Islay Whisky Academy
The Islay Whisky Academy can be found in the island of Islay in the Inner Hebrides, off the West coast of Scotland. Islay is approximately 240 square miles, has a population of around 3,200 souls, and is lovingly referred to as The Queen of the Hebrides.
Islay Whisky Academy was founded by Rachel MacNeill, having grown out of a fusion of Whisky for Girls (& Guys!) Education and Events company, and Wild and Magic Islay Whisky Tour company. Rachel is a local girl, coming from the neighbouring island of Colonsay, and raised on Daill Farm, near Bridgend, in the heart of Islay.
WHISKY FOR GIRLS (& Guys!)
Whisky for Girls was the first company to focus on women drinking whisky. Many years past, Rachel found that women were being left out of the whisky chat, no one recognised or realised women had an appetite for both drinking whisky, and learning more about it. Rachel told us, “I decided to write about whisky in an open accessible way – talking technically, but, explaining production terms and distilling procedures within my reviews, articles and events. People loved it. Not just girls, men too. They really appreciated a break-down and sharing of the knowledge that was previously held as exclusive, and only for those in the industry.
Recently, when we decided to start building our new website, I thought we would just focus on Islay Whisky Academy and leave behind the brand Whisky for Girls (& Guys!). For me, it was so over. I thought everything now was much more equal for women. However, numerous people said to me,“no, no, you must keep this brand – it is still needed, there is much more to be done in terms of equality for women, both in the industry and in the consumer arenas.” Many of the people who said this to me were men! In light of all the whisky and equality issues surrounding language and reviews last year; I can see that yes, there is still requirement for Whisky for Girls (& Guys!)…
WILD AND MAGIC ISLAY TOUR CO.
Wild and Magic Islay curate bespoke five star Whisky Tours incorporating the best experiences and whiskies available from all Islay’s nine distilleries. Rachel told us; “people come here looking for the experience of a lifetime - this is what we make for them.” From exclusive old and rare whisky tastings, to beach bonfires, tasting local oysters laced with whisky, to visiting ruins and ancient stone crosses, redolent with the rich heritage and history of Scotland, we take time and pay attention to every detail. People leave here having made friends not contacts. Our guests are truly international, but they leave here feeling like an honorary Ileach. (An Ileach is a person belonging to Islay).
SCOTCH IN CONTEXT
Islay Whisky Academy teach Scotch in Context. What does this mean? We asked Rachel, MD of Islay Whisky Academy, to tell us more.
“Scotch whisky cannot be looked at in isolation. To really get the most out of your glass of Scotch you need to experience, evaluate, and engage with it by knowing the forces that create it and bring it to you. Your expertise develops along with your appreciation for the origins of whisky, the stories, the people who make it and places that shape it.
Scotch in Context means Islay Whisky Academy teaches whisky making and drinking, within the contexts of Scotland’s culture; this includes politics, landscape, language, music, food, heritage, weather, poetry, and myriad other aspects. Scotch whisky, the Scotch industry, are not experienced in isolation, but in context with all other things.
Scotch in Context also means that knowledge shared is not slanted through an outsider consciousness, but, comes directly from the authentic land and heritage of the Gael. One of the ways this is conveyed is through understanding Gaelic language names for distilleries and whisky. Islay Whisky Academy delegates become rooted in the heritage, history, and culture of Scotch whisky. Because of this, delegates develop a far clearer and stronger appreciation for both the land and the liquid.
GAELIC IS THE LANGUAGE OF THE WHISKY MAKER.
Gaelic was spoken at home, in fields, in cooperages; in mills, malt barns and stillhouses. Rachel explains “Uisge beatha are Scottish Gaelic words. Uisge Beatha translates to English as Water of Life. “Water” means Uisge and “of life” means Beatha.
A bastardisation of uisge beatha, gave us the word, whisky.‘uisge’ – it sounds like ‘oos g ee’. Make a phonetic English pronunciation of it. Say it aloud a few times. Oosggee, oosgee, whissggee, whisky… A soft, letter-for-letter sound block begins to sound like the word ‘whisky’. Language, in the beginning, IS what it is. Many words are onomatopoeic; when you pronounce them, they sound like the thing you name. Uisge is an onomatopoeic word. The sound of the word ‘uisge’ is as water flowing.
‘Uisge’ sounds as water pouring over stones in a burn. Listen, next time you turn on a tap (faucet), listen for ‘uisge’ sound in the living, running water.
ISLAY WHISKY ACADEMY:
WHISKY AFFINITY © Online Whisky Course During Covid lockdown IWA have further expanded by developing an online whisky course called WHISKY AFFINITY© Because no one could travel and come to Islay, they created on online whisky course that can be accessed anywhere in the world. Vol.1 Courting the Dram launched to critical acclaim in November 2020. Vol. 2 Alchemy of Distilling should be available in June 2021.
Courting the Dram comprises a richly illustrated 22,000 word Textbook, two informative and entertaining video films, and various audio stories and interviews. Also included is a Work Book detailing projects, tests, evaluations and assessments for the student to complete. These online volumes are sent directly to your inbox after purchase. Both Volumes can be studied in your own time.
ECO ETHICS & KINSHIP
Upon becoming a student at Islay Whisky Academy, either online or by attending the Residential Diploma, one is invited to become a Member of the IWA Kinship. Members of the Kinship are invited to join private online whisky tastings, have access to special single cask whisky bottlings, and engage with a wonderful knowledgeable authentic community. At present the Kinship Group operates through Facebook, but have plans for access through other media going forward. Islay Whisky Academy teach about whisky through Environmental Awareness. This is the central tenet underlying everything they do. Their Environmental Mission statement can be seen in full on their website www.IslayWhiskyAcademy.scot
FUTURE PLANS
At present Islay Whisky Academy are working on plans to develop an exciting home venue in the centre of the island. On their new website is a button saying VENUE, and they will share daily updates and videos of the progress of the exciting project.
ISLAY WHISKY ACADEMY: RESIDENTIAL DIPLOMA
The Islay Whisky Academy grew out of a fusion of Whisky for Girls (& Guys!) and Wild & Magic Islay. We were teaching people and hosting educational whisky tours, so Rachel thought – why not fuse the two things and create a formal WHISKY COURSE.
The Islay Whisky Academy Residential Diploma was born.
Islay Whisky Academy hosted their inaugural 5 Day Residential Diploma in 2015 as part of Theatre of Drams Whisky Symposium. The symposium was held in Bowmore, the capital of the island of Islay, and was
a fantastic event.
The Residential Diploma is a certificated course. Students receive their Certificate upon completing in-depth study and experiences, plus an exam. Through theoretical lectures, detailed distillery visits, practical exploration of peat cutting, barley growing, and water sources, students understanding of the science and nature of whisky making increases exponentially.
Delegates learn from industry and research professionals. Subjects covered range the whole gamut of whisky production, distilling, maturation, marketing and, of course, enjoyment!
Whether novice or expert, this technical course is dedicated to providing students
with knowledge-based discovery. In the evening social events are hosted, these include beautifully paired whisky dinners, private whisky tastings, and the last night sees the Diploma Presentation Dinner and Ceilidh, when students receive their Certificates and come together in celebration for the amazing week.
Each year since inception, Islay Whisky Academy has gone from strength to strength. The Academy now offers their Diploma course twice a year, with plans to host four times in the year 2022, onwards. Providing online, residential, day, and half day courses, lectures, tastings and experiences, Islay Whisky Academy opens people to a technical whisky world far beyond taste.
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