Posts Tagged "scotland"

Travel Days from Scotland: Updated

January 13, 2026 0 Comments

I’ve been trying to dig out, after being significantly behind on my blog posts for some while now. I didn’t update the blog while I was in Scotland. And on our return, we had a period of time where we relocated to Michigan, while we got our floors done at the house. Another period of time where I wasn’t that up to date on things.

I’m happy to say that recently, I got through all the photos and videos from our last trip to Scotland. And they’re posted!

Driving… Right

September 18, 2025 0 Comments

Even though it’s been several days since we’ve returned from Scotland, and I’ve since been behind the wheel on American soil… I have to catch myself. The transition back to driving on the right side of the road is easier than I thought, but it hasn’t yet been complete.

Travel Day, Scotland to Chicago

September 14, 2025 0 Comments

A travel day for us, heading back to the States after an incredible 17 days revisiting and exploring Scotland. We’re in Edinburgh, but need to head back to drop off our car rental, and catch a flight from Glasgow Airport.

Scotland, Day 17: Breakfast at Greenwoods, Browsing at Golden Hare Books, Drams at The Vaults (Scotch Malt Whisky Society), Dinner at Timberyard

September 13, 2025 0 Comments

A few hours and a super sketchy Uber ride later… we arrived at The Vaults (another Scotch Malt Whisky Society location, this time in Leith).

Scotland, Day 16: Breakfast at The Pantry, Drams at Bow Bar, the World of Harry Potter at Museum Context, MinaLima, Exploring Dunbars Close, Drinks at Scotch Malt Whisky Society (Queens Street), Anniversary Dinner at the Scran and Scallie

September 12, 2025 0 Comments

Back outside, mingling with the Muggles.

Scotland, Day 15: Breakfast at Urban Angel, Comics and Exploration, Dinner at Amarone, Movie at the Scotsman Picturehouse, Drinks at the Bon Vivant

September 11, 2025 0 Comments

Our tickets included a bottle of wine and some popcorn to share.

The movie we saw was The Roses (I didn’t quite remember that it was a remake, until after we got back in the States).

Scotland, Day 14: Speyside Falconry, Aberlour Distillery, GlenAllachie Distillery, Lunch at the Gather’n Cafe, Coffee Stop at Cafe Calluna (Pitlochry), Driving to Edinburgh

September 10, 2025 0 Comments

A big travel day for us, leaving Speyside and trekking to Edinburgh for our last city and stay, before heading home.

Scotland, Day 13: Tasting at Glendronach, Dinner at The Mash Tun

September 9, 2025 0 Comments

Our big event for the day wasn’t until later on: a tasting a one of our favorite distilleries, Glendronach.

Scotland, Day 12: Drams at Strathisla, Tasting at Gordon & MacPhail, Beers at Against the Grain, Dinner at the Drouthy Cobbler

September 8, 2025 0 Comments

Dram 1: 39 Year Caol Ila (filled 1984 in a Refill American Hogshead, bottled in 2023).

Dram 2: 29 Year Glentauchers (filled 1995 in a First Fill Sherry Butt, bottled in 2024).

Dram 3: 26 Year Dailuaine (filled 1998 in a REfill American Hogshead, bottled in 2024)

Dram 4: 23 Year Macallan (filled 2001, bottled in 2024)

Dram 5: 17 Year Linkwood (filled 2008 in a First Fill Sherry Hogshead, bottled in 2025).

Scotland, Day 11: Tasting at Glen Garioch Distillery, Newburgh Seal Beach, Dinner at Islay House

September 7, 2025 0 Comments

We got what felt like a very behind the scenes look at the whole process. Of particular note – Glen Garioch only recently returned to floor malting (some more background) – a very manual and labor/time-intensive process.

The smell of the malt was quite incredible – and I really wish I could have taken some photos to share. But I guess you’ll have to go on the tour yourself, if you want to see it.

Scotland, Day 10: Travel to Speyside – Visiting the Highland Coos at Drumbuie Farm, Duffus Castle, Arrival at Islay Bank House, Dinner at Toot’s

September 6, 2025 0 Comments

Travel day! We left Portree, packed all our things in the car, and are headed to Speyside.

Scotland, Day 9: The Old Man of Storr, Lealt Falls, Constables Coffee Truck, Shilasdair Yarn, Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls, Lunch at the Hungry Gull, Dinner at Three Chimneys

September 5, 2025 0 Comments

Liz and I started to take shorter and shorter distances. The heights were getting to us, but we felt confident and strong. So we’d pause, gather ourselves, and then decide to go up “a little further,” picking some visual marker.

And then we’d repeat that a few times, and get higher and higher.

Scotland, Day 8: Handspinner Having Fun, the Old Pier, Tasting at Torabhaig Distillery, Walking Along the Carbost Waterfront, Dinner at Old Inn

September 4, 2025 0 Comments

A really cool thing about Torabhaig – they made it a point to hire locals to work at the distillery. And more than that, also made it a point to hire folks who may not have been directly involved in the whisky industry.

Of particular interest, they have a Journeyman’s Series: a program where they set aside one month each year for their distillers to have free reign of the distillery, to work on their own custom recipes.

Scotland, Day 7: Ferry to Isle of Raasay, Encountering Dolphins, Raasay Distillery, Driving and Sheepspotting, Dinner at Sprig

September 3, 2025 0 Comments

This looks to be just like a Renaissance painting (if it weren’t for that bit of blue spray paint, dotting the sheep’s butt in the foreground).

Scotland, Day 6: Fairy Glen, Rha Falls, Quiraing Trail, the Gold Cave, An Corran Beach

September 2, 2025 0 Comments

A lovely view from Portree (this is a row of houses, on a lower street – not actually of the downtown area).

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