Syklubbens weekendtur til The Highland, Skottland 2008 April 10-14, 2008 Vårt opphold i Skottland: Vi bor i landsbyen Keith - side 2 Craighurst Guest House- side 3 Rundtur på det skotske høyland- side 5 Vi utforsker byen Elgin - side 11 Etter 4 tidligere vellykkede turer satte vi i år kursen mot The Highland i Skottland for å studer produksjonen av malt whisky i Speyside regionen. Vi har tidligere tatt weekend-turer til: - Provance (2004) - Roma (2005) - Barcelona (2006) - Toscana (2007) Dette heftet inneholder bilder og en kort reiseskildring for de 4 dagene vi hadde til rådighet. Vi bodde i landsbyen Keith som ligger i Moray council, ca 1 timers kjøring fra Aberdeen. The Keith & Dufftown Railway - side 13 Strathisla Destillery, vår nabo - side 15
DAG 1 Weekendtur til The Highland, Skottland, April 2008 Torsdag 10. april. Vi hadde billett som viser at vi skal flyr fra Torp, Sandefjord med SAS/ Widerøe og ankommer Aberdeen kl. 12.10. MEN, slik gikk det ikke. Tåka gjorde at vi ble sendt til København, videre til Paris og endte opp i Aberdeen på kvelden kl. 21.15. Vi plukket opp leiebilen og fulgte A96 til Keith. Vi bodde 4 netter på Craighurst Guest House som ligger i Seafield Avenue. Dette er en avstand på ca. 72 km. Litt info om landsbyen KEITH. Explore a town steeped in history when you visit Keith, located in the Grampian Highlands of Scotland. It is divided into three sections Old Keith, New Keith and Fife Keith. The first appearance of this town in any written records was in 1195 in the charter of William the Lion. The word comes from the Gaelic meaning, wind or pure air and this is something that you will agree with once you visit this fascinating town. The history of the area can be traced back to 700 A.D. when St. Maelrubha of Applecross converted the settlers to Christianity. It was also an important market town in the 12th century when people travelled from all over Scotland to buy and sell goods here. This tradition continues today in the annual Keith Agricultural Show held in August. Although Keith is one of the smallest towns in the northeast of Scotland, with a population of about 5000, you won t have any difficulty driving here, as it is located at the intersection of the A95 and A96 roads. It is located about half way between Inverness and Aberdeen and is in the heart of Scottish farming country. There are distilleries nearby, such as the Strathisla Distillery, which are part of the Scottish Malt Whisky Trail. The Strathisla Distillery is the oldest working distillery in the country and is the home of the famous Chivas Regal whisky.
Weekendtur til The Highland, Skottland, April 2008 DAG 1 Vi bor på Craighurst Guest House: (www.craighurst-guesthouse.co.uk/) Craighurst Guest House is yours to discover. Come to the heart of Whisky country and enjoy the historic town of keith. Follow the tree-lined drive and home in on a spacious, Edwardian town house. Escape to a beautiful country setting within a town. Craighurst (which means rock with wood land) was built in 1902. The lodge boosts many original features like high skirting s, big fireplaces and stained glass windows. Surrounded by its own private woodland and terraced garden grounds it is the perfect place where you can unwind and relax. The house is located next to the pictuesque Strahisla Distillery; home of Chivas Regal. Even the famous Malt Whisky trail starts here. The Castle trail, the coatal trail and the Victorian Heritage trail are all within easy reach to explore and enjoy. Craighurst also makes a captivating base for exploring the beautiful braes of the Aberdeen and Grampian Highlands. Dramatic cliff tops, broad sandy beaches and busy fishing harbours are all located on the north east coast which is onlf a half hour drive from Keith. After a full day of Scottish pleasures return to Craighurst where you can immerse yourself in one of our themed guest rooms. All the bedrooms have their own private ensuite facilities and a cosy corner where you can make some tea or coffee and sit down and relax. The only stressful decision to make is which bedroom to choose.
