Ballater

October 18, 2012

It’s been another interesting day in Scotland!  But first, here’s what happened last evening at the Mashtun bar:

Yup, bc paid me back for all those times I left him bored while I gazed at fabric.  Here he is with the 48 page book describing all the whiskeys he could choose from.  He decided on a Dailuaine 16 year and a Speyside Glenlivet.

We left Aberlour around 9am and headed to the post office to post the key bc accidently took from the Linnmhor House.  It was raining and cold so I stayed in the car.  I thought I’d have to go in and get bc as he was gone about 15 minutes.  When he came back he explained that he was the only customer and the postmistress gave him a detailed itinerary of every place she has traveled.  Luckily some other ladies came in to visit with her and bc was off the hook. 

We drove to the Walker’s Shortbread gift shop, but didn’t go in.  We could eat more, but why? 

Then we went to the Speyside Cooperage in Craigellachie.  This was very interesting.  We watched a 15 minute video on all the special woods, sizes and techniques that go into making barrels.  Then we went upstairs to watch the Coopers make and repair the various barrels.  Here’s some advice.  If a Cooper asks you to arm wrestle, don’t.  A Cooper is hired when he is 16 and works as an apprentice until 20.  Each Cooper is paid for the number of barrels he makes or repairs.  These guys work very fast and hard. 

Then it was time for our 11am appointment at The Macallan.  Frankie took 5 of us on tour for an hour.  As you know, we’ve been through a few distilleries on tours.  This tour taught us more than we had expected.  Macallan buys oak trees from the US, ship the logs to Spain, where the Spaniards make sherry casks for sherry.  When the Sherry is removed from the casks, the Spaniards ship the empty casks to The Macallan in Scotland.   The Macallan owns these casks and has an agreement with the Spanish company to make these sherry casks for them. 

Bc was happy to help me drink my 2 drams of scotch after our tour.  Whatta guy!  They gave us a 12 year old and the golden, which is an unaged scotch whiskey bottled for its color.  It’s only available in the UK.  Bc still likes the 12 year old best.  P.s.  did we tell you the distiller at The Macallan is named “Bob”, really he is!

We then drove through Maggieknockater, (!!), and Mulben to get to the Strathisla distillery.  This is the home of Chivas Regal.  We didn’t go on a tour, but did visit the grounds.  It’s a really pretty place. 

The afternoon was still gray and cloudy but only lightly sprinkling in some places.  We drove through Aberdeenshire, Rhynie, and Lumsden to Kildrummy.  We stopped at the Kildrummy Castle and gardens but it was just too wet to go traipsing around.  That was some big castle at some point in time!

Then on through Glendkindie, Towie, Logie Coldstone, Tullich into Ballater.  We saw such diverse scenery today.  Forests and wheat fields.  It’s so pretty. The fall colors get better every day.

We are staying at the Osborne House in Ballater.  This is a lovely home.  Heather is the owner and she talks quiet slowly and tells us lots of interesting things. 

We plan to go to dinner at a hotel just down the street.  Driving and parking in the city is such a hassle. 

We hope you are all doing well.  Love, bc and gc