Islay, Scotland (Scotch whisky)

Scotland might not have the weather of the Caribbean, but what it lacks in sunshine it makes up for in character, and plenty of Scotch. You don’t need us to tell you what a treasure trove Scotland is for a whisky lover, with countless idyllic locations to hunker down in to enjoy a dram. But we have a particular soft spot for the wild isle of Islay.

Based in the southern Hebrides, Islay is a two-hour 20-minute ferry ride from the mainland and is inhabited by just over 3,000 people with nine distilleries, including Ardbeg, Ardnahoe, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Kilchoman, Lagavulin and Laphroaig.

While each distillery produces a range of whiskies, the isle of Islay is best known for its peaty, smoky expressions, with Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg, in particular, true to this “big smoke” style.

The first recorded distillery on the Isle was Bowmore, founded in 1779. The most recent addition was Ardnahoe, which was founded in 2018.

Key distilleries: Ardbeg, Ardnahoe, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Kilchoman, Lagavulin and Laphroaig.

Where to go: All of Islay’s distilleries run tours, visits and tastings to varying degrees, and can all feasibly be visited across the course of a few days. While cancelled this year, the Fèis Ìle festival (Islay Festival of Malt and Music) takes place every year in May and is worth coinciding a visit for.

Beyond whisky, get windswept on Islay’s wistful beaches, prop up a bar in Port Ellen or take in the wildlife at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ reserve on the north of the island.