Jim and his wife, Jacqueline were the only representatives of the Whisky Boys who managed to go to this excellent Festival, Nicola was in Blackpool, hating every minute we think, and Dougie was working up in Aberdeenshire.

We arrived at approx. 12.45 and collected our guest tickets and started our little wander round starting at the main stage and the chainsaw sculpture, we then wandered down to the Farmer’s market stalls who were treating us to a mixture of locally produced delights at this year’s festival. With over forty stalls, there was plenty to pick and choose from.

The compare for the day was Raymond Mearns, Raymond is a professional stand-up comedian and actor working extensively for the BBC and some of the biggest clubs in the UK including The Comedy Store, Jongleurs & The Stand.

Other events going on throughout the day were :- Falconry Display, Real Ale Tent, Cooperage Demonstration, Whisky Tours and Specialist Tastings, Chico the Clown for all the young ones, Glasgow band “Fortunate Sons”, Cookery Demonstration and Mixology Workshop all this and three Whisky tents, Auchentoshan, Bowmore and Glen Garioch and you could even bottle your own Festival Dram.

From this list you must agree there was something for everyone and all in attendance really enjoyed the day.

As Jacqueline has agreed to drive that day this allowed Jim to have a dram or three.

When we visited the bar in the main building we met Jennifer Hardy of Morrison Bowmore who let us have a wee tasting of the Auchentoshan 12 Year Old and the Auchentoshan Three Wood Single Malts, then let us have a dram of the wonderful 18 Year Old Cask Strength Auchentoshan.

This again was a very well organised and laid out Festival and many a Distillery could learn a lot from this very successful format, so a big thanks to all the staff of Auchentoshan for putting on this great display.

So, what now, let the next year pass quickly so we can once again visit this first class Festival.

Our BIG THANKS go to Jennifer Hardy and all the guys and gals of Auchentoshan, well done.

Related posts:

1. Auchentoshan Distillery Whisky Festival Saturday 29th August 2009
2. Bladnoch Whisky - Folk & Blues Festival August 2009
3. Auchentoshan Whisky Distillery Visit

Shake all together well in a jar and pour over salad.

1/3 cup Whisky (the Whisky Boys would choose either a Glen Moray or a Dalwhinnie).
1/2 cup olive oil (extra virgin).
4-6 tbsp good quality balsamic vinegar.
1/2-1 tsp brown sugar.
1/2 salt.
1-2 tbsp chopped fresh thyme .
1/2 tsp fresh cracked pepper.
dash of cayenne.
1/2 clove of garlic VERY finely chopped.

Ideal over mixed leaves and hot chicken goujons.

Keep some of your chosen dram for a wee sip at the end of your meal.

Related posts:

1. Whiskey Recipes - Whisky Chilli
2. Whiskey Recipes - Cauliflower Cheese with a Whisky Dram
3. Whiskey Recipes - Scotch Whisky Glazed Wild Mushrooms

Ingredients
* 300ml of good quality mayonnaise
* 4-5 tbsp tomato ketchup.
* Good shot of your favourite Whisky (the Whisky Boys would choose either a Glengoyne or an Auchentoshan)
* Pinch of cayenne pepper

Method

Mix all the ingredients together an use as you would normally use a mayonnaise.

Great over fresh crisp iceberg lettuce.

Related posts:

1. Whiskey Recipes - Whisky Chilli
2. Whiskey Recipes - Monkfish with Isle of Jura Whisky Sauce
3. Whiskey Recipes - Cauliflower Cheese with a Whisky Dram

Ingredients

* 1 pound beef mince
* 1/2 pound pork mince
* 1 medium red onion diced
* 1 small red pepper, diced
* 1 small green pepper, diced
* 2 cans chopped tomatoes
* 1 tube of tomato paste
* tablespoon cumin
* 1 tablespoon paprika
* 2/3 Cloves of chopped garlic
* 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne (or more if you like it hot)/chilli powder
* 1/2 cup water
* 4 slices bacon
* 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
* 1/4 cup Whisky (the Whisky Boys choice would be either a Talisker or an Oban)
* Salt & pepper to taste
* 1/4 cup grated cheese
* Bunch of coriander
* Pitta bread

Method

* In a large skillet, brown beef, pork, onion and peppers until cooked thoroughly and vegetables are soft. Transfer to large stockpot and add tomatoes, tomato paste, cumin, paprika, garlic, cayenne pepper and water. Cover and simmer over medium heat for 1 hour; stirring occasionally.
* Meanwhile, cook bacon until crispy; crumble bacon and set aside for garnish.
* After one hour, stir cocoa, Whisky, salt and pepper to taste into chilli. Cover and simmer for 10 additional minutes.
* To serve, spoon into bowls and garnish with Cheddar cheese, bacon and Coriander.
* Serve with pitta bread.

Remember to have by your side a wee dram of your chosen Malt to enjoy after this fabulous meal, Sláinte

Related posts:

1. Whiskey Recipes - Cauliflower Cheese with a Whisky Dram
2. Whiskey Recipe - A Whisky Stuffing to Spice up your “birds”
3. Whiskey Recipes - Scotch Whisky Glazed Wild Mushrooms

This smashing event was taking place in the atmospheric surroundings of the Highland Park Spiegeltent, making it extra special.

