CATRIONA, KATIE, FIONA & GEMMA - 06.08.21

A wonderful, relaxing retreat set in beautiful landscape. The house is warm with welcoming and friendly hosts. Food is rich and beautifully cooked (and in excellent quantity!) The gin workshop showcases a range of gins, with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Time is taken to discuss and chose gins, with Finlay & Eileen providing professional and helpful recommendations, from garnished to tonic. The island is home to many stunning walks and beaches - a group favourite being Kiloran Bay (with friendly sunbathing cows).Highly recommended! Let the good times beGINCatriona, Katie, Fiona & Gemma



SHARON - 30. 07.21

After a year’s delay, we were delighted to finally make it to Colonsay for our Gin Retreat - and what a treat it was! Fin & Eileen could not have been more accomodating hosts. The house itself is beautifully designed and extremely comfortable. Every meal was delicious. The range of gins and expertise on hand was impressive. We were blessed with good weather which meant we were able to make our way around this beautiful island, exploring its fabulous beaches and glorious views. It really is a gin lover's delight!

Sharon



JO, SHARON, HELEN & GARY - 30.07.21

The year delay just added to the anticipation and the trip more than met our high expectations. Great hosts, lovely island, fabulous food and of course wonderful gin. Fin & Eileen couldn't have been more accomodating. Would recommend to anyone who loves something different far away from it all and if you like gin all the better. Thanks for everything.

Jo, Sharon, Helen & Gary



PATRICIA - 23.07.21

This has been a fabulous first, and hopefully not last, visit to the stunningly beautiful island of Colonsay. Eileen and Finlay did a grand job of making us feel at home in their fabulous home and delicious food and drink were never far away! Both are so knowledgable about the island and were able to tell us all the interesting places to visit and beaches to explore. We were blessed with amazing weather which was the icing on the cake! Well.......the gin was pretty good too!! Goes without saying! Thank you both.

Patricia, Carol, Kirsty Euan & Callum



EMMA & RACHEL - 09.07.21

We ran out of superlatives! We have thoroughly enjoyed everything! Meeting you, Eileen, Finlay & Kira; tasting all the gins (spirits!), eating like royalty from dawn till dusk, and being thoroughly looked after. What a treat it has been. And then (yes, there's more!) there's the island itself. This was our first visit to Western Scotland and any of the islands. It will certainly not be our last. The peace, tranquility, friendliness, sense of isolation with just enough people around.....we have been stunned by the abundance of flora and fauna. Thank you for making us feel soooo welcome, so at home, and for sharing your love and knowledge of gin. We look forward to seeing you again.

Emma & Rachel



ANDREW - 02.07.21

What a fabulous place to visit. Beautiful home, wonderful hosts and fabulous home cooked food. The gin was stunning and such an amazing set up, very well thought out and attention to every detail. Then we have the island of Colonsay which is breathtaking. Can't recommend highly enough.

Carol, Janet, Lesley & Rusty
+ pooches Ben & Freddie



SANDRA, KAREN & EILIDH - 25.06.21

What an ab fab weekend! Great company, great gin, fab food, wonderful hosting. Keen to extend our gin training sessions so we are all going to practice with our Colonsay Gin selection. In between gins we managed beaches, Gavin's pantry (good carrot cake) wild flower machairs and a wee swim. Fantastic unspoilt island. Despite our dream machines (rental bikes) not being built for comfort we made it around much of the island. Huge thanks to Eileen & Finlay.

Sandra, Karen & Eilidh x



ALISON, MARTYN, ELAINE & MICHAEL - 11.06.21

Eileen & Fin - Thank you! Your passion and knowledge of your craft is infectious and delicious. This long awaited Gin Retreat has been wonderful. Gorgeous house, stunning island, fabulous food and so much fun enjoying and learning more about some incredible gins. Can't wait to surprise our friends with your green chilli trick, and already looking forward to returning one day. The space is so beautiful, comfortable and welcoming. The food was all wonderful and just right. Eileen has been our perfect host and we've enjoyed your company too, Eileen, Fin & Kira. A perfect weekend, thank you.

Alison, Martyn, Elaine & Michael



KATIE - 04.06.21

Eileen & Finlay are talented hosts and great people. We came to Colonsay frazzled and in need of a break, and we're leaving the island feeling invigorated and rested. The retreat was superb and Finlay's food was imaginative and tasty. Well done both! We appreciated it, and we'll see you again soon!

