A Scot on Scotch

A Scot on Scotch welcomes Halloween 2025 with a dark tale from Islay and Jura, then steadies the nerves with a wee dram of Ardnahoe Bholsa…

Eagsa Bhuidhe na Fèidh

Many years ago, during hard times, a young mother from Islay, with infant child in tow, set out for Jura to collect shellfish. She employed the services of a mysterious old woman who offered to sail her over in her boat. At first, all seemed well. The two women took it in turns to watch the infant, whilst the other scoured the beach for the day’s catch. One afternoon, however, things took a sinister turn.

The young mother returned to the bothy to find no sign of her babe but a terrible stench emanated from the pot that bubbled on the stove. Seeing that it was indeed her child in the pot, the woman became terribly afraid and made to flee, but she never made it across the threshold before she too became a meal for Eagsa Bhuidhe na Fèidh.

In the wake of the incident, many visitors to the island claimed to see the old women, now a twisted creature, walking on all fours, with nails on her hands and feet like the talons of an eagle.

Some years later, four men landed on Jura’s shore and heard a strange cry from the rocks above. A strange figure on the ridge called out, offering to make them tea, in exchange for some fish. The men followed her to a cave but immediately upon entering, they sensed that something was amiss.

One by one, the men made their excuse to leave but as the last man was nearing the exit, she pounced. Wrestling free, the young man ran as fast as he could to the beach. “Put the boat out” he shouted to his friends as he plunged after them. They made for the sound, and the safety of Islay, not daring to look back at the creature that screamed obscenities after them.

Eagsa Bhuide was in such a rage at their escape, that she lifted a huge rock and hurled it after them. The stone crashed onto the opposite shore, near Ardnahoe, where it still lies today.

These events made people frightened to visit the coast of Jura until a pair of hardy Ileachs decided to take matters into their own hands. They made for their boat, armed with rifles, their loyal dogs at their side.

On Jura, the men sent the dogs to sniff out the monster’s cave. As the followed, they slipped on the scree and the tumbling rocks alerted her to their presence. Soon enough, the monster was upon them, tearing and biting at their flesh. Both men unloaded their weapons but their attacker failed to slow. Only repeated blows from the butts of their rifles sent her to the ground. As the men rested, the fiend withdrew and crawled off, presumably to die.

The men returned to Islay, confident that their job was done but some weren’t so easily convinced and many a young child has been warned not to dally on the shores of Jura, in case Eagsa Bhuidhe na Fèidh should come looking for them.

Ardnahoe Bholsa

Bholsa is an Islay single malt Scotch whisky predominantly matured in Oloroso sherry casks, bottled at 50%.

Tasting notes: On the nose there’s toffee with a slightly meaty note. Honey-glazed ham maybe? There’s also some orange liqueur, some dark chocolate and, of course, peat. the Islay pungency is there but it’s quite soft, more Bowmore than Laphroaig. That same peaty smoke is up front on the palate. Earthy, muddy peat with a touch of saltiness and brine. Then there’s the sherry with touches of caramel, some raisins and dried figs. I’m not sure how well the peat and sherry have integrated, however. It feels like they’re in opposition a wee bit.

Thoughts: I have to be honest, this is probably my least favourite Ardnahoe, thus far. It feels a wee bit lightweight, even a bit delicate and definitely seems like the sherry and peat need to work together a bit more. Maybe it’s an age thing? I wonder if there’s younger spirit here than we’ve seen in other releases? Whatever the case, the sherry needs to do more. It’s not that I was expecting a sherry bomb, but I think a bit more from the casks, a bit more intensity from the sherry, a couple more years maybe, and we might see a more harmonious dramming experience.

It’s not a bad whisky by any means – and maybe it’s unfair to compare it to the cask strength releases that the distillery has put out but it feels some way off the high standard Ardnahoe has already set for itself. It’s a core release, though, and it will no doubt evolve from batch to batch and I still feel quite excited at the thought of Bholsa developing in future.

Price: £60. It’s not a ridiculous price but the dram falls a wee bit short for me. One to watch in future, though.

For more on Ardnahoe visit here