Nothing says Valentine's Day quite like a whisky from Islay.

I bought this poster last summer on Islay and have finally had it framed - picked it up today. I'm not sure where we'll hang it just yet.

When we were on the ferry going to Port Ellen, my partner asked why I had chosen Islay. I responded that some of my favourite whiskies came from there and I wanted to see what it was like.

I have never met a Scottish island that I didn't like, but I fell deeply in love with Islay. We arrived in glorious sunshine, the sort of sunshine that's purer than in the city. All that clean air, I suppose. Everyone was so friendly but not in a stereotypical 'what can we get out of the tourists' sort of way. I spent a lot of my time there thinking about how I, and my partner, could make a living there all year round. I haven't figured that out yet, but when I do watch out!

So let's raise a wee dram to Islay and to St Valentine.

Sláinte!