Islay Online Christmas Gifts

The clock is ticking fast, the nights are getting longer, colder weather is on its way, and Christmas will be here in less than two weeks! Time to get your presents organised and perhaps visit a Christmas Fair or two. There is a Christmas fair at Islay High School on Saturday 12th December from 11am - 2 pm and a Christmas market that same day in the Columba hall from 12-4pm. If you're looking for a nice Islay Christmas gift and can't make it to the island make sure to keep on reading. I have gathered a great collection of online shopping facilities on Islay and if you place your order before the 19th of December it will be delivered in time at your address, although some use an earlier date, make sure to check. This means that you have another week to browse through all the online Islay shops and trust me, there are quite a few and they have something for everyone! You know what Becky said last year: Think Christmas, think Islay so support the local economy, now even more than ever.

Let's start with Ailsa's Spirited Soaps shop in Bowmore, in her online shop you can find a wide range of whisky soaps, special gift packs, creams, balms and other bathing and personal care products. You can visit her online shop at www.spiritedsoaps.com.

For those of you with a sweet tooth here is an ideal Christmas present. Check out Jane Mitchells An Glean Islay Tablet Shop for Islay whisky tablets flavoured with whisky from the island's distilleries as well as Jura's distillery. Jane created several Christmas specials and recently opened a new outlet in her own home between Port Charlotte and Portnahaven. Check out the all new An Gleann Islay Tablet Online Shop and website. Continue shopping.....

The Islay Quilters, as the name already says, manufacture and sell wonderful quality quilts. Their website is loaded with great examples of their fine hand-crafted quilts and other related products. For another type of fabric, tartan from Islay, have a look at the Islay Woollen Mill website which has an online shop with some very nice items such as find first class tartans, blankets, rugs and other products. Elizabeth Sykes has an extensive collection of Batiks for sale online with prints in several categories: Islay Distilleries, Scottish National Trust properties, flowers, (islay) landscapes and birds and flowers.

I wrote about them a week ago, C&E Roy, The Celtic House, sells various Islay products online. The product range varies from books, glasswork, jewellery, t-shirts and prints. Mark Unsworth from Islay Studios Photography sells his beautiful pictures online. All prints are available mounted and framed. Mark also published his first book, "Islay Past and Present", which is a beautiful gift and for sale in the Islay Shop or through Mark's Website.

For Christmas Cards, other greeting cards and pictures, framed or unframed, have a look at Solus is Sith - Light and Peace, the online shop from Becky Williamson. Green Bug Productions designs and produces a range of high quality wildlife discovery packs for children which are fun, entertaining and are a nice idea for christmas. The 2010 Ileach calendar is also for sale with a great selection of beautiful Islay Pictures. Visit www.ileach.co.uk for more information or send an email to calendar@ileach.co.uk to order direct.

Now what would Christmas be without a special Islay Malt whisky? Have a look at Bruichladdich's Laddie Shop and you will find some very special whiskies. The 2009 Releases are: The Seventeen - Rum Cask, The Sherry Fino and PX , Infinity 3, Renegade Rums 2009 , X4+3 First quadrupled pot still distillation in 300 years, PC8-The fourth expression of this new classic. Octomore 2/140 - The Second Release of the most heavily peated whisky the world has ever seen and many other Laddie related products.

Ardbeg has a great online shop as well with, you guessed it, malt whiskies and other goodies such as scarves, caps, scarfs, fleeces and a great cycling shirt. But don't forget the nectar section, here you find the award winners! Start shopping at www.ardbeg.com

Same story at Bowmore, a wide range of superb whiskies, historic bottlings and special editions. And if whisky isn't your thing check out the accessoires section at the Bowmore online shop, everything from umbrella's, golf balls, clothing, glasses and water jugs. Don't hesitate and visit www.bowmore.co.uk

And what to think of Kilchoman, Islay's latest distillery? No different news here either. New spirit for sale online as well as branded gifts, clothing, tweeds and glassware. Have a look at eshop.kilchomandistillery.com.

Now for Laphroaig, another great online shop with fine whiskies. What to think of a 30 year old Cairdeas which is their special 'farewell' to this multi gold award winning Laphroaig expression. Uniquely matured for a second time this final bottling is 'the best of the best'. It will never appear in any shops and it's here for sale! Or what about Laphroaig 18 Year Old, the newest addition to the range. A well balanced, full bodied expression offering a long, sweet and intense finish. New is a heavy duty fleece lined jacket made with Hydrafort water and wind-proof fabric. All this can be found at www.laphroaig.com

Bunnahabhain has online shopping facilities as well and besides their excellent malts they sell a lot of other goodies as well, including a nice compass and a telescope to find your way home. That's for when you have tasted a bit too much of their fine whisky! And to stay warm they sell a really nice fleece too. Check them out at www.bunnahabhain.com

If whisky is not your thing why not try Islay Ales from the local brewery as a special Christmas treat.

The Online Islayinfo Shop has beautiful drawings from Nicola Stein, magnificent glass work from Susan Eastwood, a very nice book called The Tale of Ailsa the Cat, Norma Munro sells her latest CD's Scotia's Gold and The Rose here and you will find several other Islay related items such as Jeremy Hasting's creations, the Highland Jacket and Shirt.

The Islayinfo bookshop offers a fine collection of Islay books and maps to get prepared for your visit to Islay next year, or just to learn more about the Queen of the Hebrides and it's interesting and rich history. New is a PDF Guide for the island, which is available online as well. All proceeds of the sale of this guide benefit the Islay and Jura Sick Children Fund.

Did I forget anything? Most likely and if I did I apologise to those I haven't mentioned here. This is quite an extensive list which offers something for everyone. I wish you all "Happy Islay Shopping" and don't forget: Think Christmas - Think Islay