For MacDonalds and other Scots with West Highland roots – now spread worldwide – Finlaggan represents a major opportunity to explore their heritage. It also offers insights for all of us into a model of lordship and society that was different to those prevalent across medieval Europe. It was very influential in informing the present day image of what it is to be Scottish. The preservation and nurturing of the Gaelic language, whisky, bagpipes, and tartan all owe a lot to Finlaggan and the lordship of the Isles. The distillery that Finlaggan comes from is shrouded in mystery. I’ve been Nancy Drew-ing it for years now. Trader Joe’s is privately owned, so all supplier and distributor information is undisclosed. Industry sleuths surmise Finlaggan is Lagavulin. According to Josh Peterson, author of The Whiskey Jug and co-runner of the Southern California Whiskey Club, Finlaggan has been all-but-confirmed to have come initially from the Lagavulin distillery, but is currently said to originate from Caol Ila. At least there are a couple of models of Viking longships to keep them entertained while you’re reading the information boards and there are a few relics recovered from the area to look at as well, but the main event is exploring the islands. The sherry cask finish is gentle, unremarkable but clean. I wish it had a bit more sherry. It has a shy nose, but opens up well with water to reveal a wisp of general Allspice. It ends quietly. Since entry-level whisky drinkers seem to love a whisky that disappears right away (“Smooth!” being the highest compliment for some reason) I’d say it’s an excellent beginner dram. It was too wussy for me, though, so it was my least favorite.

Historic Exploration: Finlaggan is well known for its historical significance, specifically as the former stronghold of the Lords of the Isles during the 13th-15th centuries. Visitors can explore the ruins of two fortified islands – Eilean Mor and Eilean na Comhairle, which contain the remnants of ancient buildings as well as a collection of well-preserved grave slabs. It took me only about 1 month to finish that bottle of Lagavulin, and I tried to go cheap. I got a Laphroaig 10 and Finlaggan OR. The Laphroaig 10 was very industrial diesel tasting. The Finlaggan tasted watered down. I mixed the 2 and the resulting mix was a train collision that was the worst of both combined.Our Service is an online platform which provides Members with information (e.g. bottle facts, market-indices, market values and prices) on (mostly) whisky and allows Members to add information to the platform. We do not sell, nor does the Service provide any option to buy, any alcoholic products. A small village on the eastern coast of Islay which has a small ferry terminal that serves Jura, Colonsay and the Campbeltown Peninsula. My 1st Islay Scotch was only last Christmas. Lagavulin 16 year. I hated it at first: It was like drinking burning rubber or liquid asphalt. I didn’t understand it; however, I also don’t like wasting alcohol, so I kept going at it every day for a week. 1 dram at a time trying to understand it, and it happened after half the bottle was gone. Don’t forget to bring your spare change for the museum donation box – they rely on charity to run the place. If you want to learn more about this island read: The Complete Guide to Visiting The Isle of Islay Things to Do

Mystery surrounds this Islay single malt scotch, as there are many who wonder which distillery is responsible for producing the whisky. There is little to no information on the distillery responsible and the only information that is available is that it is a series in The Vintage Malt Whisky Company’s portfolio. Loch Finlaggan is a place on Islay that was of great importance in western Scotland during the 13 th to 15 th centuries. Known as the Center for the Lordship of the Isles, the historic Scottish castle was home to Clan Donald; often called the Cradle of Clan Donald.Without prejudice to the section Liability below, the Service may be temporarily unavailable during maintenance, updates, etc. We shall make reasonable efforts to inform you of any unavailability due to maintenance or updates. We may, but are not under any obligation, to release new functionalities and tools or other features for the Service every now and then. Any new functionalities, tools and features shall be part of and governed by the Terms from the moment they are launched and/or available. Further, we reserve the right to modify, change, discontinue the Service, add or remove features, update the Service, change its appearance, temporarily and permanently, at any time, in whole or any part thereof. I started to understand. I started to love it. It was velvety smooth and had so much more complex flavors than the Speyside I was used to. It made Glenlivet bland. No partnership, joint venture, agency, or employment relationship is created as a result of your use of the Service. Unlike the visitor centre which is only open March-October, the islands are open all year round and can be accessed via a wooden walkway through boggy reed beds. It won’t take long to walk there but there’s a surprising amount of insect life to see in the summer which youngsters will no doubt find particularly fascinating.

But even so, I guarantee you’ll walk away having learned a few new snippets of information about Scotland’s history at Finlaggan, and to my mind it’s a fascinating glimpse into the heart of Islay that you’d otherwise miss if you just concentrated on the whisky.Whiskybase B.V. (“Whiskybase”, “we” or “us”, company details below) offers a whisky enthusiasts online platform that provides its members access to the most comprehensive, transparent and trusted resource of whisky bottles and allows and stimulates its members to contribute information about whisky bottles to the platform (“Service”). Fishing in Loch Finlaggan: For those with a penchant for fly fishing, Loch Finlaggan won’t disappoint. Its clear waters are home to brown trout and the water is quite shallow so it’s easy to wade out towards the middle. One of Islay’s smallest distilleries but also one of its most popular thanks to the setting which overlooks the Isle of Jura. The distillery is open for summer tours and offers whisky-tasting experiences. You are responsible for all activities through your account. You are responsible for the accuracy of the information you provide to us in relation to your account, and for updating it where necessary. You are not allowed to create multiple accounts. We may terminate or temporarily suspend your account to protect you, ourselves or our partners from (suspected) identity theft or other (suspected) fraudulent (e.g. false, misleading, deceptive) activity. You have the obligation to keep your login credentials confidential. You shall not authorize any others to use or access your account.