Highland Whisky

A couple of weekends ago, Luke and I went with the university's Water of Life Society (WOLS) to the highlands.  It was a great trip and we had a lot of fun.  Unfortunately we didn't get to explore the highlands - but we're going back up there this weekend to do that.  But what we were able to see from the car was breathtaking.  We saw a ton of sheep, got snowed on for a bit and were able to try quite a few new (to us) whiskies.

We left Edinburgh on Friday morning and headed north to Glenmorangie. The Glenmorangie Orignal was actually the first single malt whisky that Luke and I tried while still in Raleigh.  It's a good place to start if you're not yet a whisky drinker.  Relatively smooth and nice simple flavours.  At each distillery we were given a tour and after piecing together different sections from each tour, I think we managed to figure out the general idea of how whisky is made.

The stills here are the same height as an adult giraffe. 

After Glenmorangie, we stopped by Black Isle Brewery on our way back to our hostel.  Notice I did say "brewery" so no whisky here.  But we did end up picking up an 8 pack of their Scotch Ale which is quite tasty.  It's actually funny that we went to this brewery because there is a Black Isle Brewery lory (translation: large van/truck) parked in the lot where we take Luther out before bed.

On Saturday we headed south to Tomatin.  Tomatin actually is a town centered around the distillery where everyone who is employed there also is provided housing.  This was also where there was snow on the ground.  There wasn't much and it was all powder so you couldn't do much with it, but it was pretty.  Tomatin wasn't new to us either.  We had gotten to share a dram with George while staying at his house when we first arrived.

Melding of seasons - autumn and winter. 

For Lucas - unfortunately they didn't have an 1981 cask.

From there we headed to Speyside to the Glen Grant distillery with a stop at Culloden Battlefield (the final confrontation of the Jacobite Rising) for a bit of history.  Glen Grant was my favorite stop of the trip.  The whisky was nice, the tour guide was enthusiastic and the attached gardens were beautiful.  After we finished our tour and tasting, we were able to walk through the gardens and just enjoy the wonders of Scotland.  I guess I should note here that most distilleries are situated on or near streams because these are the source of the water used for making whisky.  The garden runs along this stream with a wooden bridge that criss crosses the stream.  It's hard to tell you how pretty it was - but luckily I have pictures.

From there we headed back to the hostel where we had dinner and then the President's tasting.  Three whiskies selected by the WOLS President - which essentially means you know they're going to be good.

Then on Sunday we headed south again to Dewars World of Whisky where they make Aberfeldy.  Here we got to watch a video about the Dewars and then walk through a museum before our tour.  It really was a "World of Whisky".

Our last distillery on the trip was Blair Athol.  Of the 5 tour guides we had, this one was the craziest.  Can I just say that I love funny old men?  They don't care who they offend and therefore do so often.  We weren't able to take any pictures inside the buildings here but I have some of the outside and the leaves were really pretty so it's just as well.

And that was our trip.  Even though we're going to the highlands this weekend, I don't foresee us stopping at any distilleries.  We'll be too busy exploring the countryside and looking for Nessie.  I'm convinced that she and Luther will be BFFs.

Love you & miss you,
Aubs, Luke & Luther