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Islay whisky is Scotch whisky made on Islay (/ˈaɪlə/ EYE-lə) or Ìle in Gaelic, one of the southernmost of the Inner Hebridean Islands located off the west coast of Scotland. Islay is one of five whisky distilling localities and regions in Scotland whose identity is protected by law.^[

The region is characterised by whiskies with a peat smoke aroma, such as Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg.^[ In total, there are nine active distilleries on this island which measures only 25 by 15 miles (40 by 24 kilometres), and the industry is Islays second largest employer after agriculture.^[] Islay is a centre of "whisky tourism", and hosts a "Festival of Malt and Music" known as Fèis Ìle each year on the last week of May, with events and tastings celebrating the cultural heritage of the island.

 

ISLAY & JURA.都屬於蘇格蘭北方的獨立的小島,這裡自然環境,氣候,溫度與水質較佳,釀造的威士忌酒,都具有獨特的風格與品質及特殊口味,是愛酒人士的勝地,他們多數是祖傳事業調酒的配方,就是密秘,傳子不傳女是傳統.

 

The region is characterised by whiskies with a peat smoke aroma, such as Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg. In total, there are nine active distilleries on this island which measures only 25 by 15 miles (40 by 24 kilometres), and the industry is Islays second largest employer after agriculture. Islay is a centre of "whisky tourism", and hosts a "Festival of Malt and Music" known as Fèis Ìle each year on the last week of May, with events and tastings celebrating the cultural heritage of the island.

重口味蘇格蘭威士忌：

艾雷島威士忌行家的選擇,內行人的口味.

初次嘗試飲用艾雷島威士忌的人士,通常反應是好像似感冒藥水的味道,不過回味無窮,便深深的愛上.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

蘇格蘭西南面的艾雷島Islay（讀音：eye-la），雖然面積不大、人口稀疏，卻有著非常豐富的物產和極為吸引的景色，使其成為Hebrides群島中赫赫有名的一員；而說到威士忌，這裡更有八個無論口味濃郁程度和名聲，都在當地名列前矛的麥芽蒸餾廠，由於在生產過程中，原料經過長時間的燻製，使得他們大部分都帶有一種獨特的泥煤風味！

 

 

 

泥煤Peat是由植物殘骸沉積而來的半成型煤礦，在高緯度地區甚至能露天開採到，由於成本極低，蘇格蘭人習慣以此作為燃料。而在發麥工序當中，威士忌廠也會燃燒泥煤去烘乾大麥，煙霧中的「酚」也因此沾上麥芽身上，從而影響作品風格。可以有青草、花香、泥土等自然氣息；或有煙味、灰燼、燒烤等燻製的味道；也可能是藥水、碘酒這些像醫院的感覺，在每一款酒上都有著不同的表現，但因這元素是額外附加的，所以很多時候比無泥煤味的威士忌更為有趣。

 With autumn comes the crackle of bonfires, the smell of damp leaves and the occasional blanket of fog, hanging in the morning air — just perfect for a tramp through the gold-tinged countryside. As I settle down by the fireside for the first time in many months, my thoughts always turn north: to Scotland, and its glorious distilled liquid, whisky. Aromas of sweet heather, old rope, spice, Dundee cake, wood smoke and burning peat — there is nothing quite like the indulgence of nursing a dram for an hour or more, accompanied by a good book and your favourite armchair.

The big, phenolic peat flavours of Islay lend themselves to this occasion. The island’s whiskies are now terribly fashionable, but this wasn’t always the case.

 

蘇格蘭歷史最悠久的蒸餾廠，位於島中心的Bowmore絕對數一數二，自1779年建立以來一直堅持最傳統的生產方式。獨特的發麥方式帶來了明顯的煙燻氣息，揉合了更多雪莉桶原酒的口味較為香甜，在岸邊而且處於水平面以下的倉庫為它帶來了絲絲的海洋氣息，是款非常不錯的艾雷島入門，甚至連英國皇室也對它十分推崇。

 

 

同樣座落島南的這兩間酒廠口味算得上重泥煤味威士忌的表表者，同為1815年建立，隸屬不同的公司的他們雖然客源相近而互有競爭，但經過整整二百年的發展，他們都已是舉世聞名的威士忌品牌了！雖然濃郁程度可算不相伯仲，但除此以外各自還是有不少特色，Ardbeg相對上輕盈清甜、帶有原料的感覺；而Laphroaig卻表現出較深沉的木桶、一些碘酒和海藻等氣息。