Katie Wilson



LINDA - 11.10.19

This has been a wonderful stay, all have had a great time and have felt relaxed and contented. The food has been amazing!! And so have been the many gins!! We would like to thank our hosts Eileen & Finlay for making us feel so welcome and inviting us into their stunning home. Nothing has been a problem to both, and have gone out of their way for all. Wishing them all the best and hope to be back soon. Thank you again x

Abfab4
p.s. off to buy some green chillies!



JEN, NICKY, NIKKI & STU - 04.10.19

An amazing weekend in Colonsay. Our first time in the Hebrides and it won't be our last. We had a warm welcome from Eileen off the ferry and Fin, Kira & Sam met us at the house. We've been made to feel very welcome and nothing is a struggle. The food was very tasty and plentiful especially the steak! Umm Yummy! Eileen transported us around the island to where we wanted to walk and we discovered some beautiful beaches. We visited a few places, the pantry being a highlight with beer and cake being a hit. The gin tasting experience with Fin was so interesting and informative, we all thoroughly enjoyed it. We were very lucky that we got to see Fin in action distilling some of their very tasty gin. The accommodation is very comfortable and very modern and we all would love to return again. We shall be highly recommeding the gin and Retreat to friends and family. Thank you for your hospitality and we wish you luck for the future.

Jen, Nicky, Nikki & Stu xxx



JUDY, EMMA, PETE & KEN - 20.09.19

An amazing experience - passed all expectations. The warm, welcoming hospitality of Fin, Eileen and the beautiful pups, combined with extraordinary food, phenominal landscape and world class gin and gin tasting experience. Highlights include: the Kiloran and Balnahard beaches with warm sunny weather! Gin cocktails & fabulous meals, a delightful and informative gin tasting - great insights into the history and process of gin-making, and overall a relaxing, totally enjoyable break with family and new friends in a very unique and spectacular setting. We will certainly be sharing this with friends and family across Canada who hopefully will have the opportunity to enjoy this special place. Thank you Fin & Eileen! It was wonderful!

Judy, Emma, Pete & Ken from Ottawa, Canada



PAT & DAVE, SALLY & JIM - 08.09.19

Despite the ferry being cancelled and a fear our much anticipated weekend would be cut short, Eileen & Fin very kindly and with no fuss just allowed us to stay an extra night to make up for the lost evening. Thank goodness, because what a fabulous stay we had. From the beautiful accommodation, through to exquisite tasting food—we’ve been made to feel so welcome and literally it’s felt as comfortable as being at home. The gin tasting evening was very informative and so much fun. We’ve learnt a lot and are looking forward to taking out new found knowledge home and exploring the world of gin with a more educated palate! The scenery makes for some breathtaking walks and we wish we could bottle the peace and quiet to take home with us!! Fin & Eileen (and not forgetting Sam & Kira!) were such generous hosts who have really gone above and beyond to make our stay so memorable….despite offering to do some bottling and labelling for them free of charge...they were unable to extend our stay indefinitely! So, reluctantly we must say goodbye to this fabulous place…..and will probably have to be pushed onto the ferry later! Thank you so much, love from..

Pat & Dave, Sally & Jim



SEAN, KATIE, ANNE & TOM - 19.07.19

So, we had a great weekend at the Gin Lover’s Retreat great welcome from Eileen, Finlay, Kira & Sam. Great grub and we truly eat like kings. Really informative gin tasting and distillery tour. Really great to see ‘home distillery’ developed into such an organised racket! Great Stuff. We now know our ‘old toms’ from our London Dry’s and our ‘Navy’ from our ‘Genevers’. Really enjoyed our tours of the island—we look forward to seeing your business shine, prosper and grow for both you and the island as a whole. Great stuff all round—and we loved it….we’re off now for a quick G & T!