4 DAG 2 Weekendtur til The Highland, Skottland, April DAG 2008 1
Weekendtur DAG 2 til The Highland, Skottland, April 2008 DAG 2 5 Fredag 11. april,- vi sjekker severdigheter i området.. Denne dag besøker følgende attraksjoner på det skotske høyland: 1. Macallan Distillery - kjører A95, avstand 21,7 km og vil ta ca. 20 min. 2. Telford Bridge/Craigellachie. - avstand 2 km. 3. Speyside Cooperage (whisky tønneprodusent) - kjører A941, avstand ca. 2,3 km. 4. Dufftown med Balvenie Castle - slott fra 1200 tallet, kjører A941, avstand ca. 4,5 km. Macallan Distillery. (www.themacallan.com) Macallan is most likely derived from two Gaelic words, MAGH meaning a fertile piece of ground and ELLAN, meaning of St Fillan, an Irish born monk who travelled widely in Scotland spreading Christianity during the eighth century. For centuries, farmers in the area of Easter Elchies House have been distilling whisky in the winter from barley they have grown on their own land. At the nearby ford across the river Spey, cattlemen ( drovers ) taking their cattle to the markets in the south would stop to rest and take refreshment before crossing the river. Their refreshment would have included whisky distilled on the local farms. After 1814, travelers would have crossed the river Spey via the famous bridge, designed by the great Thomas Telford, downstream from The Macallan. The common thread running through the history of The Macallan is the obsession with quality, which was established from the start by the founder of the distillery, Alexander Reid. In 1824, Reid, a local farmer, acquired a licence to distil whisky legally at Easter Elchies and The Macallan was born. Throughout the nineteenth century, the owners of The Macallan were all local people, with a deep attachment to the countryside, to the produce of these lands and to the people living there. Almost 70 years after the distillery was first established, The Macallan was bought by Roderick Kemp. In the years following 1892, he set about establishing the Macallan s reputation for outstanding quality across a wider market. As a result, throughout the first half of the twentieth century, The Macallan witnessed increasing sales and a major expansion of the distillery took place between 1951 and 1963.
6 Weekendtur til The Highland, Skottland, April 2008 DAG 2 Craigellachie (Telford) Bridge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/craigellachie_ Bridge) is a cast iron arch bridge located in Speyside, Moray, Scotland at Craigellachie which is near to the village of Aberlour. It was designed by the renowned civil engineer Thomas Telford and built from 1812 1814. The bridge has a single span of approximately 46 metres (151 ft) and was revolutionary for its time, in that it used an extremely slender arch which was not possible using traditional masonry construction. Testing in the 1960s revealed that the cast-iron had an unusually high tensile strength. The bridge was in regular use until 1963, when it was closed for a major refurbishment. The side railings and spandrel members were replaced with new ironwork fabricated to match the originals. A 14 ton restriction was placed on the bridge at this point. This, along with the fact that the road to the north of the bridge takes a sharp right-angled turn to avoid a rock face, made it unsuitable for modern vehicles. Despite this it carried foot and vehicle traffic across the River Spey until 1972, when its function was replaced by a reinforced concrete bridge which carries the A941 road today. Telford s bridge remains in good condition, and is still open to pedestrians and cyclists.
Weekendtur til The Highland, Skottland, April 2008 DAG 2 7 Craigellachie Hotel (www.craigellachie.com) Hotellet ligger et par steinkast fra Telford Bridge. I februar 1997 bodde Astri og Bengt en langweekend på hotellet. Et kjempekoselig hotell med gamle fine staselige rom og en utmerket restaurant. Best er kanskje Quaich Bar, en bar med flere hundre ulike malt whisky merker. Når man bor her får man en bok for å logge de ulike whiskyslag man prøver og man skriver ned sine bemerkninger. Boken blir oppbevart og man kan spørre etter boken om man kommer tilbake senere. Under besøket i 1997 benyttet fam. Eliassen boken flittig og den ble funnet fram under dette besøket,- 11 år senere.
DAG 2 8 Weekendtur til The Highland, Skottland, April 2008 DAG 2 Fredag 11. april,- kart over aktivitetene denne dag.