This sell out Highland Park Masterclass was hosted by Gerry Tosh, Head of Brand Education at Highland Park.

Pamela led Jim and Nicola down to a reserved table at the front, how important did they feel?  At our table three drams were sitting together with a jug of water, the three drams were :-

Highland Park 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky 40% Alc/vol.

Highland Park 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky 43% Alc/vol.

Highland Park 25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky 48.1% Alc/vol.

Each tasting will take you through the distiller’s award-winning single malts from Orkney. The combination of traditional Whisky-making techniques with obsessive attention to detail have made Highland Park arguably one of the most respected single malts in the world.

Jim and Nicola found that Gerry Tosh’s slant on Whisky tasting to be very refreshing and quite unique, and this will probably change how we do our tastings in the future.

We also enjoyed his view on Orkney and how the landscape/seascape and the light peat and the use of casks seasoned with Olorosso Sherry. American White Oak and Spanish Red Oak helps to make a sweeter and less smokey dram.

At times we thought that Gerry worked for either the Orkney or the Scottish Tourist Board his enthusiasm for Highland Park Whisky, Orkney and Scotland was very evident indeed, Jim wants his job.

Jim and Nicola now have to make plans and work out how they can visit not only Highland Park Distillery but to do a tour round Orkney, well we shall put an extra line on our lottery ticket this week.

Both Jim and Nicola found the 18 Year Old to be their favourite, but it was a tough choice.

To finish we must give a BIG THANKS to Pamela Wils for the invitation and Gerry Tosh for a very enthusiastic and entertaining tasting session, but lets not forget the team up at Highland Park for producing a wonderful dram.

The Whisky Boys would recommend that all our readers visit www.highlandpark.co.uk to get all the information you will need to know all about this grand distillery and its Whiskies, this is only second to actually visiting Orkney.

Again thanks to Pamela and Gerry.

Related posts:

1. Highland Park Scotch Malt Whisky - 12 Year Old
2. Highland Park Launches Third Bottling from the Orcadian Vintage Series
3. HIGHLAND PARK REVEALS NEW BOTTLING THE EARL MAGNUS EDITION 1

A total of 126 drams were tasted and rated by all that visited this little Whisky festival, the results of which produced the following top ten :-

1. Bunnahabhain 25 Year Old.

2. Old Pulteney 17 Year Old.

3. Caledonian 1965 Clan Denny.

4. Glenmorangie Signet.

5. Bruichladdich 17 Year Old Rum Cask.

6. Bruichladdich X4 + 3.

7. Balvenie 17 Year Old Madeira.

8. Port Ellen 1979 Old and Rare.

9. Springbank 18 Year Old.

10. Glenfarclas 40 Year Old.

So, as you can see four out of the top 10 are from the fabulous Island of Islay, and Bruichladdich pulling in two top ten places.

Even more impressive is that Bruichladdich’s X4 + 3 is a dram that has been distilled four times and is only 3 yes 3 years old, congratulations to Jim McEwan and his team at Bruichladdich. It can only be said as amazing, a 3 year old dram is way ahead of a 40 year old.

If you click on Bruichladdich 17 Year old Rum Cask then this will take you to the Whisky Boys tasting of this smashing wee dram.

A big congratulations to the guys and gals at Bunnahabhain for scoring first place.

Related posts:

1. Bruichladdich Whisky Distillery Produces Islay Gin
2. Edrington Malts Celebrates IWSC Success
3. Bruichladdich Whisky - 17 Year Old Rum Cask Islay Single Malt

Our first tasting was being held in Leslie’s Bar, one of Edinburgh’s finest Whisky and real ale houses, Jim and Nicola arrived just before our 4 o’clock tasting and were met by Gavin the owner/manager of this wonderful and atmospheric bar, who took us through to a snug/lounge bar where the tastings were being held.

In the snug there was two couples, both of them from the USA and a member of  Leslie’s bar staff and of course the Whisky Boys, We were all introduced to our hosts for the tastings, Joe and Arthur from Glengoyne Distillery, Arthur took the lead and gave the tasters a brief history of the Distillery.

After all the introductions, we were then taken through the malts that were going to be tasted, and these were :-

Glengoyne 10 Year Old Highland Single Malt 40% Alc/vol

Glengoyne 12 Year Old Cask Strength Highland Single Malt 57.2% Alc/vol

Glengoyne 17 Year Old Highland Single Malt 43% Alco/vol

Glengoyne 21 Year Old Highland Single Malt 43% Alco/vol

All of these drams were very individual and each one had its own character, Jim’s favorite was the 17 Year Old and Nicola’s was the 21 Year Old.

What really helped to make this wee tasting special was first, the venue a great bar with professional staff and Gavin who was always in charge and was a great host, and second was Joe and Arthur from Glengoyne who certainly loved their job and never tired of answering all our questions and we all felt that they would have been very happy to have sat there all day chatting and discussing all things Whisky and especially Glengoyne Whisky.

