We were met by our guide Donald who took us down the maze of passageways to Warehouse No. 9
A treasure trove of casks from many Scottish Distilleries
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| Photo: @JWBassman_ |
Donald then told us a little about the history of Cadenhead and the drams we were going to try today.
He then proceeded to pull a few drams and let us sample them!
Our first three were:
a 19yo Bunnahabhain from a Bourbon Hogshead ,
a 26yo Strathmill from a Bourbon Hogshead and
a 14yo Glenburgie which had matured in a Bourbon cask then 2yrs in Sherry.
Whilst we tasted each dram, Duncan told us a little about it.
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| Photo: @JWBassman_ |
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| Photo: @JWBassman_ |
We noticed a red painted cask sitting on the end of a row, a small label identified the wood owner as Loch Lomond Group! The #FanBoys amongst us (well the #BlindTastingOnTour gang) were immediately interested and asked Duncan about it.
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| Photo: @JWBassman_ |
"It's peated" he said, we were immediately more interested!
"I didn't like it..." he continued
"But if you really want to give it a try?" he asked
Five arms shot up.
"Ok" he said and proceed to draw some from the cask!
An amazing 12yo Peated Loch Lomond! Synchronized "ooooooh" from the #FanBoys!
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| Photo: @JWBassman_ |
At the end of the tasting I bought a bottle!
Unfortunately our Swedish friends were less than impressed by the Loch Lomond, complaining about the peat, you'd thing being descended from Viking Warriors they'd enjoy a bit of smoke....
The next few drams were:
a 12yo Hazelburn from a Fresh Sherry cask,
a 38yo blend of Edrington malts and grains,
an 8yo Springbank from a Bourbon barrel and
finally a 12yo Lagavulin matured in a fresh Oloroso Hogshead!
An amazing colour
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| Photo: @JWBassman_ |
Alistair and Max enjoying their drams!
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| Photo: @JWBassman_ |
John working his camera magic!
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| Photo: @JWBassman_ |
Andy, Max, Alistair and Brian enjoying their drams!
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| Photo: @JWBassman_ |
After the tasting we wandered down to the Cadenhead Shop for a team photo!
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| Photo: @JWBassman_ |
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| Phot: @JWBassman |
And a visit to the infamous Cage!
For those of you who don't know the cage is hidden away in a room at the back of the shop. It contains 70cl bottles of single cask Springbank, Hazelburn and Longrow that have been drawn from the cask for sampling. On very special occasions bottles from other distilleries appear there too!
This was not a very special occasion...
This was not a special occasion...
This was not even an occasion...
The Swedish coach had beaten us to it and just about emptied the cage, all that was left were a few bottles of Hazelburn. We were less than impressed.
They tried to impress us with their current bottling list..
We were even given a sample of a very nice Fettercain 10yo sherry cask
But the damage was done and we wandered off into the Campbeltown evening to find a curry shop!
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| Photo: JWBassman_ |
After a rather lovely curry we walked back to our AirB&B to discuss the day's events over a few more drams!
Coming up tomorrow was a visit to Springbank
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