Weekendtur til The Highland, Skottland, April 2008 DAG 2 9 Speyside Cooperage. For three generations, since 1947, the Taylor family has been running this unique business in Craigellachie in the heart of Speyside. Some of the finest oak for coopering is grown in the USA and the Taylors make regular visits to Missouri, Kentucky and Tennesee to purchase this high quality American Oak. Oak for the Finest Malts. Some of Scotland s finest malt whisky is produced in Speyside in the bonded warehouses of the distilleries, whisky worth millions of pounds lies maturing in oak casks. We also make new Burton Union beer casks for Marstons brewery. No visit to Speyside would be complete without a visit to the Speyside Cooperage. the only cooperage in Britain with a Visitor Centre - Here you can watch our coopers make and repair the barrels for the whisky industry - After an enjoyable tour you can browse in our Gift Shop where you can find exclusive gifts - then enjoy coffee/tea and Scottish homebakes in our cafe - We also have an all weather picnic area. Balvenie Castle Balvenie Castle is a ruined castle near Dufftown in the Moray region of Scotland. Originally known as Mortlach, it was built in the 12th century by the Comyn Clan (the Black Comyns) and extended in the 15th and 16th centuries. The castle fell into the ownership of the House of- Douglas in the early 14th century when the Comyns were reduced by Robert the Bruce. In turn King James II wiped out the Douglases and it was granted to John Stewart, the first Earl of Atholl. Balvenie Castle served as a garrison during the Jacobite rebellion. It was abandoned in 1720s but was last used by the Hanovarian forces of the Crown (under the Duke of Cumberland) leading up to the Battle of Culloden. Today, the remains of the castle are owned by Hammond Burke Nicholson Jr., Baron of Balvenie. They are open to the public during the summer months. Balvenie whisky is produced by William Grant & Sons at the Balvenie distillery next to the castle.
DAG 2 DAG 2 10 Weekendtur til The Highland, Skottland, April 2008 Dufftown The village of Dufftown dates back to 1817 when it was built by the Earl of Fife, James Duff. Nearby Mortlach, in the the valley of the Dullan Water, was already a long-established settlement by this time, but has since been overshadowed by its later neighbour. Mortlach is probably at least a thousand years older than Dufftown. The earliest parts of Mortlach church date back to at least the 700s, though most of what is on view today is from a major rebuild in the 1200s. There was also a monastery here by 1200, and in 1228 a parish school was in operation. The immediately surrounding area is also steeped in history. Balvenie, a mile to the north, is home to Balvenie Castle, which dates back to the 1200s. The name of Balvenie comes from the Gaelic for village of monks, suggesting there was a monastery established here, too, before the castle was built. Dufftown promotes itself as the Malt Whisky Capital of the World, and no one seems inclined to challenge that claim. In the village or its immediate area there are five operating distilleries. These are Dufftown, Mortlach, Glendullan, Balvenie, and Glenfiddich. Of these, only Glenfiddich offers a visitor centre, but it is an excellent one. In fact, Dufftown probably exports more goods by value than any other place in Britain and visitors can see the stills and watch the whisky being made and bottled during their stay in this delightful Highland town. Restaurant/Cafe BOOGIE WOOGIE (www.boogiewoogieshop.com) På fredag kveld hadde vi bestilt bord på restauranten Boogie Woogie i Keith,- en liten hyggelig plass med 4-5 bord. Det regnet som bare fy,- og Peete var hyggelig og kjørte oss begge veier. De har middagsservering kun fredag og lørdag, resten av uken opererer de som cafe. Menyen var ikke mange linjene, men vi fant alle noe som fristet. På webben kan det leses følgende om stedet: If you re nearby, come along to our recently expanded shop in the North East of Scotland where you can browse through an imaginative range of well-designed gifts and savour a cappuccino in our newly opened Coffee Shop. We have many regular customers from all over Scotland who are looking for good quality and something different. At Boogie Woogie you ll find a warm, friendly and relaxed atmosphere and we shall look forward to welcoming you soon.
Weekendtur DAG 2 til The Highland, Skottland, April 2008 DAG 3 11 Lørdag 12. April,- vi tar toget til Elgin for å shoppe. Den nærmeste større by er Elgin og hit reiste vi for å shoppe, shoppe...avstanden er ca. 25 km. Vi tar en titt på byens severdigheter, Elgin Cathedral, St. Giles Kirk, Panns Port, mm Elgin Cathedral Elgin Cathedral, known as the Lantern of the North, was established in 1224 by Alexander II as the seat of the Bishopric of Moray. It is second in size in Scotland only to St Andrews Cathedral. Much of the work is in a rich late 13th century style. It is the superb ruin of what many think was Scotland s most beautiful cathedral. The transepts west towers and parts of the choir and nave survived a fire in 1270. Then after extensive rebuilding the cathedral survived until 1390 when it was burnt, again rebuilt during the 15th century. The cathedral was vandalised during the reformation, and eventually fell into ruin. The towers at the entrance to the main chapel are still intact, there are several effigies on the tombs. There is also a Pict stone which is allocated at the centre of the cathedral. There are several symbols inside the walls of the cathedral and there is a great view of the town from the North Tower. Elgin (www.elginscotland.org/pdfs/elgin-visitor-guide.pdf) the capital of the Moray region, is a lively market town which grew up in the thirteenth century around the River Lossie. Much of the original medieval street plan remains; the busy main street opens out onto an old cobbled market place and there are wynds and pends to explore. Elgin Museum is to be found at the top of the High Street in a building which has housed it since 1843, though as an institution it is much older. It is home to some fascinating displays on local history and regional archaeology. The High Street itself is pedestrianised, and the buildings are attractive. To the west it widens out into the market place, known as the Plainstones, an area dominated by the Neoclassical parish church of St Giles, built by Archibald Simpson between 1827-8.
