Unbelievable but true, we designed a tour for our friends over the North Sea; The Malt Whisky Association of Finland. Not long ago we were setting up this bespoke tour, with the main man Mika in Helsinki. We designed and booked it, everything ready, including the coach, ferries and all accommodations, Mika arranged distilleries. Mika then launched it online with a max 16 places available.

In 59 seconds he had sold 28 seats!  He apologised and asked if that number could be permitted. We arranged more rooms and more ferry places, a larger coach, the tour went very well. With all major distilleries visited along the east coast, all the way to Orkney, it was a hectic schedule. My own favourites included; Highland Park and Scapa, Glendronach, Glen Moray and Wolfburn. There were many more, too many to list, but all were good. I have to say dramming on the cliffs of Orkney, with our pal brand ambassador Martin Markvardsen was a highlight (we had secretly worked this out before the tour came), after showing the group the distillery, he came on the coach for a day, took us to the cliffs and the HP peat bog, not only that, he brought some friends along; bottles of HP! Martin was a huge hit as you would imagine, he also came to our hotel and had drams with us. Kitted oot  in his usual black shirt and kilt, a good man, he also supports Liverpool FC, like many a Dane! The tour was quite international, with our guests from Finland, martin fae Denmark, our pal Mark; driver, came over from Northern Ireland, myself half Scot half Irish (Republic), Liz who is a sassunach and the many nationalities at the distilleries, it was a worldwide whisky extravaganza!

This year we are welcoming them again – not 28, sorry no, too many really for a distillery tour group. We are staying with a manageable group of 10 whisky lovers, once again we will be raiding the Speyside region, as per usual, many bottles will find their way back to Finland. The lucky guests will enjoy an evening whisky dinner with Vic Cameron. With a Scottish and sassunach guiding team (Liz and Paul) we should be able to keep these Fins in line – hopefully. We will be finding our way to Strathisla, Royal Lochnagar,  GlenDronach, Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Macallan, Glen Moray and Glenfarclas Distilleries, Scottish history at Culloden visitor centre. Clava Cairns standing stones and cairns and the glorious ruins of Duffus Castle. For good measure a visit to Gordon & MacPhail and of course, as we are famous for; many drams on the road!

We have had many tours accepted by return email, but 59 seconds holds the record to date. It’s a hectic year for whisky tours with MCLEANSCOTLAND, we have all six drivers busy, being away to the west coast mainland and islands, Islay, the Outer Hebrides, Speyside and the Highlands. We cannee complain, but I do like a day off now and again! PAUL MCLEAN