Whiskey!

Whiskey is the national drink of Scotland!  It is everywhere and there are plenty of kinds.  For the record I am a bourbon, beer, and gin man, but I promised myself I would be open to something new.  We found a great local distillery called Glen Ord near Inverness.  This is the place to make whiskey!  The Black Isles is an area that has some the best soil you will ever find.  The soil is so black and rich its unbelievable (unlike our lovely Georgia clay). 

To like anything really well, you have to learn the process and how something is made.  The appreciation comes out of this process of learning.  We had a great tour at the distillery.  Something we didn't realize was the several years ago numerous distilleries were bought by Guinness.  Guinness in turn merged with Grand Metropolitan and formed Diageo. 

Jenny and I also discovered that there is a whole quadrant taste system in which there many whiskeys that had a much smoother taste and less peaty.  A 12-year Glenmorangie is much more smooth than say a 16-year old Lagavulin which will be really strong and peaty. 

One more thing we discovered and now love:  Harris Gin.  Harris is an island north of the Scottish mainland where they still speak Gaelic. It is remote and rural and they create some of the best gin in the world.  We have added it to our must have list for our growing liquor collection.