4-Day Islay Whisky Tour from Edinburgh

This was an excellent tour, we couldn’t be happier. Our guide, Andy, was fantastic. Rabbie’s did a great job organizing, and even ran the tour with only 6 people. We had lovely accommodations. I would travel with Rabbie’s again.

I booked the 4 day whiskey tour of Islay as a solo traveler direct through Rabbies (including my accommodations at the Bowmore Cottages). It was a wonderful experience from start to finish. The trip was billed as have 5 distillery stops on Islay but we managed to sneak in 9 —- 10 if you count Oban before we arrived in Islay. I was a solo traveler who had limited whiskey experience, something I was nervous about because Islay whiskey is definitely not a beginner whiskey. However, by the end of the trip I truly appreciates the Smokey brilliance of Islay’s whiskey. The distilleries are more than happy to give you a drivers package or a smaller pour if you don’t want all of it. And the landscape of Islay was worth the trip alone and all the distilleries were equally as beautiful. Our guide Stefan was helpful, funny, and filled with stories about Scotland and whiskey. My group was made up of travelers of different ages from around the world and we left feeling like friends who all shared a wonderful experience. If you go on this trip make sure you check out the bar The Bowmore Hotel! The owner there has a crazy impressive collection of whiskey and can match a whiskey to whatever taste profile you are looking for, it ended up feeling like a fun game for our entire group to end the night.

Just finished the 4 day whisky tour with Rabbies and it was fantastic from start to finish. Our guide Billy made the whole trip. He was genuinely one of the best guides I've had. He was knowledgeable, funny, and clearly passionate about whisky and Scottish history, and he made sure everyone in the group felt looked after the entire time. The Islay distillery lineup was incredible. We visited Bowmore, Kilchoman, Bunnahabhain, Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Bruichladdich, and Caol Ila, and each one had its own character and story. Billy timed the visits perfectly and gave brilliant context before each tasting, so even the less experienced whisky drinkers in the group came away with a real appreciation for the different styles, from Laphroaig and Lagavulin's peaty punch to the lighter, more delicate drams at Bruichladdich and Bunnahabhain. Billy's commentary on the drives between distilleries made the journey just as enjoyable as the stops themselves, full of stories, local insight, and great recommendations for food along the way. Everything ran smoothly, the group size felt just right, and he went out of his way to make sure the trip suited everyone's interests. Can't recommend this tour enough. Ask for Billy if you can! Would absolutely book with Rabbies again.

We just returned from Scotland and took the Rabbie's Islay and the Whiskey 4 day tour with the marvelous Billy! Wow! A dram to start and end the tour and two full days on Islay visiting or tasting 9 distilleries! What is not to like?!?!?!? Billy absolutely made the trip for us, his love and knowledge of whisky was amazing and provided us with lots of laughs and splashes!

What an amazing trip to visit and understand key distilleries on Islay by the end of the trip you will have a great er appreciation of Islay whiskies as well as the entire process to making g Scotch whiskey. Fabulous accommodation at Bowmore cottages. Andy was our driver and was fantastic. Yes it expensive but the trip is worth it on the 1st night you need to eat on the ferry as your arrival is late.