Glengoyne have two great guys in Joe and Arthur a credit not only to their Distillery but to Scotch Malt Whisky in general.

We got a wee bit of news from Arthur, he confirmed to us that Glengoyne Chistmas Festival is on in the first week in December, so check out their website www.glengoyne.com for all the up and coming news and events including all their bottlings.

To finish we have to give a big thanks to Gavin Blake of Leslie’s Bar who sent us the invite, and a big thanks to Joe and Arthur from Glengoyne Distillery whose choice of drams and their enthusiasm were first class.

The Whisky Boys can only encourage all our readers to visit Glengoyne Distillery and their website, we would also suggest that if you manage to visit Edinburgh and would like to enjoy a real ale or a special Single Malt then check out Leslie’s Bar, 45/47 Ratcliffe Terrace, Edinburgh EH9 1SU, tel. 0131 667 7205, you will enjoy a great drink in a fantastic bar.

When you visit Glengoyne Distillery or chat to Gavin in Leslie’s Bar remember to tell them the Whisky Boys sent you.

Related posts:

1. Highland Park Whisky Tastings - HP Spiegeltent, Charlotte Square
2. Whiskey Recipes - Whisky Mayonnaise
3. Whisky Boys day out in the Capital

Once we arrive in Edinburgh out first stop is Leslies Bar (Edinburgh’s finest Ale and Whisky House) at 4pm for a tasting of 4 delicious Glengoyne Single Malt Whiskies.  See decription of event below.

“Tasting Glengoyne Highland Single Malt 10YO, 12YO Cask Strength, 17 YO, and 21YO Discussing the largest influence on flavour - Distilation and Maturation. We distil slowly and collect our middle cut unusually early, resulting in sweet, highly approachable New Make, stuffed with esters and fruit. Sample spirit from different stages of the middle cut,giving insight into flavour creation then we’ll move onto maturation, looking at differences between first and second fill sherry casks.”

Once finished we need to head to Charlotte Square for Highland Park’s Edinburgh Festival Tasting Event, where each tasting will take us through the distiller’s award-winning single malts from Orkney, and for the first time this year, the event takes place in the atmospheric surroundings of the Highland Park Spiegeltent, making it doubly special….

It truely is a Whisky Boys ideal day out.

If you will be at any of these events today please be sure to say hello.  See you there.

Nicola

Related posts:

1. Glengoyne Whisky Tastings - Leslie’s Bar, Edinburgh
2. Highland Park Whisky Tastings - HP Spiegeltent, Charlotte Square
3. Bourbon Whiskey is coming to the Whisky Boys

This is a classic Island dram from the Isle of Skye. Lots of spice and fresh, tangy peat. This is always a good choice either for your own cabinet or to buy a dram when at your local.

Check out the Whisky Boys tasting of Talisker 10 Year Old.

Now then, lets go shopping

Our first call was to the Whisky Castle (www.whiskycastle.co.uk) shop in Tomintoul, Jim has visited this shop on a couple of occasions and found the staff to be very helpful and a wonderful display of Whiskies are always on show.  So if you had to order a bottle from here the cost would be £36.50 plus a further £10.00 for shipping and packaging.

Whisky Castle total cost including P & P is £46.50

Our next visit was into the Whisky Shop (www.whiskyshop.com) in Buchanan Galleries in Glasgow city centre and a bottle of Talisker from here would cost £38.50 and their shipping and packaging would be £7.50.

Whisky Shop total cost including P & P is £46.00

Our final call was to Master of Malt (www.masterofmalt.com) and they were running a special on this Island Dram, the bottle was selling for only £22.95 and when you add on the mailing costs of £6.95, for next working day delivery.

Master of Malt total cost including P & P is £29.90

From this comparison you can have a saving of £16.10 from the 2nd best price (Whisky Shop), allowing you to nip down to the supermarket and buy a nice wee blend like Black Bottle or to put a couple of pounds to the saving and buy a bottle of Chivas Regal 12 year Old.  Better still, if you are prepared to wait a couple of days for this fine malt to be delivered, Master of Malt’s delivery is only £3.95 for delivery within 3 working days - giving you a total saving of £19.60.

So guys and gals you need to spend only a little time to get yourself a good bargain, and when you buy a bottle lets tell them the Whisky Boys sent you.

Hurry along to the Master of Malt website, this bargain can’t last forever.

Related posts:

1. Ardbeg Whisky - Price Comparison June 2010
2. Aberfeldy Whisky - Price Comparison May 2010
3. Bruichladdich Whisky - Price Comparison April 2010

Maybe you are new to Whisky and not sure what to try first or maybe you are a connoisseur and you are puzzled by a few of the new expressions.  Whatever the query, Master of Malt is there to guide you through the many Whiskies they have on offer and will ensure you make the right “informed” choice.

So go on, visit their site and just ask, they will have the answers.

We know you will enjoy shopping with Master of Malt, remember and tell them that the Whisky Boys sent you.

Related posts:

1. Ardbeg Whisky - Price Comparison June 2010