DAG 3 12 Weekendtur til The Highland, Skottland, April 2008 På pub i Elgin. Mens jentene shoppet tok vi gutta oss en tur på puben The Muncle Cross i High Street - en god kjølig lager smaker alltid godt. Sene hadde vi alle en burger lunch på samme sted. Tilbake med tog til Keith,- på kvelden ble det igjen et besøk på Boogie Woogie - denne gang ble det risotto på alle. Som alltid må Jan Erik ha seg en suppe.
Weekendtur til The Highland, Skottland, April 2008 DAG 4 13 Søndag 13. April,- vi tar The Keith & Dufftown Railway, - en togreise gjennom det skotske høyland. Denne dag tar vi en gammel restaurert privat jernbane som går fra Keith til Dufftown. I Dufftown besøker vi Glenfiddich Destillery,- en av de største og mest kjente whisky-produsenter. Vi må ta toget fra Keith kl. 12.15 og siste tilbake kl. 15.50. Togturen tar ca. 40 min. The Keith and Dufftown Railway (www.keith-dufftown-railway.co.uk) is an eleven mile line linking the World s Malt Whisky Capital, Dufftown, to the market town of Keith. The line, which was reopened by volunteers during 2000 and 2001, passes through some of Scotland s most picturesque scenery, with forest and farmland, lochs and glens, castles and distilleries. The area s abundant wildlife can be glimpsed from the train, including deer, foxes, buzzards, heron, and much more.
DAG 4 14 Weekendtur til The Highland, Skottland, April 2008 Besøk på Glenfiddich Distillery. (www.glenfiddich.com) Dette berømte destilleriet ligger bare en kort spasertur fra Dufftown jernbanestasjon. Vi fikk en fin framvisning med film, omvisning og en god whisky dram til slutt. Klippet litt fra websiden: Set in the heart of the Highlands, Glenfiddich (meaning Valley of the Deer in Gaelic) is a place of breathtaking beauty. The vibrant colours of an artist s palate fill the surrounding hills and forests, while haunting castle ruins and a bubbling natural spring add to the romance. Glenfiddich is little changed since 1886, when William Grant and his nine children rolled up their sleeves to build the Distillery with their bare hands. These same silent warehouses and steamy mash rooms produce the world s favourite single malt Scotch whisky today.
Weekendtur til The Highland, Skottland, April 2008 DAG 4 15 Besøk på den lokale pub i Ugie House Hotel (www.4hotels.co.uk/uk/hotels/ugiehouse.html) Vi tok toget tilbake til Keith og på veien hjem besøkte vi den lokale pub i Hotel Ugie House. Her var det alltid mye lokalbefolkning og stor stemning. Søndagsmiddag på Craighurst Guest House (www.craighurst-guesthouse.co.uk/) Denne kvelden hadde vi avtalt middag med Gwenda og Peet. De disket opp med en fantastisk fiskemiddag,- tomatsuppe til starter, skotsk laks med fløtegratenerte poteter og som avslutning var det bringebær i krem.