Sean, Katie, Anne & Tom



TERESA & LAURA - 12.07.19

Thank you so much for this amazing, gin-filled adventure! Highlights included the wonderful conversations we had with Eileen, Finlay’s terrific cooking and, of course, the gin tasting and distillery tour! We loved learning about the history of gin and the distilling process. The accomodations are beautiful and comfortable, a perfect place to relax on holiday. Exploring Colonsay is a must! The stunning beaches at Kiloran Bay and Balnahard are well worth a visit. We are truly thankful to Eileen & Fin for opening up their home (and massive gin cabinets) to us and for the wonderful experience they provided. We hope to return to Colonsay and Tigh na Uruisg in the future! All the Best,

Teresa & Laura



MARI, TORIA, CHARLOTTE & LAURA - 05.07.19

Thank you so much for everything! We have loved every element of this weekend. Your house is gorgeous, the food and gin has been excellent and you have been so welcoming! Thank you for sharing your gin collection with us and for sharing so much of Colonsay with us, its been such a pleasure to see the island—we wouldn't have seen it without your driving us everywhere. And thank you for arranging such beautiful weather especially for us! We’ll be spreading the Colonsay Gin Gospel! Much love

Mari, Toria, Charlotte & Laura



JEAN, PATRICK, ISABELLE & MYLAN - 28.06.19

Architects and gin, what is the link? We don’t know yet but this attention to details was obvious to us. From the cut of the vegetables to the placing of the light switches, to the botanicals in the gin, we could ‘read’ Fin’s touch! The warmth of Eileen’s welcome, her hospitality and care made the perfect compliment of our stay. We were treated like royalty all the way. Together with the dogs, they make a great team and we will wish everyone to spend a weekend on this beautiful island.

Jean-Francois Halle, Patrick, Isabelle & Mylane from Canada



THE LEVEINS & THE SANGSTERS - 24.05.19

Thank You Eileen & Fin (plus the lovely dogs) for providing us with a fantastic stay at the Gin Retreat. You have been such caring and welcoming hosts. The house is really outstanding and provides a great base for exploring beautiful Colonsay. We thoroughly enjoyed the home cooked meals and the extensive selection of gins we sampled. The Gin Tasting and tour was fun and informative. It’s been a pleasure to stay here and meet two people who are so passionate about their craft gin and idyllic life on this wonderful island. Thanks!

The Leveins & The Sangsters



HELEN, KIERON, JULIAN & KAREN - 03.05.19

From beginning to end the whole Gin Lover’s Retreat experience has been marvellous. Both Fin & Eileen have been the consummate hosts, looking after us with a touch of élan, plenty of good humour and bags of enthusiasm. The accommodation was extremely comfortable and well appointed, allowing us a level of privacy whilst at the same time giving us the feeling of being welcomed into someone’s home. The food was tremendous throughout. It was plentiful, delicious and really well presented. The very reason for our visit was the highlight; namely the gin tasting. It was informative, wide ranging and a tasting delight. Long walks during the day allowed us to discover some unspoilt beaches, shipwrecks and old ruins. It has been a tremendous weekend and one which will stay in our memory for years to come. It has been relaxing, enjoyable and well worth it!

Helen, Kieron, Julian & Karen



ANNA - 22.04.19

The lovely warm welcome we received from Fin & Eileen was matched only by the delicious home cooked meals (the best we’ve had during our holiday in the islands) and the brilliant advice about what to see and do on Colonsay. Then of course there’s the gin! We’re leaving feeling much more knowledgeable and with some new favourite gins and completely in love with the island.

Anna Jury



JACKIE & JOHN - 16.04.19

We needed a long earned break. A journey from Kent was put in place. We were warmly welcomed by Eileen at the Colonsay Pier and driven to their idyllic home, to be greeted by husband Fin and the #gindogs Sam & Kira. As soon as you step through the doors of their beautiful home you feel totally at ease. From here the holiday break continues with warm hospitality, amazing food and, of course, Gin! The Gin Tasting experience opens up your view of Gin and you have the opportunity to sample gins that you may never even have heard of. The walking is amazing, so remember your walking boots. The walks set you up for an evening of relaxing, gin drinking and eating fine food. To finish, we have had an incredible time, with lovely people who have an abundance of hospitality. Wild Thyme Spirits—Gin Lover’s Retreat—Colonsay Gin—YOU ROCK!!

Jackie & John Dyson



DAVID & LESLEY - 27.09.18

Thanks very much for the lovely visit to the Gin Lover’s Retreat that myself and my wife had a couple of weeks ago. We really enjoyed our visit to Colonsay, as always, but this time we definitely had the best accommodation, food and gin that we’ve ever had on the island. Thanks so much for the great hospitality.

David & Lesley Campbell



ELIZABETH - 21.09.18

Just wanted to say how much Ian and I enjoyed our weekend, great location, beautiful house, wonderful food and it goes without saying, excellent gin....the company was good too!

