Burns Night and drams

Liz and Paul headed north on the Wednesday (after a meeting in Perth with VisitScotland) up the A9 route, past Inverness and on to the Black Isle. First stop Glenmorangie Distillery, just to say hello, shop and shoot a wee video.     We were bowled over by  the enthusiasm that wee man  Aiden has for the distillery. Couldnee stop him talking, good to see youngsters in the business. Did we buy anything? Is the Pope a Catholic? From here a few miles up/down the road to Balblair Distillery. Arriving near closing time, we interrupted Distillery Manager, John MacDonald who very kindly took us along to the shop for a dram. It was John who gave Paul wee drams to take with him, driving a recent distillery tour for Ingvar Ronde.  John, has been in the whisky industry since leaving college. His first job at a distillery not too far from Balblair (could we have been there?) supposed to be a year out from studying  but ended up staying for 17 years!  Despite spending 17 years there, when the position of Balblair Distillery Manager came up in 2006, well, as they say “that’s history”. Tired now the castle called …staying the night in a Baronial Castle near Dalmore, food and drink followed to round off a good day.

Thursday just happened to be Burns day – so a distillery visit was called for. A wee drive found them in Dingwall, met by Michael (in an electric car) from Glen Wyvis Distillery, who then drove them to his distillery – this is another story, coming soon. It happened to be the very first day the distillery started to produce spirit – Burns day!  Good timing. Almost two hours later, on the road again, stopping at Dalmore Distillery, more “hello’s”, hands in pockets so as not to buy any bottles, they reluctantly returned to the car and headed north to Dornoch. Parking up and a donder into the castle hotel, meeting up as arranged with Phil Thompson, who then took the pair to the wee distillery, it is wee, but so interesting. A good chat and a bottle of gin later, they strolled along to the Carnegie Whisky Cellar to meet Michael Hanratty – an old friend. By now it was almost closing time for the shop, from here commenced a “lock in”. Liz and Paul were held prisoner for almost 3 hours, being force fed as many as ten whiskies, under much duress they agreed to sample these precious drams … er, departing with a bottle of Auchroisk 28 yo cask strength single malt, 56.8% distilled back in 1974. It’s hard being Liz and Paul.  Back at the pub (Eagle, Dornoch) drinks of a different kind appeared, Eric forced a gin on Liz, a whisky on Paul, before white wine and food completed the Burns Night!  Oh, and a couple of drams upstairs as a bedtime treat.

Friday, started slowly. Actually before leaving Dornoch, a session in the antique shop (aye, purchases!) then a drive down to the Storehouse for late breaky. On the road, just south of Inverness, another antique stop, you guessed it. Back in Perth, transfer bits and bobs from the truck to Lizs’ car, she back to Carnoustie, Paul to the pub. Rabbie Burns has a lot to answer for!

Paul of mcleanscotland.com and whiskytours.scot