A Highland affair
Caroline Dewar takes a stroll through whisky’s heartland
The Highland area begins north of the line drawn across Scotland from Greenock to Dundee. Within this the Speyside area is a subset and all islands except Islay are included – but more of islands another time.
Routes into this area by air can be Glasgow or Edinburgh, handy for Perthshire and some of the west and east coast respectively, or fly up to Aberdeen or Inverness.
Aberdeen has more access from Europe and both are convenient for Speyside and further north. There is also the ferry service into Rosyth from Zebrugge.
Highland just manages to include Glengoyne, mentioned in my Lowlands article, as it is more likely to be visited when in Glasgow.
Moving north from the Highland line, whisky visits tend to sort themselves into convenient pockets.
The Perthshire area is well served with five distilleries. First is Tullibardine – small but perfectly formed. John Black is manager there – one of those wonderful distillers who talks passionately about his subject and who enthuses even the most uncertain beginner.
Tullibardine benefits from a very good and reasonably priced café plus other retail outlets next door apart from its well stocked distillery shop.
Next up the line is Glenturret with The Famous Grouse Experience, where you can learn more about the blending process.
TFGE is open all year round apart from Christmas and New Year. It has long offered quality food in the self-service café and in the private dining rooms.
Space is available for evening hire, da.....
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By Caroline Dewar
Section : Visitor Guides
Page number : 37
