If you want to visit Islay I'm about to lay down some wisdom. Are you ready?
1) Book cabs in advance, for everything.
There are about 4-5 cabs total. Seriously, there are about 4 people driving, and we're talking high season. Book taxis in advance if you're going anywhere or plan to rent a car (but if you're good to drive, why are you even on Islay?). I'm going to give Carol's Cabs a shout for picking us up both days.
2) Book the Warehouse Tour at Lagavulin.
The tour is led by Ian Macarthur (of Parks & Recreation fame, a whisky legend in his own right) where he takes you through about 8 whiskies of different ages - 5 years, 10 years, the festival whisky, 16 years... etc. You get a generous pour of each (by generous, I mean it amounts to ~8 shots worth) and it's a really great bang for your buck, especially once you start getting into the aged whiskies which probably go for $30+ per glass in a normal bar. Don't spill! He is hilarious and tells great stories and ribs the tourists and basically, if you do a single tour do this one.
I didn't manage to snap any pictures of Laphroig but all that matters is that we accomplished our goal of hitting all three distilleries in a day. (Take that, advance planning!!!) By evening it began to drizzle and then pour, and the lack of taxis meant we were forced to walk the remaining mile or so back to Port Ellen in the deluge.
3) Book your Airbnb or hotel a zillion years in advance.
The accommodations are as numerous as the taxis - which is to say, there are about 4 properties in Port Ellen, which is a popular spot to stay because there is a grocery store and it's right next to the walking path that will take you past Laphroig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg. Book well in advance, especially if you go in summer.
