Whisky and Waterfalls

I wanted to see the Highlands and learn more about Scotch, so I went on a whisky and waterfall tour.


                               

Do you recognize Doune Castle from the opening scene of Monty Python and the Holy Grail?  

Already a promising trip...

                           


through glens...


                           



                            


                           

past lochs....


                             


and then we arrived at the Glenturret Distillery, ostensible home of the Famous Grouse, Scotland's most popular whiskey for the past 30 years (which is actually a blend of 100 whiskies)... and learned a bit about malting barley and distilling whiskey and consequently, a bit about the differences among Scotch Whiskeys.  So far I have tried Dalwhinnie, Macallan, the Famous Grouse, Naked Grouse, Laphroaig and Highland Park.  The barley of the Highland Park, which I have been alternately sipping and swigging was dried by smoking peat (versus hot air dryers) and aged in sherry oak casks from Spain (versus bourbon oak casks from America) for twelve years, which differentiates it from the others. It is my present favorite, though I have another week in Scotland and am open to trying others.

My guide was quite knowledgable and intent about expounding upon Scottish history, which frankly, is quite gruesome and bloody, so I focused more of my attention to tasting Scotch in its different variations.

The colors on the trip home were even more vibrant...

                           

the glens sunnier...

                            

the clouds more intense...

                            

the hillsides more lush...

                             

and the water more crystalline...


                               

                               


Ah, bonny Scotland.