Pennies from Islay's Heaven

When I read these words I immediately think of Sheena Swanson who sings this song so very beautifully on her CD Holiday on Islay. The title however refers to a completely different matter. In spring 2008, in the first week of April, a plane will fly south of Port Ellen and drop an empty whisky barrel attached to a parachute into the sea, roughly between Texa island and the Oa peninsula. Your task is to determine where exactly the barrel will land. This is not an easy task but can be extremely rewarding considering the prices..... now hold your breath... The entry closest to the barrel wins first prize which is £250,000. The next 10 closest win one week's accommodation at the new Islay Hotel at Islay's Whisky Festival - for 5 years, value £6000. The next 20 closest get a hogshead of whisky, value £4000 each and the next 250 closest win a special box of 9 bottles of Islay & Jura malt whisky, value £1000 each.

To participate you have to visit the website www.spotthewhiskybarrel.com, mark the place on a map where you think the barrel will land, pay a fee of £25 and wait till the first safe day for the plane to take off after the competition closes on the 31st of March 2008. But there is more, pennies and prizes that is. Together with marking your spot on the map you can try to guess the name of the new hotel in Port Ellen, which is the former Islay Hotel and is currently being rebuilt. The name is already known by a few people and is carefully sealed in an envelope. Guess the name and there is another £20,000 available for the winner(s).

And yes there is even more, please hold on.... As stated above, the fee to join this competition is £25 and whatever happens, win or lose, your £25 will be deducted from a one night's stay at the new hotel in Port Ellen. And yes, be patient, there is still more to come, the remaining monies from the competition, £100,000 if all 60,000 entries are sold, will be spent on Islay and Jura charities, which should already be reason enough to join this competition! Payments can be made by Paypal and Creditcard... now please go (did I really say that?) and mark your spot!