This year's DrivenByDrams gang trip had us heading up to Campbeltown
As well as the 'must do' Dunnage Tour at Glen Scotia we had also planned Warehouse Tastings at Cadenhead's and Kilkerran.
As usual for these trips the gang manage to get a few days away from the wives and kids, some 'us time' up in Scotland, visiting distilleries, bars and sharing bottles in our accommodation!
An early start saw me catching a train to Carnforth, just off the M6, where the Southport contingent picked me up, and we headed North!
Mark arrived from Germany a little while later!
We were staying in a great little AirBnB next door to Glen Scotia Distillery.
We'd arrived in Campbeltown on one of the rare days when the sun is shinning.
It was a Sunday, so with no distilleries open, our first port of call was the Black Sheep for some beer, drams and obligatory Haggis Nachos!
We did notice that it looks like Iain McAllister has found himself a new job!
First thing Monday morning it was up to Glen Scotia to visit Kate's Bench and pay our respects.
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| Photo: John |
After a rather nice GS Cask 98 we moved on to join the queue at Springbank's Shop to try and grab a Cage Bottling
We couldn't resist the Longrow Bottle Your Own either!
Then into the Washback Bar for a couple of drams! (Photos: John)
First tour of the trip was to Cadenhead's in their new 'warehouse'
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| Photo: John |
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| Photo: John |
Finlay introduced himself and guided us through the 6 casks we were going to try.
Glenlossie 17yo Single Cask
Spirit of Yorkshire 6yo Single Cask (Madeira)
GlenAllachie 16yo Single Cask (Sherry)
Balvenie 14yo Single Cask (Sherry) - Burnside
Ledaig 15yo Single Cask (Bourbon)
Caol Ila 11yo Single Cask (Bourbon)
Finlay then took orders for any bottles we wanted to buy!
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| Photo: John |
A good time was had by all!
Then we were taken over to Cadenhead's 'new' Tasting Room where Scott poured us a few more drams!
We grabbed a take-away Chinese and headed home to open some of the bottles we'd brought with us!
The next day it was up to Glen Scotia for a Dunnage Tour with the lovely Clare!
Clare took us through a tasting of 5 casks with a little help from Mark!
Glen Scotia 2015 10yo Single Cask #1534 (Bourbon)
Glen Scotia 2019 6yo Single Cask #2024/500 (Oloroso)
Glen Scotia 2016 9yo Single Cask #3393 (PX)
Glen Scotia 2014 10yo Single Cask #21/046-3 (Ruby Port)
Glen Scotia 2014 10yo Single Cask #1984 (HP Bourbon)
On the way home we ran into Colin from Islay's Attic Cabs!
The next day it was back to Cadenhead's to use our 2nd free tasting a year token! This time we had Michaal to take us through the drams!
Again we had the opportunity to buy a bottle, filled, corked and labelled right there!
Michael also showed us the new Cadenhead's Lab where for £100 you could spend an hour and a half on the Creation – Blending Session - that looked like great fun and we'll book it next time we're in the town!
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| Photo: John |
Then back to The Tasting Room for a few more drams and some food from Julie!
Next it was on to our last tour of the visit - Kilkerran's Warehouse!
Where Marcus took us through 6 interesting casks!
Kilkerran (Glengyle) 19yo Triple Distilled
Kilkerran (Glengyle) 2005 20yo Single Cask #356
Kilkerran (Glengyle) 2010 15yo Single Cask #146
Kilkerran (Glengyle) 2013 11yo Single Cask #648 (Port)
Kilkerran (Glengyle) 2013 11yo Single Cask #254 (Sherry)
Kilkerran (Glengyle) 2015 9yo Single Cask #202 (HP)
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| Photo: John |
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| Photo: John |
A fantastic trip with the boys!
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| Brian, Max, John, Mark & Andy |
It was then time to pack up and head home, but we had received an invite to a very special place on the way home! Loch Lomond Group's Glen Catrine Bottling Plant - read about it here!
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