Islay & the Whisky Coast 2026

Today, we focus on savouring some of the finest and most unique whiskies on Islay. We begin at Bowmore Distillery, which has captured the essence of Islay for over 240 years.

Explore the rich history of Bowmore Distillery, uncover the secrets of its production process, and enjoy a tasting of three drams of their signature sweet and smoky whisky, along with a complimentary whisky glass. Afterward, we’ll continue along the coast to Kilchoman Distillery for a tour and a lunch featuring local specialties.

Bowmore Distillery’s silent season starts between 7th July and 18th August 2025. If your tour departs during that time, your experience will slightly differ, instead of visiting the production site, you will do cask tasting.

Kilchoman is Islay’s only Single Farm Single Malt Scotch Whisky, reviving the traditional “barley-to-bottle” process to create a whisky that’s 100% Islay. On Rabbie’s exclusive tour, explore the production site and savour Kilchoman’s unique whisky, with notes of peat smoke, crisp citrus, spice, and fruit. Afterward, enjoy a lunch featuring local flavours. Following lunch, we’ll travel through Islay’s scenic countryside to your third distillery of the day, Bunnahabhain, where you can experience the unpeated, salty notes of whisky in Islay’s most remote distillery.

Kilchoman Distillery closure, the tour departing on 13th May 2025, visit Caol Isla instead. Tour departing on 6th September 2025 visit Ardnahoe.

Return to Bowmore, where you can relax by the loch, enjoy the local pubs and seafood, or take a leisurely stroll through the streets lined with whitewashed houses, soaking in the town’s charm and history.

Your overnight accommodation will be in Bowmore. (B)

Today, we explore the southern side of the island, home to some of the most famous whiskies in Scotland: Laphroaig, Lagavulin, and Ardbeg. We take a scenic drive southward to Ardbeg, passing narrow, winding roads flanked by rolling green hills, fields dotted with sheep, and stretches of open moorland. As we approach Port Ellen, we’ll pass through areas dense with peat bogs, a key element in Islay’s smoky whisky production, contrasting with the vibrant green landscape.

Distillers at Ardbeg Distillery are resilient pioneers with a rocky 200-year history. They’ve created a whisky, which is out of this world, as they’re the first to send this spirit to outer space to mature. Enjoy a Rabbie’s exclusive tour and tasting of three drams of their exceptional whisky. Then, savour fine Scottish produce in Ardbeg’s beautiful restaurant, offering direct views of the rocky coastline and the Atlantic Ocean.

If your tour departs on Friday, you will only do a tasting at Ardbeg Distillery If your tour departs on Friday, your visit to Ardbeg will not include a full tour of the distillery facilities, instead it will include a visit to the still house and four drams of whisky.

Throughout the day, your driver-guide will take you to historical sites like the ruins of Kildalton Church, home to an 8th-century cross, one of Scotland’s finest early Christian monuments. Surrounded by Islay’s tranquil countryside, this site offers a glimpse into the island’s spiritual past. Later, we visit a distillery that varies by departure day. On Mondays, the tour visits Lagavulin Distillery, with their whisky packed with deep richness, signature smoothness, and bold layers of smoke you’ll never forget. If the tour departs on Wednesday or Friday, you’ll visit Laphroaig Distillery that has been capturing the wild landscape in every bottle for over 200 years.

Return to Bowmore for your last evening on the island.

Your overnight accommodation will be in Bowmore. (B)

This morning, we head to Port Ellen to catch the ferry back to the mainland, leaving the rich aromas of whisky behind as we take in the fresh, clean air of Scotland’s West Highlands.

As you sail from Islay, take in sweeping views of the island’s rugged coastlines, iconic distilleries, and the towering Paps of Jura on the horizon. The open waters offer the chance to spot marine life, so keep an eye out for dolphins, seals, and sometimes even minke whales or basking sharks.

Traveling along the coast, we’ll reach the picturesque village of Inveraray. With its historic buildings, old boats, and a great whisky shop, this is your lunch stop. You can sample local specialties, explore the town, visit the 18th-century Inveraray Castle (open April–October), or tour the Old Jail. Next, we head east through the rugged Arrochar Alps, stopping at the ‘Rest and Be Thankful’ viewpoint. Then, we continue to Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park, making a short stop in the charming village of Luss, known for its quaint houses and stunning loch views.

With time, the rugged mountain peaks and forest-filled glens of the majestic Highlands change into the flat fertile plains of the Lowlands as we return to Edinburgh.

You arrive in Edinburgh in the early evening. (B)

*Itinerary and distillery visits are subject to change.