Islay, like Speyside, is a mecca for whisky lovers. There are numerous distilleries squeezed onto the island; Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Caol Ila and Laphroaig to name but a few. Taking their smoky flavour from the peat fuel used for malting the barley used in producing their whiskies, Islay malts are often described as being smoky and medicinal, salty and 'seaweedy'.