{"id":103,"date":"2012-05-27T22:35:18","date_gmt":"2012-05-27T22:35:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/craigmcateer.co.uk\/islay\/?p=103"},"modified":"2012-05-30T07:09:18","modified_gmt":"2012-05-30T07:09:18","slug":"bruichladdich-brook-laddie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craigmcateer.co.uk\/islay\/?p=103","title":{"rendered":"Bruichladdich (Brook Laddie)"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s another scorching hot day on Islay and today we venture the short distance from our accommodation down to the colourful distillery of Bruichladdich.\r\nAll seven of us; Myself, Smudge, Al, Wolfie, Ralf, H and Garson climb into the truck and head down the hill for what some people say is the best day of the festival.<\/p>\r\n

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If you’ve not booked onto any of the classes it’s \u00a37 to get in but that gets you two drams at the serving area. The courtyard is busy with people but to be honest – there’s lots of space. \u00a0 \u00a0Various stalls are serving all kinds of things – food, drinks, local arts etc. \u00a0 Even the RNLI have a setup serving food a plenty.<\/a><\/p>\r\n

The shop is a hive of activity, again the normal queuing as people grab a bottle of their Feis Ile bottling. (\u00a3100), of course, I and Wolfie grab our bottles (I’ve got bottle 70, Wolfie 114). \u00a0Happy as Larry. \u00a0\ud83d\ude42\r\nA few drams are sampled courtesy of the lovely ladies dishing up drams.<\/p>\r\n

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Lots going on and constant entertainment from Robin Laing, through to line dancing and a what was last year an up and coming band – Skerryvore, who, to be honest were bloody good and yes I did buy their CD’s.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\"\"\r\n<\/a>\r\n

Of course, there was a visit by the local pipeband.\r\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\r\n

We met up with Andrew and Corrina (a New Zealand couple that the others met at the Ceilidh last night).<\/p>\r\n

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It’s then off to the Masterclass for a good sampling. \u00a0 \u00a0Queueing outside it’s like a visit to Willie Wonkas chocolate factory, \u00a0we’re all excited and we’ve all got the golden ticket which will allow access. \u00a0 \u00a0 A great show put on by the young guns here; as well as a grateful thanks to Jim McEwan for guiding the current Bruichladdich manager to his current position – even though he only was hired as a painter \u00a0\ud83d\ude42<\/p>\r\n

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