder was that the answer he was looking for or were you just on the ball with witty comebacks that day? Teehee.
Ps – Brett and I are also grandparents at heart! – gotta love the slow life.
xx
Thank you! I was tinkering on a bunch of design updates last night. Happy to hear they’re all working, and hope that you and Brett and the doggies are doing well!
Mr. Iain *did* ask if someone had told me the “right” answer beforehand, and I had to admit that I’d first heard it in conversation with Julian Van Winkle and co at a Garden and Gun event earlier this year. I think it’s a secret handshake of the whiskey world.
Looks incredible!!
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