Distillery and Whisky News September 2021 - The Glen Grant

Autumn is almost upon us and with it the whispers of in-person events returning to the whisky scene. In our podcast below, Paul McDonagh, a director of the Glasgow Whisky Festival, told us more about the event and its planned date of 19 February 2022! We are beyond excited. 

But February feels like eternity away! So in the meantime we can't wait to visit the brand new experience of Johnnie Walker Princes Street - opening for the first time next week. 

We look forward to seeing you at a whisky distillery, festival or venue soon! 🥳

DistilleryTours Podcast - The Bon Accord

This month we spoke to Paul McDonagh, owner of the world-famous Bon Accord bar in Glasgow.

Paul says a dram of whisky is like a conversation in your hand – there's so much to know and talk about from the taste to the way it's been distilled. ⁠He also tells us about what makes the Bon Accord truly special, the many whisky clubs that call it home, and his favourite dram, the GlenDronach 18 Year Old.

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: Benriach

Our Date with a Dram this month is with the Benriach Distillery, which draws its water from the mineral-rich aquifer deep beneath the grounds. Benriach is a hidden Speyside gem distilling in three distinct styles - classic unpeated, Highland peated and triple distilled - and crafting layers of diverse flavour with our eclectic range of cask types from around the world. 

Benriach Distillery's 2005 Cask Edition is a 15 year old, Rum Barrel whisky, normally retailing at £130!

The nose is of candied apple, tropical fruit and pineapple syrup, enriched with smooth barley cream.⁠ The taste is of golden fruit, soft spices and crème caramel, with lingering maple syrup and nut brittle.⁠ ⁠ Sounds delicious!⁠

Competition Time!

Want to be in with a chance to win a bottle of Benriach Distillery's 2005 Cask Edition? Simply follow  DistilleryTours.scot on Facebook and share our 'Date with a Dram' post dated 1 September. The lucky winner will be chosen at random and announced in our October newsletter!

And congratulations to Alistair George Anderson from Orkney who won last month's competition in partnership with Visit Moray & Speyside, to win dinner, bed and breakfast at the Knockomie Inn in Forres, together with a tour of the Glenfiddich Distillery and a bottle to take home - enjoy, Alistair!

You must be 18 years old or over to enter. Please note, will never approach you for your credit card details - please stay safe online.

Follow and Share to Enter!

Experience of the month: Johnnie Walker Princes Street

Johnnie Walker Prince Street

Johnnie Walker Princes Street is due to open on the 6th September, and the building looks incredible.⁠

Hosted across eight floors of the transformed building on the corner of Edinburgh's Princes St, you can enjoy a dram - and the beautiful views - from one of their stunning bars and restaurants. 

Their tour is 'an immersive Journey of Flavour', and includes a trip through Johnnie Walker whisky’s epic search for flavour, a sensory experience offering a curated exploration of Scottish whiskies, and the inspiring stories behind some of Scotland’s favourite whisky brands.

Diageo have invested £185 million in Scotch whisky tourism in Scotland and, in addition to Johnnie Walker Princes Street, they have new experiences at the Glenkinchie, Clynelish and Cardhu distilleries. What an amazing year for them and for whisky lovers!

Find out more about Johnnie Walker Princes Street and their experiences on their dedicated page on the DistilleryTours.scot website.

Distillery of the Month: The Glen Grant

The Glen Grant Distillery in Perthshire

The Glen Grant distillery is nestled in Scotland’s whisky capital, Speyside. Located in the northern end of the village of Rothes, The Glen Grant’s Scotch whisky distillery and fragrant garden make for a wonderful day out.

In 1872, James Grant inherited The Glen Grant distillery (later becoming known as The Major) and revolutionised the Distillery's production by introducing water cooling purifiers and elongated stills to capture only the finest vapours.

Not only that, in 1886, The Major established their Victorian Garden to showcase the eclectic plants and exotic fruits he gathered on his journeys across the globe. This woodland escape continues to thrive, with 22 acres of orchards, meadows and gorges, including the original dram pavilion built by James Grant himself.

Find out more about The Glen Grant Distillery, their whisky and their vision on their dedicated page on the DistilleryTours.scot website.

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