DAG 5 16 Weekendtur til The Highland, Skottland, April 2008 Mandag 14 April,- oppholdet er over. Vi besøker Strathisla Distillery før vi setter kursen mot Aberdeen og hjem. Besøk på Strathisla Distillery. (www.scottishholidays.net/distilleries/strathisla.html eller www.chivas.com) Dette destilleri er nærmeste nabo til Craighurst Guest House. Det er den eldste produsent som fortsatt leverer edel vare og selve destilleriet ligger i naturskjønne omgivelser. Det er det mest fotograferte av dem alle. På nettet kan leses: The Strathisla Distillery, the oldest working distillery in the Scottish Highlands, lies in a hollow on the banks of the River Isla in the Banffshire market town of Keith, renowned for its holy wells and natural springs. Lying on the fertile barley growing regions of Moray and Banffshire, Keith has been a centre of the whisky industry for more than two centuries. Strathisla Single Malt Scotch Whisky has a distinctively mellow and honeyed flavour, greatly enjoyed by lovers of single malts. Because of its unique character the local people have enjoyed it for generations. Today it enjoys a prominent position in the Chivas portfolio of Scotch whiskies. Strathisla is the home and heart of Chivas Regal. Although it is the predominant influence at the heart of the world s most successful premium Scotch whisky, Strathisla is an outstanding single malt in its own right, with a fragrancy and smoothness that carries through to a rich and delicious finish. The fine Strathisla Single Malt Scotch Whisky is made at the oldest operating distillery in the Scottish Highlands. We welcome you to discover the art of the distiller and enjoy seeing the making of the Strathisla Single Malt at your leisure. At the Strathisla distillery you ll have the opportunity to nose the fine single malt whiskies. Together with soft grain whiskies they combine to create Scotland s greatest treasure - Chivas Regal. Whether lingering over coffee and shortbread or sipping a superb dram in luxurious comfort, you ll discover the true meaning of Highland hospitality. Founded in 1786 in the ancient market town of Keith, Strathisla is the oldest operating distillery in the Scottish Highlands. The distillery maintains many of the traditions and techniques laid down during the earliest days of whisky production. The making of Strathisla Single Malt Scotch Whisky is an entirely natural process. You can observe the care and attention that is devoted to the selection of the finest raw materials. See the timber vats, the gleaming copper stills and experience first-hand the age old process involved in producing Strathisla Single Malt Scotch Whisky - a whisky of unsurpassed quality.
Weekendtur til The Highland, Skottland, April 2008 DAG 5 17 Watch the skills of the still man and observe how the spirit is distilled not once but twice in distinctive copper pot stills, the design of which throughout the years has never been changed. Discover why only the middle cut or heart of the spirit is stored in traditional oak casks to mature. After three years, in essence this new spirit is recognised as whisky, with character and colour but at Strathisla you will discover that the spirit is left to mature and mellow for considerably longer. Only Scotch whiskies that have matured for at least 12 years are used in Chivas Regal and all are superb examples in their own right. The most important of all is the rich and full Strathisla Single Malt Scotch Whisky - the heart of Chivas Regal. With a heritage dating back nearly a century, Chivas Regal is today universally acknowledged as the world s leading luxury Scotch whisky. Distinctively packaged and stylishly presented, it stands as an exclusive symbol of success and achievement the world over, recognised by those who enjoy the finer things in life and those who deserve the best.
DAG 5 18 Weekendtur til The Highland, Skottland, April 2008 Så var det tid for å ta farvel med vårt vertskap på Craighusrt Guste House. Vi takker Gwenda, Peet, Bent og Fenne for et fantastisk opphold, og vi håper å komme tilbake ved en senere anledning. Noen få ord om THE MALT WHISKY TRAIL each Speyside whisky distillery result in delightful, hand-crafted whisky from each one. All offer visitors a sample of the finished product and some include an informative nosing and tasting while others give an insight into the complex art of blending whisky and malt. Follow the world-famous Malt Whisky Trail through Speyside to seven working distilleries, including a fascinating cooperage and a historic distillery. From Benromach to Dallas Dhu, a perfect time capsule of whisky-making; from Glen Moray to Strathisla, home and heart of Chivas Regal; from the Glen Grant distillery to the Speyside Cooperage where real coopers work with incredible speed and skill; from Glenfiddich to The Glenlivet and the Cardhu distillery, Scotland s whisky trail signposts lead