We had lunch the most lovely little place called The Hungry Gull in Staffin. Staffin is about a 15 minute drive north of Old Man of Storr; exit the Old Man of Storr car park and take a left. Be sure to check the hours in advance because there may be limited hours during the off season. The Hungry Gull offers hearty sandwiches, tempting desserts, and a reasonable selection of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, sodas, and alcoholic drinks. It is a terrific lunch stop and the menu changes seasonally. We only stopped for lunch but I was impressed with the food and would be pleased to have any meal (or snack!) at The Hungry Gull. I was also impressed with how, even in an area that I would describe as rather remote, the server asked if we had any food allergies first thing and was very helpful in identifying menu items that accommodate a variety of dietary preferences/restrictions such as vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free. 

The next stop on our adventure is Talisker Distillery. The distillery was originally founded by two brothers, Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill, and dates back to 1825. Though the distillery has experienced numerous changes in ownership over the centuries, its has kept a five still set-up and continues to produce medium-peated malt of clear worts and long fermentation. The distillation process is where things are a bit … different. The wash stalls are really tall with an exaggerated U-shape bend and this refluxes any heavy elements back into the body of the still to ultimately be redistilled. Minimal contact with copper creates the sulphury notes in the new make and could be a factor contributing to the peppery notes as well. You certainly taste a spiciness to this Scotch and it ranges from mild warmth to tongue-tingling. 

I think visiting a distillery should be on every Scottish holiday but I do think one distillery is sufficient. We experienced the Glenturret and Talisker distilleries and both were great but also very different. Glenturret is more out of the way and offers a more personalized experience. Tour groups tend to be smaller in number and they offer a create your own blend experience which is quite fun. Talisker group size tends to be a bit larger and it is slightly more accessible if you are going to the Isle of Skye. Again, both are great and I’d recommend either.