Argyll companies are active in every area of the food and drink industry. From world renowned brands such as the malt whiskies produced on the islands of Islay and Jura to local cottage industries producing cheese and other dairy products.
The Argyll and the Islands area is home to three manufacturers of hand made chocolates and other high quality products that grace the shelves of up-market stores such as Jenners in Edinburgh and Harrods in London. As you would expect from an area that still regards farming as one of its main industries many of the food products are from the agricultural sector which, along with aquaculture and fisheries products, accounts for the bulk of the food stuffs coming out of Argyll.
Malt Whisky
The most famous of Scottish exports is well represented in the Argyll area with over 12 distilleries producing malt whiskies. The island of Islay accounts for seven of these world famous brands with Ardbeg, Bruichladdich, Coal Ila, Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Bunnahabhain and Bowmore all being produced within these traditionally white walled distilleries. The Islay Whisky and Music Festival draws an international audience to the island during this week long extravaganza. Neighbouring Jura is represented by the Isle of Jura distillery based at Craighouse.
Two other islands are represented in the malt producing list with Mull playing host to the Tobermory brand and with Arran having the newest addition to this family with the Arran Distillery based at Lochranza which produces an Arran Malt and a Robert Burns malt.
Oban is home to a malt that bears the same name from a distillery based in the West Highland port and Campbeltown in Kintyre is home to the Springbank distillery.
With such a wealth internationally renowned brands it is no wonder that AIE are currently working with the industry and the Tourist Board to help set up a West Coast Whisky trail.
Seafood
Argyll plays host to many producers of fish and shellfish products such as the Loch Fyne Oysters Ltd who have expanded their original offerings to cover fine meats and game. The original Oyster Bar restaurant at the head of Loch Fyne has spawned a whole host of restaurants (24 at last count) across the UK now trading under the Loch Fyne banner where you can sample the finest that Argyll has to offer.
Inverawe Smokehouses by Taynuilt in North Argyll produces smoked salmon which graces the finest houses in the country including, by way of HM Queen Elizabeth's royal warrant, Buckingham Palace.
The Tarbert Seafood Festival is a must for all seafood lovers and the Oban Seafood Cooking competition attracts top chefs from all over Scotland to compete for this now coveted title.
A group of restuarants and suppliers, within Argyll, have recently come together to form the Seafood Trail aimed at showcasing the best that the area has to offer. The launch was held at Loch Fyne Oysters, also a member of the group, and full details can be found on the group's web site www.theseafoodtrail.com .
Meat
A unique blend of Islay smoked beef and malt whisky have given Islay Fine Foods a place in the stock of the best epicures throughout the UK including Harrods and Jenners. Local farmers still sell their fresh meat produce at farmers markets throughout the region and regular ones occur in Oban, Campbeltown and Tarbert. Some, such as Saulmore Farm by Connel, have gone a step further and now sell lamb and beef produce on the Internet by mail order.
Cheese
The Inverloch Cheese Company started out life on the small Hebridean island of Gigha before transferring production to Campbeltown where they still make their famous Gigha Fruits, Inverloch and Drumloch cheeses along with their Taste of Gigha flavoured truckles. The three main creameries in the area, in the towns of Campbeltown, Rothesay and at Torylinn in the south of Arran produce well known cheeses now sold throughout the UK. All three are owned by cheese producer A McLelland & Sons but each produces its own local cheese flavours such as Campbeltown and Mull of Kintyre, Rothesay and Isle of Bute along with Arran Dunlop.
Ales
While famous for whisky Scotland has always been to home to brewers of those less associated beverages, the beers and ales. Small breweries producing top quality ales can be found in a number of locales in Argyll. The Arran Brewery produces the fine Arran Blonde, Arran Ale, Arran Dark and the Arran Sunset beers while the Fyne Ales company at Cairndow brews the aptly named Piper’s Gold and Highlander ales along with the medium strength Maverick ale. More information (and the chance to order online) can be found on both company’s web sites.
While much of the food and drink produce of Argyll can be purchased from the producers web sites listed in the right hand panel nothing beats the sights, sounds and the smells that can only be experienced first hand by visiting our area. So whither you want to come to the Islay Music and Whisky Festival, travel the Argyll Seafood and West Highland Whisky Trails or just enjoy a shopping trip to stock up your larder then you will find a host of companies willing to make it a welcoming experience and a complete gastronomic pleasure. |