you through the picturesque lush countryside of Speyside, the world s favourite malt whisky region. Come for a weekend in May, or in September for the whisky festivals, when distilleries, whisky shops, bars, pubs and whole villages welcome visitors with drams, special nosings, ceilidhs and other parties. Come at any time to enjoy famous names and share well-kept secrets with knowledgeable locals in well-stocked bars and friendly pubs. WHISKY, UISGHE BEATHA, THE WATER OF LIFE, HAS EVOLVED OVER MORE THAN 500 YEARS TO GIVE THE RANGE OF RICH SINGLE MALTS, COMPLEX PURE MALTS AND DISTINCTIVE SCOTCH BLENDS WE KNOW TODAY. Whisky distilleries were founded in an environment rich in the highest quality ingredients: pure, clear spring water and abundant supplies of fragrant golden barley. On the whisky trail of Speyside, you ll find more than half of Scotland s malt whisky distilleries, each with its own warm welcome and an invitation to see, smell, taste and absorb the magic of whisky. Each whisky distillery on the distillery tour follows its own traditions, lore and recipes for everything from malting the barley to the height and size of its stills. The unique characteristics of
Weekendtur til The Highland, Skottland, April 2008 19 På de besøkte destilleriene har vi fått en god innføring i whiskyproduksjonen, her er en kortfattet forklaring: Vi tar en nærmere titt på hvordan whisky skapes. Enlinjeversjonen: Maltwhisky er destillert øl. Femlinjersversjonen: Ved å fukte byggkorn begynner kornet å spire. Ved å tørke kornet over røk fra torv stopper spiringen. Kornet males og brygges til øl. Ølet destilleries så to ganger til man får en sprit på ca 70 prosent alkohol. Dette lagres på eikefat. Etter tre år kan dette kalles maltwhisky. De fleste maltwhiskyer lagres på fat i 10-12 år. Blandes maltwhisky med andre kornwhiskyer kalles det en blended whisky. Korn som spirer. Den litt mer inngående versjonen: Maltwhisky lages av byggkorn. Byggkornet fuktes og spres utover store gulv i åtte-ti dager. I løpet av disse dagene begynner kornet å spire. Ved hjelp av fiffige maskiner, ligner på motoriserte gressklippere, vendes kornet regelmessig, for å hindre at det vokser inn i hverandre og for å hindre at temperaturen blir for høy. I gamle dager brukte de spader, men i den grad det gjøres i dag er det kun for turistene. Denne prosessen kalles malting. Det som skjer er at stivelsen i kornet omdannes til sukker. Spiringen/maltingen skal så stoppes, ved at kornet tørkes ved hjelp av røyk. Kornet spres utover et rom der gulvet rett og slett er et finmasket netting, og i en ovn i rommet under brennes torv. Torven fra de de skotske heiene har den egenskapen at den holder en god, jevn varme, og gir fra seg forholdsvis store mengder røyk. Røyken fra torven stopper spiringen, og gir kornet også smak fra røyken. Kornet røykes med brennende torv for å avslutte spiringen Kornet males så til et grovt mel, og blandes med varmt vann i store meskekar til en forholdsvis guffen utseendemessig grøt. Det varme vannet trekker sukkeret ut av kornet, og vi får et vørter. Vørteren has over i en stor gjæringstank, der den blandes med gjær, og gjæres så til et vørterøl. Dette kalles wash. Er man på besøk på et destilleri prøver omviserne alltid å lure besøkende til å lukte på det gjærende ølet. Det er forsåvidt en interessant og morsom opplevelse, men anbefales ikke. CO2 en har omtrent samme virkning som et realt knyttneveslag på nesen. Destilleringsapparater Ølet skal så destilleres i en wash still. Dette er en stor kopperkjele, høyreist og elegant, som regel med en svanehals. Etter at dette er destillert sitter man med en væske på ca 25 % alkohol, dette kalles low wines. Dette skal destilleres en gang til. De første dråpene som kommer av annengangsdestillatet er altfor sterke og vonde til at de kan brukes. Dette kalles for hodet. Det som er interessant for oss er hjertet. Hjertet er det som skal bli til whisky. Hjertet holder ca 70% alkohol. Den siste delen av destillatet brukes heller ikke, da det blir for tynt. Dette kalles halen. Lagring på eiketønner. Hjertet has på eikefat. Enten brukes gamle sherryfat, eller gamle bourbonfat. Onde tunger, og de er det endel av, sier at amerikansk whiskeyindustri kun er tree preparation industry... Ifølge whiskylovverket skal hjertet ligge på eikefat i minst tre år før det er lov å kalle det whisky. De fleste maltwhiskyer som selges som dette lagres imidlertid i minst ti-tolv år. Mange mener en whisky er på topp etter tolv år, jo lenger whiskyen ligger, jo rundere og mer behagelig blir den, men det er kanskje ikke det som er interessant... Hvem vil egentlig ha en behagelig, rund Laphroaig..? Informasjon kopiert fra www.onlymalts.com
20 Weekendtur til The Highland, Skottland, April 2008 Kart over Speyside området, (The Malt Whisky Trail) Skottland. Publikasjonen er produsert av Bengt Eliassen med info kopiert fra ulike kilder