Slainte! Raise a glass for Whisky Day
It will soon be time for you to raise your glass and celebrate a cheerful event on Scotland’s calendar … World Whisky Day! A global celebration of our national drink, it takes place on the third Saturday in May (19th this year).
From our base here at Loch Ness, you can reach a number of distilleries in under an hour for a visit and a tasting. The close ones are Tomatin, Glen Ord, and Ben Nevis at Fort William.
If whisky is your tipple and you wish to learn more, we’d recommend the “Spirit of Speyside” Whisky Festival - https://www.spiritofspeyside.com/ - taking place from 3rd May to 7th May.
In the words of festival chairman, James Campbell: “We look forward to another extended meeting of the United Nations of whisky lovers.”
This year, the programme features more than 500 events embracing music, food, talks, tours, ceilidhs, outdoor activities, heritage and fun. And, of course, plenty of whisky from some of the finest distilleries in the world.
Whisky has been distilled in Scotland since at least the 15th century and, today, whisky tastings are extremely popular.
Here at Loch Ness, in the village of Drumnadrochit, we have Fiddlers Restaurant which was voted Malt Whisky Bar of the Year with over 600 whiskies. If you visit or call, ask for Jon Beach - a very knowledgeable practitioner.
In Inverness, we have the Malt Room with an excellent selection and the resident expert is Matt; an experienced tutor of fine malts.
A single malt is a whisky that has been distilled from malted barley and is the product of one distillery.
A pure, vatted malt is a mixture of single malts from several distilleries. A blended whisky is a mixture of various grain whiskies (about 60%) and malt whiskies (about 40%) from many different distilleries.
A single malt is like a fine wine and captures the essence of the region where it is made and matured, involving a lot of elements like the water, barley, peat smoke, and the oak barrels. Distilleries that are on islands or near the coast seem to embrace the sea, the salt and the air in their flavours.
So the dram you are having is a complex and fascinating drink!
Single malts should be drunk with a little water or neat. Never with ice, and preferably with bottled spring water.
It takes a long time to mature so it should be treated with reverence.
Also to increase your whisky knowledge, here is a short whisky quiz for you to attempt as you enjoy some of Scotland's finest malts.
Loch Ness by Jacobite – Whisky Quiz
1. What is the name of the distillery on the Isle of Skye?
Talisker
Highland Park
Dalmore
Auchentoshan
Scapa
2. In which town is Springbank situated?
Aberdeen
Inverness
Campbeltown
Inverary
Inverness
3. What kind of wood is used for storing and maturing malt whisky?
Pine
Mahogany
Oak
Chestnut
Cedar
4. Which whisky shares its name with the highest mountain in Scotland?
Benrinnes
Ben Riach
Benromach
Ben Nevis
Ben Wyvis
5. Scotch whisky is usually matured in wooden casks. What is the minimum maturity period?
5 years
2 years
3 years
7 years
10years
6. Early spirit was known by the Gaelic name. What was it?
Uisge Beatha
Poit Dhubh
Aquae Vitae
Te Bheag
Ha Ghuma
7. What type of cask previously used is most preferred for malt whisky?
Beer
Port
Sherry
Wine
Cognac
8. What is the largest selling malt whisky in the world?
Glenmorangie
Bowmore
Glenlivet
Glenfiddich
Tomatin
9. What expression is most associated with whisky?
Red Biddy
Eighty Shilling
Dram
Heavy
Schooner
10. Which of the following is most associated with whisky?
Skirlie
Porridge
White Pudding
Athole Brose
Stovies
PS: On board our Jacobite fleet, you can also sample a fine Tomatin malt whisky and take in the fresh Loch Ness air and contemplate all things Scottish.
Slainte ... and enjoy!