It was a cold and bleak frosty morning in early September 2012 when we boarded the MV Finlaggan on route from Kennacraig on West Loch Tarbert to Port Ellen. Kennacraig is located just south of the pretty fishing village of Tarbert on the Kintyre Peninsula. Two and a half hours later we disembarked at Port Ellen. With a hire car (Volvo 4 Wheel Drive) we headed to the White Hart Hotel situated right on the misty sea to drop off our bags. Known as the “hidden treasure” with a most rustic restaurant with a roaring open fire and a bar which boasted virtually every single malt release from each of Islay’s 8 distilleries. Right opposite the closed Port Ellen Distillery. (more…)