Islaycocoa

19/07/2026

Happy Birthday Alasdair! 🎂
28 years ago it was a Sunday too. How do I remember - it was also the last day of The British Open Championship.

Running an artisan chocolate business is a way of life not a job. It would not be possible without the support and encouragement that I receive from family and friends.

Big thank you also to all my fantastic stockists and customers. Thank you for all the lovely messages and your understanding. Handcrafted chocolates take time, I hope you agree that it is worth the wait.

Just the same as the chocolates, bakes for family are driven by quality of ingredients and all about the taste. Inspiration for birthday cake this year was a gift of some delicious homemade strawberry jam. Great gluten free recipe from FREEE Doves farm using their flour, local Nerabus eggs, billingtons sugar and St Helens farm butter.
Salty Sea Dog shards always a welcome addition, especially with a cocktail!

06/06/2026

Chocolate Bar inspiration. A question asked quite a lot over Feis Ile week was - where do you get your inspiration from?

Produce and flavour pairing, all about the taste and quality of the inclusions. Developing new bars takes quite some time and a lot of tasting!
is an amazing wildflower honey from rare black bees on the neighbouring island of Colonsay. A very special honey that pairs not only with a morning bowl of but with dark chocolate and whisky too!

I don’t usually add whisky to chocolate, leave it up to you to pair with your favourite but this bar might be the exception. In case of emergencies bar - chocolate and whisky in one hit ready in your pocket or bag!

30/05/2026

Thrilled to have been asked to produce a special bar for Ardbeg House for Feis Ile 2026.

Ardbeg Dolce whisky is fantastic with chocolate and works really well combined with a brown sugar caramel. The shell has a hint of orange from natural cold pressed orange oil.

Enjoy Feis Ile Ardbeg day today, wherever you might be! Saluti! 🥃

26/05/2026

Breakfast Inspo! Thank you to the lady at the Caol Ila tasting yesterday who suggested my brown sugar ginger caramel chocolate would be lovely on top of porridge. I just happened to have some caramel and crystallised ginger left. Instead of a dark chocolate shell added a Salty Sea Dog shard! Can confirm it was so delicious 😋. Always use in my porridge!

Sun is shining again and have stocked up on IslayCocoa chocolate in the shop. Their IslayCocoa whisky Mac Laphroaig bar would be delicious stirred into your porridge and maybe a dram instead of tea!

Chocolate and porridge can be eaten anytime not just for breakfast!

25/05/2026

Another fabulous full on Caol Ila x IslayCocoa day. Fantastic to host again with the lovely for the third year. Thank you to .distillery for the invitation and stocking my chocolates in the visitor centre, a pleasure to work with.

Tastings sold out very quickly again this year but some lucky visitors in the courtyard had the chance to try the Feis dram and a salted caramel chocolate.

Lovely to meet so many new people today and talk all things chocolate.
ice cream gone before I remembered to take a picture. Delicious ice cream and perfect weather for it.

Islay Cocoa chocolate to be found at various events this week, enjoy 😊.

☀️

23/05/2026

Feis Ile 2026 has arrived! Busy week making deliveries to businesses across the island. So grateful to work with amazing companies that truly value locally made artisan produce and crafts. Shortest delivery is 2 minutes by car to Laphroaig Visitor centre!

This year I will only be attending Caol Ila for the ticketed whisky and chocolate tastings. If you see me grabbing a quick coffee or ice cream between sessions please say hello.

Here is a list of my stockists on the island, call in and see them.

The Blue Letterbox Post Office in Port Ellen
Ardbeg Distillery Visitor Centre
Laphroaig distillery Visitor Centre
Lagavulin distillery Visitor Centre
Caol Ila Visitor Centre
Spirited Soaps shop Bowmore
The Spar Shop Bowmore
The Oystershed
If you are making a special trip please check opening times and availability. Welcome to message me if you are looking for a particular item.

It is has been so good to work on custom items with Ardbeg House and Feis Ile committee.

Unfortunately I will not be a Bruichladdich this year but Bonnie of will have the artisan collection boxes on her stand.

Big thank you for all the good wishes and support for my return and also the lovely feedback on your IslayCocoa chocolate favourites.

17/05/2026

Can’t believe it is only a week tomorrow until a repeat of Caol Ila x Islay Cocoa at the fun Caol Ila Feis day. Look forward to meeting everyone and apologies to anyone not fast enough to secure a ticket. Double act with the lovely Naoimh Ferguson again!

16/05/2026

Gemma has a fabulous shop in Bowmore High Street Spirited Soaps Smells amazing and a treasure trove of gifts. and Islay Prints are very talented local makers.

Restock from and this week. The new seashells print from Bonnie and the Islay Rocks from Emma are flying off the shelves!

Proud to support small island businesses from our small island business.