Distillery and Whisky News Feb 2020
Hello fellow whisky enthusiasts and welcome to our February edition of Distillery and Whisky News, and a big hello to everyone we met at the National Whisky Festival in Glasgow last month!
In case you've not looked outside recently, Storm Dennis is doing his worst and, if you live in Scotland, you'll long have been familiar with gloves, scarf, hat and thermals for at least four months now.
But on the upside, we can all enjoy a dram or two out of the cold, not to mention the occasional and greatly needed hot toddy to nurse while you read this newsletter. And if this issue just isn't enough Distillery and Whisky News for you, you can now check out our wee back catalogue on the DistilleryTours.scot website under News - hooray!
Not only are all our newsletters up, but we're delighted to welcome Richard Woodard (ex-Contributing Editor of Scotchwhisky.com) as a regular writer - check out his first piece on the Aberfeldy Distillery below.
DISTILLERY OF THE MONTH: ABERFELDY
Our pursuit of Scotch whisky perfection began in 1898, when our stills first produced the beautifully balanced single malt whisky at the heart of the Dewar’s blend.
At first glance, the rolling countryside of Highland Perthshire seems an unlikely location to choose for a new distillery, compared to, say, Speyside, which was then and still remains the heartland of malt whisky production.
But Aberfeldy fitted the bill for a number of reasons and – before his death in 1880 – the elder John Dewar had pinpointed it as an ideal spot to make whisky. For a start, there was a good water source, the Pitilie Burn, known for its alluvial gold deposits as it flowed down into the mighty River Tay.
From the outset, the Dewar brothers knew exactly what they wanted from Aberfeldy in flavour terms. ‘Even when they designed the building, we know that they were looking for something light, sweet and easy-drinking,’ explains Matthew Cordiner, Dewar’s Aberfeldy brand ambassador. ‘Aberfeldy was the heart and the base of the Dewar’s blend.’
Read more about the Aberfeldy Distillery by Richard Woodard on our News page.
Find out out more about the Aberfeldy Distillery and their tours on their dedicated page on the Distillery Tours Website.
VENUE OF THE MONTH: THE GLOBE INN
The Globe Inn's rich history will send a shiver down your spine
Our next recommendation from our new Drink, Sleep & Buy Whisky section is The Globe Inn.
Now owned by local Annandale Distillery owners David Thomson and Teresa Church, The Globe Inn's rich history has been preserved for generations to come and enjoy after a lengthy and sympathetic refurbishment of this stunning building first established in 1610.
Tour the rooms preserved as they would have been during the patronage of world-famous poet Robert Burns who ate, slept and held court at The Globe Inn in his remit as local Exciseman. Many original artefacts still remain and you can even sit in his chair and recite poetry where the bard once did himself.
Find out out more about the The Globe Inn on their dedicated page on the Distillery Tours Website.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO JURA AND NORTHERN ISLAY
The Isle of Jura - more deer than people and unimaginably beautiful
Our Jura and Northern Islay tour incorporates the Isle of Jura, Caol Ila, Ardnahoe and Bunnahabhain distilleries. Find out more about each of these distilleries at DistilleryTours.scot.
The Isle of Jura is stereotypically Scottish in its countryside and is so, so beautiful - we’ve allowed four days for our tour as there are four distilleries, but we recommend taking your time, absorbing the stunning beauty of the Isles and taking a deep breath away from the hustle of the mainland.
Our favourite quote from The Jura Hotel is: ‘So much to do… so little to have to do’, which sums up this beautiful part of the world perfectly – enjoy!
In addition to the distilleries:
Wildlife: The Isle of Jura (‘Jura’ is believed to the be Norse word for ‘deer’) is populated by just over 200 people and a whopping 6,000 deer, meaning a sighting is almost guaranteed. Deer stalking takes place between August and October so stay on the paths or if in doubt stick to the coastline. Deer aren’t the only wildlife however – otters, seals, oystercatchers, hen harriers, golden eagles and more call Jura their home.
Corryvreckan Whirlpool: The Corryvreckan Whirlpool lies between the Isles of Jura and Scarba and is a phenomenon worth seeing. Boat tours leave from Lochgilphead or from Port Askaig, but you can reach the Whirlpool on foot/bike or by car/foot, find out more, learn about the legend and check out the incredible photos on their dedicated website.
Walking: Jura is a beautiful wilderness – if you enjoy long walks then the Paps of Jura (pictured) are the three mountains dominating the skyline, or if you’re feeling (very) fit then the Jura Fell Race takes place in May.
Jura Music Festival: If you’re thinking of visiting in September, it’s definitely worth tying in your visit with the Jura Music Festival. There are top class musicians playing concerts and running workshops, ceilidhs, open mikes, children’s performances and more.
Feis Ile: Our favourite whisky festival, the Islay Festival of Music and Malt is Feis Ile, held each year at the end of May. Arranged together with Islay's distilleries, each distillery runs extra events on top of their usual tours, with a day dedicated to each one.
Check out full details of this and other tours, including accommodation tips, on our Plan Your Trip pages.