Bagging Scotland

To mark the beginning of Feis Ile in 2010, Bagging Scotland paid a visit to the beautiful Lagavulin Distillery, on their open day.

Lagavulin Day

It’s often thought that the whole ‘art’ of whisky tasting can be a bit snobbish and can actually put-off ‘ordinary’ people from engaging with Scotland’s National drink and enjoying it.

Our visit to Lagavulin certainly ‘Scotched’ a few myths and demonstrated that a love of Whisky can be huge fun and a bloody good laugh. First the weather, it was frankly, astounding. Possibly the best day we’ve enjoyed in Scotland at that time of the year; it was calm, warm and massively atmospheric.

The Builders from the South

Secondly, the people. We met the most amazing people, including a bunch of blokes from Preston and Stoke who demonstrated that a love of a dram and having a huge amount of very un-snobbish fun can be very pleasant bedfellows. The guys we met (who love Islay Whisky Festival so much, they come every year) were a walking, talking (and singing) advert for Scotland. When we interviewed them, they mentioned that they love the whisky, the scenery, the craic (they were particularly good at the craic) and the people. We could have kissed them! Englishmen as saviours of Scottish tourism. Who’d have thought it! What a fabulous bunch of geezers!