Paul on tour in March 2013; MCLEANSCOTLAND WHISKY TOURS

Paul took 4 guests from California on tour in March 2013.  Guests on tour; Mark and Patricia De Collibus, Scott and Ellen Marchael.

Pre tour he spent the night in Glasgow, meeting up with pal Don, a chat and a dram or two about the whisky industry and two pals catching up! Overnight Glasgow.

The guys arrive from London into Glasgow, via the overnight sleeper train, och 7am pick up! From the station to the van, a quick tour of Glasgow before heading south, doon to Dumfries, Mark’s grandpa came from here, so a look around the town, before heading along to Sweetheart Abbey, superb ruin, seen in the snow it was haunting. Then along the coast to the cottage of John Paul Jones, founder of the US Navy, aye, born here in Scotland! It was now back of 1 o’clock so we headed to the castle accommodation pre-booked, upon arrival Paul saw their  “eyes wide open and mouth falling open”!!! The guests stayed the night at this superb 15^th century castle (complete with ghost), they loved it. Meanwhile Paul stayed in the village pub up the road, met some locals and watched the Wales England rugby on big screen tv, guess who won? Whooppee; Wales slaughtered them 30 to 3! Oh happy day!

Next day a long drive ahead, but good fun. It was snowing, after an hour a bottle of whisky and glasses appeared in the van; Aberlour a’bunadh. Actually, batch 31, bottled at 60.5%. A non chilled single malt of epic taste! Cask strength, A’bunadh (a-boon-ach) means “the origin” in Gaelic. Only best Sherry Butts – casks previously held Oloroso sherry, selected by Douglas Cruickshank, Distillery Director. Driving north, over the bridge at Erskine and onto Loch Lomond, where more drams from this bottle “disappeared”! From here through the Argyll forest to Inveraray and on to Oban, by the time they reached Oban the bottle was 2/3 gone! Check in, explore and dive into the seafood restaurant EE USK, more drams followed in Auley’s bar. Guess what? It was St Paddy’s day, so into O’Donnells pub they disappeared.

Surfacing next day, a ferry sail to the Isle of Mull, doon to Tobermory for a distillery tour, tasting the standard 10 year old Tob, the peaty Ledaig and the excellent 15 year old Tob. Whilst the guests enjoyed the distillery, one of Scotland’s most rugged west coast islands. The Distillery was built in 1798. Tobermory comes from the Gaelic word meaning ‘well of Mary’.  Paul enjoyed a venison stew at Neil’s pub; MacGochans. A scenic drive to Dervaig, then through the glens to Craignure and up a wee track to Paul’s castle; Duart. Hell, was it a cold biting breeze that day! So nothing else for it; the picnic basket came out, stuffed with whisky, cheese and Maclean Bakery oatcakes. Whisky sampled; some more of the a’bunadh, Tyrconnel from Ireland, Cragganmore, Bruichladdie Waves, Springbank 15 yo, Smokehead, BenRiach sherry, Cutty Sark Storm, finished with Mull blue cheese and salmon nibbles, all devoured in the van. A brief interlude at the Craignure inn for more drams before the ferry back to Oban. Aye Paul was left home alone whilst the guests went pub crawling with Sean from O’Donnells. By the way, Paul went “home” to Connel, staying with Mrs Maclean there. A few drams and a pint and great food at the Oyster Bar before beddie time.

Off to Appin this morning, a wee stop at castle Stalker, then to Glencoe, through Fort William and a stop at Spean Bridge woollen mill for lunch. Also a dram or two on offer here as always (complimentary). Onwards through the glen, stopping at the well of the 7 heads, then Urquhart castle and finally arriving into Inverness for overnight. A good day with a dram or two once again!

A new day. One of the whisky highlights today; a drive including Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns and through scenic backroads to Craigellachie, here the “fun” started, Glenfiddich was no in production, ah… guests ate lunch while Paul and Joan (distillery) rang around, plan b, c, d, e and f produced a distillery open and production flowing; Glendronach near Huntly. Karen took the tour, she gave a grand tour and they had several drams at the end; Managers special (a bottle bought), other excellent drams including the 1972 (another bottle purchased). Then 20 minutes drive back to Huntly and calling in to see Duncan, at Duncan Taylor. More drams and tastings, also a chat about a special whisky bottling for Mark’s daughter’s wedding in Germany. Paul arranged this for Mark, a few bottles purchased and off to Dufftown. A friend of Paul’s own a couple of wee shops there, in we went, studied the antiques, silver etc over a cup of tea. Then next door for the guys to get into kilts, a total surprise for the boys, but they looked good and had a grand laf!  Away to the Highlander Inn where more whisky followed, food and a good nights sleep.

Almost over – a visit next morning (in the snow) to the Speyside Cooperage, Ronnie gave a grand tour and chat, all enjoyed this, followed by a dram of Heather Cream, the girls liked this so much, they bought a bottle for the hotel that night. Heather Cream was first produced in 1980. Created from two of Scotland’s finest natural products, fresh double cream and Scotch whisky. Not just any old whisky – a single malt from Balblair. A taste of chocolate, coconut and single malt. It’s “ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!” Driving through the snow of Speyside to Pitlochry, a good traditional pub lunch and real ale and whisky! Driving to St Andrews (cold? Never felt cold like it, went right through you!) and Scotstarvit, where we found the castle of one of the group; Scott, a tower house castle owned by Clan Scott in 15^th century! End of the day; Edinburgh New Town, Paul checked them all in and bade farewell! A long driving trip. Arriving home knackered, he just had to have a dram or three to calm doon!

Paul McLean was driver and guide for the wee group, on tour March 2013, Scotland.

Paul owns www.mcleanscotland.com and www.angelswhiskyclub.com