Distillery and Whisky News February 2022 - Glen Ord
Hello whisky lovers, and welcome to our February edition of Distillery and Whisky News. That's right folks, the longest month of the year is over and we've made it to February - hooray!
We've been busy bees at DistilleryTours, with our amazing new shop now bringing you the best in whisky hoodies, t-shirts, hip flasks, cufflinks and glassware. AND we've new features on our home page to highlight our awesome, interactive, Plan Your Trip feature.
Take a look and let us know what you think, because 🎶 Everything we dooo, we do it for yoooou 🎶
We're back with a new podcast this month, featuring the Tullibardine Distillery, and our Date with a Dram is a rather delicious one from The Balvenie - Slainte!
DistilleryTours Podcast - Tullibardine
This month we spoke to Roslyn Frame, Brand Engagement Manager at the Tullibardine Distillery in Perthshire.
Roslyn tells us about how her preconceptions of the Tullibardine Distillery didn’t match the reality; how the whisky changed when Terroir Distilleries took Tullibardine over, giving them access to their Burgundy casks; and what their on-site cooper and hand-crafted approach bring to the visitor experience.
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: The Balvenie
Our Date with a Dram this month is with The Balvenie Distillery. The Balvenie Distillery is unusual in its commitment to craftsmanship - The Balvenie is the only distillery in the Highlands that still grows a proportion of its own barley, and malt it in their own maltings; they have their own coppersmiths and their own cooper; and a malt master with more than 54 years experience working in whisky.
So you'll not be surprised to hear this is going to be a delicious whisky!
The Balvenie's The Sweet Toast of American Oak is a 12 Year Old Single Malt.
Inspired to produce an even fruitier, sweeter Balvenie, Apprentice Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie had the bright idea to import Virgin Oak barrels from Kentucky.
After deep toasting them at The Balvenie Cooperage they were filled with Balvenie aged in ex-bourbon barrels. The result is a delectably complex whisky with notes of candied fruit, coconut and delicate vanilla.
Wow, sounds absolutely delicious 😋
COMPETITION TIME!
Want to be in with a chance to win a bottle of The Balvenie's Sweet Toast of American Oak? Simply follow DistilleryTours.scot on Facebook and share our 'Date with a Dram' post dated 1 February. The lucky winner will be chosen at random and announced in our March newsletter!
And congratulations to Neil Anderson from West Lothian who won last month's competition of a bottle of Cardhu Distillery's 16 Year Old - enjoy, Neil!
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.
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DistilleryTours Shop - Hip Flasks
If you're drinking great whisky, you need a great hip flask to match - don't settle for anything less.
Harris Tweed Hip Flask
Did you feel bereft on Burns Night? Crestfallen at Christmas? Sad on St Andrews Day? Was it because you didn't have your very own hip flask?
Don't worry, we have the perfect solution!
Our highest quality 6oz hip flask is hand made in the UK by master crafts-people, using only the finest polished stainless steel, the best quality fully authenticated 100% Harris Tweed pure new wool, hand woven from the Outer Hebrides, and the highest quality British leather, to produce a hip flask that will last for years.
Get yours now to blow away the winter blues, or treat the whisky lover in your life to their very own.
Venue of the month: Luvians
The Luvians Team
If you've not discovered Luvians yet, you're in for a treat.
If you're buying online, their whisky selection is simply fabulous, and has the option to sort by Class, Region, Brand, Price or, our personal favourite, Flavour - so much easier to find a whisky you love.
And there are some fantastic tasting notes to match: "Smoky Bacon Golden Wonders washed down with a wee carton of Ribena!" - top marks to anyone who can guess which whisky that was for!
But to feel the full Luvians effect you really want to get to one of their two shops - the first in Cupar where they began their Scottish story in 1961, and the second in St Andrews, which was opened in 1996.
Their team has incredible experience, so why not pop in and be wowed by their supreme product knowledge and witty banter!
Find out more about Luvians on their dedicated pages on the DistilleryTours website - Luvians Cupar and Luvians St Andrews.
Distillery of the Month: Glen Ord
Glen Ord Distillery, Ross-shire
You might not have visited the Glen Ord Distillery before, but it's quite likely you'll have tried some of their beautiful whisky - the Singleton.
The Glen Ord Distillery was founded in 1838 by Thomas Mackenzie. He chose the Black Isle in the northern highlands – a peninsula of rich, dark loam which is perfect for growing barley - where it meets water from the White Burn, to feed the Distillery.
The Distillery changed hands many times over the years and, like many, had to stop production during the World War I and II, but was refurbished along the way and boasts six beautiful stills.
The Distillery is now undergoing an exciting renovation project, but you can still take a tour - and maybe peek round the edges to see what's new!
Find out more about the Glen Ord Distillery, their whisky and their tours on their dedicated page on the DistilleryTours.scot website.
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