It was finally my turn to take a semi-personal day in Edinburgh! I got up early and Nick dropped me off to the ScotRail. I took the train to the Waverly street station in Edinburgh, which is the center of the city. That fare from there cost me @12.90 pounds.
Upon arrival, I stopped at the "Upper Crust" cafe and had a cheap and small breakfast. Americano, veggie baguette with 2 bottles of water(@5ponds).
FYI: make sure you bring an UK converter or two, because I'd brought a standard Euro converter and it didn't work. I had no idea that the UK had a different power socket, therefore I had to stop at the "Boots" dept. drug store, (Boots is like a NY Duane Reade drug store chain, but on steroids) once I'd reached town.
Next, I headed over to the St. Andrews bus station, which is @a 5 minute walk from the rail station. There I locked up the heavier items and clothing I had in my backpack. I had a long day ahead of me and I came complete with every item I thought I would need for the event later on. It will cost you anywhere from 3-6 pounds to store your items for 24 hours(with ONLY a 1 time access), depending on the size that you need.
After getting everything together I headed over to the castle and had a good time touring myself through out the castle. I saw the St. Margaret Chapel(the oldest building in Edinburgh), the Crown Jewels(where everyone crowded around and stared at the jewels intently. It was a glass incasement that was positioned in the tiniest room in the castle! Wow, wouldn't you think that they would of put that site in a larger room???? Next, I saw the great hall,Queen Mary's chamber and the "prisoners of war" dungeon(that I might say that they kept they're captured decently).
I would have to say that the views from the castle top at the Argyle tower is absolutely stunning! It's probably the best in the city! After experiencing sunshine, showers, fog, and a rainbow in just 2 hours, which changed about every 15 minutes, It was time for me to get to the whisky museum and sip and learn about some whisky!
The Whisky Experience Museum, is located almost right next door to the castle on the Royal Mile. This museum was created with Diageo and Clive Vidiz. The collection started around the 1970's, which they own the oldest bottle's in the world and the largest collection! These bottle's originate from the 1880-1900's!
In 1991, they released the century old bottle of the Strathmill(1891) and they own the Pinch, which is a blended whisky that was worth $1000 USD in 1969, when they possessed that bottle. This museum owns over 3400 rare whisky bottle's of all kinds, which alot of them have a considerate amount of whisky inside!
I had the privilege to film some footage for the TV show! Only media is allowed to do that and I was honored. Now lets experience. The first step once you've paid your admission is the "Barrel Ride", which gives you a hieroglyphic visual tour of the history of whisky making along with some installations.
Second, you will find a small room with the whisky process adorning the walls with pictures and information, such as the maturation process and coopering. I liked the "Life of a cask" piece. It was informational and educational for me.
Third, you will walk through the hallway that is titled, "A Sense of Scotland" and then your directed into the "Sensory Room". Cowwum Logan(the instructor) started out with a PowerPoint sort of slide show explaining alittle bit about Scotland's distillery, history and the regions that they will focus on.
Next, as we sat around this large round table that has 4 smelling bottles, 4 colored coded circle's in the center to represent the main regions that the experience focuses on for your senses.
First, was the Lowlands, which I smelled mainly freshly baked biscuits. Second: Highlands, I smelled oak, mull, heather,honey, nuts, roses and various florals. Third: Speyside: I smelled pears, bananas, raisins, dates, pine, and apples. Last: My beautiful Isaly, which of course I smelled the dominant young coal(peet).
After the smelling exercise, you get to pick out which whisky you liked best from the smells that intrigued you the best. I picked the Ben Nevis, which I've had so many times in the past. I wish they had a wider selection for folks like myself.
Fourth, is the "how to drink whisky" room, which is the place that they hold their 3400 bottle collection (Up above in the top pix are the two sides of a 6 sided room that holds all of those darling bottles). In this portion of the tour, Cowwum tells you what to look for in the glass, such as the legs of the whisky as you swirl it around some. IG: If your whisky has slower legs, then it is thicker and have a tendency to have more body. If the legs are faster, then it is thinner and possibly has less robust flavour, which doesn't means that it isn't a good whisky or lacks flavour.
Last, after we walked out of the collection room we had an opportunity to go to the bar and sample some more whisky! At the massive whisky bar, I sampled 4 whiskies and 3 of them I've never had!
The first was from Highland, the Glengoyne 10 year(grown in the lowlands).It has a golden yellow color, it's fruity on the nose and have a hint of oak. It has a fresh, soft, and mellow taste that I'd enjoyed so much and will give it 4 stars!
Second, the Royal Lochnagar 12 year, which is also from the Highlands. The color is full gold and it has a light, subtle and malty scent on the nose. It tasted a little sweet and a little smoky with some malty flavor. I give it 3 1/2 stars, because I like my whisky to be smoky and not sweet! Not even a hint, but I can't deny that it is a good whisky.
Third, is the Strathisla 12 year from Speyside. This whisky packs a punch people! It has a bite-y, strong, smooth, dry, and malty taste! It's bright gold and has hints of sherry on the nose! I give it 3 1/2 stars overall and then an extra 1/2 star for the surprise attack..ha-he!
*Note: This is the base malt for Chivas Regal
Last and not least! The Laphroaig 10 year from Islay! If you don't know it by now, I love whisky and I hold a special place in my heart for Islay. I absolutely adore and enjoy the peat and smokiness it give to the whisky! My lovely Laphroaig is full gold in color and has a medicinal and phenolic aroma on the nose. It tastes salty, oily, and VERY SMOKY!! Of course I give it 4+ stars!!
*Note: When it comes to Laphroaig or any whisky from the Islay region it will primarily have these features/characteristics. It's rather you LOVE it or HATE it(in my opinion)!
*Note All of the whiskies was judged on a scale from 1-4 stars and even though I'm partial to Islay, Glengoyne gets the award for the best unknown whisky to meet my expectations. I now have another lover on my whisky list.
Slainte Mhath!
To be continued.................
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