This evening, I am summarising today's whiskey themed tour.

Starting from Glasgow we first drove to Auchentoshan, a Lowland ( triple distillation) category distillery where we availed of a tour exclusive to our group.The guide (see image below) talked us through the entire process from malting and mashing through to fermentation and distillation. The distillery was in full production which added an extra dimension-including noise! A good tour rounded off with samples of the Auchentoshan single malt.

Next we drove north to Blackford in Perthshire where we had a spot of lunch and then joined the 1.00pm tour of Tullibardine Distillery. This is a Highland category distillery (double distillation) which dates from 1949, albeit on a site used for brewing for about 800 years. Again distillery was in full production with associated noise, steam and odours. Another competent tour guide with tour rounded off with usual sample.

After Tullibardine we were off again, this time to Edradour at Pitlochry in central Scotland.This is Scotland's smallest distillery under ownership of a businessman who specialises in rare and unusual whiskies. Again, we had benefit of a private tour which proved of good quality. After some purchases in the shop we headed north up the A9 to Grantown on Spey to our lodgings for the night at An Cala Guest House.

Guests availed of evening meal at Craggan Mill restaurant which is renowned for its whiskey themed meals.

Overall, a successful day, notwithstanding the mixed weather. Snow still on the mountain tops in the Highlands.

Inspecting the Mash Tun at Tullibardine


Inspecting the washbacks at Auchentoshan

Learning about the distillation process at Auchentoshan

Labels: Whisky

posted by Nigel Cole @ 1:20 PM