Elizabeth Ivison



GRAHAM - 14.09.18

What a great weekend amongst some fabulous gins. This may be a couple focused on producing one of the best premium gins I have tasted (especially with green chilli garnish) but they also host a wonderful Gin Retreat. Getting here from London turns the event into a true pilgrimage, travelling by plane, train, boat and car to arrive at our outstandingly comfortable accommodation set in an idyllic landscape. To enjoy beautifully cooked food, walk and cycle the island and sample a range from the extensive gin library was certainly the way to do gin. I cannot recommend enough both the gin and the Retreat. Thank you so much Eileen and Fin.

Graham Calvert



MARK - 14.09.18

A week has now gone by since spending a wonderful weekend at Eileen & Finlay's Gin Lover’s Retreat and I still can't stop smiling and feeling relaxed when I think of it. What lovely and generous hosts, welcoming us into their beautiful home and plying us with fantastic food and superb gin!! And Colonsay proved to be the most wondrously wild island for such an adventure. Thank you so much for everything! We'll be back …

Mark Terry



TINA - 20.07.18

Absolutely brilliant weekend from start to finish. Never been to Colonsay & love Gin. This was a blissful weekend. Fantastic scenery, Eileen & Fin are fantastic hosts and the gin tasting was very informative & great fun. Can't rate it highly enough - to be shown round the area the gin is made was just great too!. Thanks you so much for having us, hopefully will get the chance to come back! Thanks

Tina Oxley



ELAINE - 25.05.18

Just back from a fab weekend on Colonsay. Four of us were made to be very welcome in Fin and Eileen’s home. Great welcome at the harbour and detailed information supplied enroute. Welcome drinks with the Colonsay gin of course. Lovely. Great food. Very accommodating with the packed lunches and breakfasts. Beautiful surroundings. Lovely dogs. This was no ordinary holiday home stay; more like a stay away with old friends. Lovely coupe who made us feel very relaxed and let us share their island and home.

Elaine Wells



DEBBIE - 04.05.18

What a wonderful weekend on our Gin Retreat. From the moment we arrived at your wonderful home we felt relaxed and welcomed. Eileen & Finlay are exceptional hosts, we were extremely well fed, very warm and comfortable, and totally relaxed. Oh and of course the reason we were here the Gin!!! From the delicious Colonsay Gin cocktails on arrival to the excellent and informative gin tasting and of course the incredible selection of gin in the gin bar, you want for nothing. Add in a beautiful island to explore, the sheer passion of our hosts and their hopes and aims for the future…….You would be crazy to miss an opportunity to enjoy this Gin Lover’s Retreat

Debbie Robinson



VIV - 20.04.18

A big thank you to Eileen & Finlay for a fab weekend. Their idea of a Gin Lover’s Retreat is idyllic! A real privilege to spend time with them in their beautiful home, sampling their award winning gin, enjoying the scenery and generally feeling pampered! Perfect.

Viv Smith



TRISHA - 20.04.18

If you’re interested in Gin and looking for pointers, this Gin Lover’s Retreat is the place to be immersed. Thanks for the weekend and gorgeous scenery. A weekends Gin Retreat with Eileen & Finlay—superb hosts, knowledgeable and passionate about gin. Cosy beds, fantastic food, fabulous shower!

Trisha Nutter



JANE & MARK

Thank you very much for such a great weekend. It was a very welcome escape and your gin, food and house are all a credit to you both. You have obviously put in a lot of hard work and are very knowledgeable about all the various gins. It was a great treat. Keep up the good work.

Jane & Mark



LAURA

After a year’s delay, we were delighted to finally make it to Colonsay for our gin retreat - and what’s treat it was! Fin and Eileen could not have been more accommodating hosts. The house itself is beautifully designed and extremely comfortable. Every meal was delicious. The range of gins and the expertise on hand was impressive. We were blessed with good weather which meant we were able to make our way around this beautiful island, exploring its fabulous beaches and glorious views. It really is a gin lovers’ delight!oliday. eileen & Finlay are perfect hosts, anticipating our every need. Food phenominla, gin tasting fascinating - we learned so much. So many beautiful walks and nature to enjoy and we saw seals, golden eagles and loads of other birds - such a treat! Thank you so much for a perfect couple of days.

Laura

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