UKBG Thames Valley and South West Area
The Thames Valley UKBG Visit to Scotland 2007
Day One
The day started at the SLTN show in Edinburgh watching Master Magicians Peter Dorelli and Salvatore Calabrese in action during their cocktail Masterclass sessions.
From Edinburgh we made the long trip to Craigellachie in the heart of Speyside, with the help of Paul Friel of First Drinks. The mastermind of malt whisky, Regis Lamaitre, chairmen of the Scottish UKBG, started a late tasting session and we all saw our first “Gold Cock”.
Day Two
The first distilleries on the agenda were Glenfiddich, which is the producer of the largest selling malt whisky in the world, and Balvenie, located in Dufftown. Even though these distilleries are located next door to each other, each chooses to use different spring water. At the Balvenie distillery, they use their own malting floors and shovel the barley by hand—the term “Monkey Shoulder” came from this activity. Here the manufacturing involves adding peat to the malting process.
At Glenfiddich the manufacturing process involves the use of different types of stills, whereas Balvenie only use the Swan neck style. We were lucky to be shown the cellars at close quarters, and role they take in the whisky process was explained to the tour.
After lunch we drove to the next glen, to Glenrothes a small malt whisky label, yet it has the fifth largest distillery in Scotland. However, only two percent of the distillery is used in malt production. It was explained to us that the different styles and sizes of barrels can effect the malt whisky; we also had a close look at the spirit safes where the heart is separated from the heads and the tails. A most enjoyable little tasting followed the tour.
A brief break then on to the Craigellachie Hotel for the Macallen Amber Cocktail Competition, the first one in the country, Amber is a new whisky liqueur, with notes of maple and hints of pecan nut.
Salvatore Dominao, winner of the country's first Macallen Amber
Cocktail Competition with Regis Lamaitre, Chairman of the Scottish
area UKBG
The winner of the competition was Salvatore Damiano (above) of Carey’s Manor in the New Forest. His winning cocktail, Vanilla Cask, was made with the following ingredients:
- 35ml Macallan Amber whisky liqueur
- 10ml Cointeau
- 15ml lychee juice
- Shake all ingredients and serve in a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with caramelized ginger and a vanilla pod.
The runner-up was Davide Trupia with his cocktail, Manor’s Delice.
After the competition a visit to the renowned Quake Bar which is renown for its 700 malt whiskies on its shelves. This session was followed by a gourmet dinner at the Craigellachie Hotel, with entertainment from local Scottish artist Robin Laing.
Day Three
From Craigellachie, we left for Crieff, which is south of the Cairngorm Mountains. We were headed for the Famous Grouse distillery, where the different styles of Scotch were explained, as well as how blends are made. A long tasting session of blends that make up Famous Grouse was endured by all! After all, this is the biggest selling Scotch in Scotland.
