Distillery and Whisky News March 2023 - Glenfiddich
Hello whisky lovers, and welcome to our March edition of Distillery and Whisky News.
I was going to kick off this email with some cheery chat about how spring is on its way, but if the newspapers are to be believed it looks like we've got a mini ice age to get through first! Roll on April, that's all I can say...
If we're looking for a silver lining though, as whisky lovers we rarely need an excuse to enjoy a dram (or two) but these cold evenings do make it seem so much more justifiable. Don't they?
If you're already looking ahead to the brighter days of summer then let us inspire you to take a trip, using our Plan Your Trip feature you can select multiple distilleries and download a map and directions direct to your inbox. Visit the bars, accommodation and shops dedicated to whisky in the area, and navigate from your choice of starting point. It's really very clever, and useful too!
Until next time...
Distillery Of The Month: Glenfiddich
Glenfiddich Distillery
Take a trip to Glenfiddich, in the Valley of the Deer. At this Speyside distillery, winter lays snow on hills rising over pagoda roofs, summer colours local fields barley-gold and all year round spring water bubbles in the glen.
The area surrounding the distillery is as alive as it was back in 1886 when its founder laid the first stones that came to build one of the oldest family-owned Scotch whisky distilleries.
Time matters when whisky making. So, while touring the distillery, you’ll visit the original warehouse where you can explore the generations of gently maturing casks. You’ll also learn how the distillery achieves depth and consistency of flavour throughout its range of exceptional whiskies. Then, a tasting of several single malts awaits.
Take the Glenfiddich Solera: Deconstructed Tour, an in-depth tour which allows enthusiasts to discover the true art of whisky making. Following your distillery tour, visit warehouse 8, home to Glenfiddich's unique Solera process and discover what makes their 15 Year Old such an exceptional dram.
The next part of the Solera journey is the Malt Master’s Blending Room to enjoy a tasting of four cask-strength 15-year-old samples. You will also have the unique opportunity to step into Malt Master Brian Kinsman’s role - preparing your very own version of Glenfiddich 15 Year Old by combining different cask samples together. The final touch is being able to bottle a small sample of your own creation to keep.
Find out more about Glenfiddich their whisky and tours on their dedicated page on the DistilleryTours.scot website.
Venue of the month: Good Spirits Co.
Good Spirits Co.
Glasgow's Good Spirits Co. aims to provide you with superb customer service, an unrivalled tasting experience, and the best possible selection of whiskies. They sell drams which they enjoy and would buy themselves!
The company works with scores of distilleries and independent bottlers to ensure that they always have a wide selection of new, interesting and tasty whiskies. There are regular public tastings in the shop's purpose built tasting room, but if you’re just dropping in someone will be happy to talk you through what’s on the shelves, and there is always a wide range of bottles open for tasting.
The range of single malts varies from week to week, but there are usually between 250 and 300 different expressions in stock at any one time. There is everything from budget-friendly everyday drams to rare, collectable single casks from long closed distilleries like Port Ellen or Brora.
Collectively, the shop's staff have over a century of experience, so you can be sure that you’ll get the best possible guidance to help you choose your perfect bottle, whether it’s a blended whisky for mixing up highballs, a hard to find bottle from an elusive, rarely seen distillery, or a gift to mark a special occasion.
Find out more about The Good Spirits Co. on its dedicated page at the DistilleryTours website.
Date With A Dram: Glenkinchie Distillery
This month's competition is with Glenkinchie Distillery to win a bottle of their Four Corners of Scotland 16 Year Old Single Malt.
Glenkinchie 16 Year Old is the first release from the ‘Four Corners of Scotland Collection' - a limited-edition series of Single Malts made to commemorate the transformation of the brand homes of Glenkinchie, Cardhu, Caol Ila, and Clynelish Distilleries.
Reminiscent of the distillery’s rural setting, this excellent aperitif malt brings up a touch of vanilla ice cream, countered by a sharper freshness when added a splash of water.
Competition Time!
Want to be in with a chance to win a bottle of Four Corners of Scotland 16 Year Old Single Malt? Simply follow DistilleryTours.scot on Facebook or Instagram and share our 'Date with a Dram' post dated 1 March. The lucky winner will be chosen at random and announced in our April newsletter!
Congratulations to Ken Cormack who has won a bottle of Aultmore Distillery's 10 Year Old Anniversary Edition Single Malt. Enjoy Ken!
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 and remember to drink responsibly.
Follow and Share to Enter!
DistilleryTours Podcast - Glenkinchie Distillery
This month we spoke to Jo McKerchar, Diageo Historian & Archivist and Kirsten Wilson Senior Site Manager at Glenkinchie Distillery.
Jo tells us all about the history and legacy of Glenkinchie Distillery and its place as the Lowland home of Johnnie Walker while Kirsten explains the processes and traditional methods that go into producing such an outstanding and complex malt whisky.
Thanks to Angels' Share for sponsoring the podcast - if you're looking for some beautiful glassware to enjoy your favourite dram in, then visit our shop for some inspiration.
Malt Of The Month - Doocot Single Malt
Our March Malt Of The Month is now live on the DistilleryTours.scot website featuring a brand new whisky from Kingsbarns Distillery - Doocot Single Malt.
This new flagship release from Kingsbarns Distillery is light, intensely fruity, floral and complemented by a rich colour coming from the high quality casks it has matured in. The Doocot has enjoyed a longer maturation in cask, maintaining balance and developing complexity.
Find out all about Kingsbarns Distillery's Doocot over on the website now.
DistilleryTours Shop - Remember Your Mum This Month
No, it's not whisky... but these gin pigs from Angels' Share Glass are a fantastic gift idea for Mother's Day (19th March).
These cute gin pigs are all are hand made and hand filled in Angels' Share's glass blowing studio and feature a cork stopper for the nose, delicate pink ears, and subtle blue eyes.
The pig is held by the tail and the drink can be poured through the nose, portrayed by a cork stopper, and then re-filled later. Read all about this unique gift idea over at the DistilleryTours.scot shop now.
Looking for inspiration for your next Distillery Tour? Follow us on TWITTER, FACEBOOK and INSTRAGRAM to hear more, and subscribe to this newsletter at DISTILLERYTOURS.SCOT/SIGNUP.