If you're not feeling festive yet, we understand. We're deep in the throes of moving house at the moment, with a self-imposed deadline of Christmas Eve to haul ourselves half way across Scotland. 

Why? Because we want to spend Christmas Day supping whisky by the fire, watching Die Hard and maybe taking a wee wander up the hill near our new home. Not worrying about how we're going to fit the couch out the door on Boxing Day. 

So think of us if you're already in relax-mode, and raise a dram to the removals-gods in the hope that they'll look kindly on us. 

Merry Christmas to you all!

DistilleryTours Podcast - Arran Distillers

This month we spoke to Andy Bell, Head of Sales for Europe and the Nordics for the Isle of Arran Distillers.

Andy tells us about the Lochranza Distillery’s unique history, and the impact its founder had on the wider whisky industry. He compares the processes at Lagg and Lochranza, and tells us about their Project North and South, which brought the two spirits together.

Listen Now

Thanks to CalMac for sponsoring the podcast - if you're visiting the islands this year check out calmac.co.uk for travel information and tourist inspiration. 

Date with a Dram: Glenturret

Our Date with a Dram this month is with The Glenturret Distillery, who have put forward a bottle of their Triple Wood 2021 Release. ⁠ ⁠ The Triple Wood is their signature expression and, as the name suggests, is matured in three cask types - Bourbon barrels, American and European sherry casks. ⁠ ⁠ A delicate whisky that showcases the sweet and distinctive fruity style of their new make spirit, it has a wonderful combination of aromas and flavours to create a subtle character. Candied orange peel, sweet vanilla and ginger cake; hints of cinnamon and barley sugar, with a touch of fresh oak. ⁠

Competition Time!

Want to be in with a chance to win a bottle of The Glenturret Triple Wood 2021 Release? Simply follow DistilleryTours.scot on Facebook and share our 'Date with a Dram' post dated 9 December. The lucky winner will be chosen at random and announced in our January newsletter!

And congratulations to Mike Kennedy from Morayshire who won last month's competition to win a bottle of The Glen Grant Distillery's 18 Year Old - enjoy, Mike!

You must be 18 years old or over to enter. Please note, will never approach you for your credit card details or personal information, send you friend requests or ask you to click on a link. Please stay safe online.

Follow and Share to Enter!

Venue of the month: The Good Spirits Co.

The Good Spirits Co. on Bath St, Glasgow

If you're looking for a great bottle of whisky for a gift this year, you'd be hard pressed to find better than what's on offer at The Good Spirits Co.

Not only do they have an incredible range of whiskies, spirits, wines and beers, they also have a fantastic line-up of online tastings, each with a tasting pack to be sampled from the comfort of your own living room.

Their next whisky tasting is on Saturday 22nd of January, which we're sure will blow the January blues away. Held from 7pm-9pm, the ticket price includes six samples, and a tasting mat with details of what you'll be sampling. On the night their two co-hosts will present the drams, answer questions, and enjoy a socially distanced drink or or six!

Other tasting dates are also scheduled for rum, cocktails, gin, wine, tequila, fortified wine and brandy - check out the full range on their website. 

The Good Spirits Co.

Distillery of the Month: Bladnoch

Bladnoch Distillery in Newton Stewart, Dumfries & Galloway

The Bladnoch Distillery's rich history dates back to 1817, when John and Thomas McClelland were first granted a licence to distil Whisky on their Bladnoch farm in Scotland’s Lowlands.

For nearly a century, successive generations of McClelland family grew and modernised the distillery. At its peak, the site had six washbacks and annual production of approximately 230,000 litres of alcohol, which cemented its status as the “Queen of the Lowlands”

Over the next 80 years, Bladnoch changed hands several times and, in 1956, 'Bladnoch Distillery Limited' was created and the stills which had fallen silent during the war were recommissioned. The stillhouse was expanded to four stills in 1966.

The distillery changed ownership again, until Australian entrepreneur, David Prior, acquired the company in 2015, and began an extensive refurbishment.

After 2 years of renovations Bladnoch resumed production celebrated its 203rd anniversary in 2017, making it one of the oldest and one of the largest privately owned Scotch Whisky distilleries.

Find out more about the Bladnoch Distillery, their whisky, state of art visitor centre experience and Cafe Melba on their dedicated page on the DistilleryTours.scot website.

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