Scotch and cotton mills

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Started off with a nice scottish breakfast (black pudding, haggis, white pudding, sausage, haggis, potato scones, toast, eggs, haggis, grilled tomatoes, and baked beans). Then off to Pilochry to see the Edradour distillery which is the smallest distillery in all of Scotland and incidently is Nigel's favourite scotch! The tour was fabulous and took us through the warehouse where there were many casks, the oldest of which was turning 50 years old next year. Many of these were casks of Edradour and there were also many casks from other either existing or no-longer existing distilleries where the owner of Edradour bought the casks and will later bottle them under the original scotch brand. We also saw the stills in action and a malting room. The entire distillery operation is done by 4 men. They showed a short movie at the beginning accompanied by 2 scotch samples, one was a 10 year and the other was a 12-year. We got to keep the keepsake glasses too! Nigel bought some scotch but we were unable to get any empty tins for Scott as they send the bottles out to be packaged. The distillery was very picturesque too with a lovely stream running through it.

Nigel here for a second - I sampled a 26 year old Edradour thanks to the generosity of a fellow tourist and WOW!! Where are my socks? They must have been blown clean off! Best scotch ever!!! After that taste explosion we wandered out. There was a lone piper at the gates to the distillery, so we gave him five pounds and he played all our favourite 80s tunes: Beat it, Stairway to Heaven, a Beegees tune and a couple Hall and Oats charts. Just kidding. It was Scotland the Brave. Back to Lori...

Then in to Pitlochry for lunch at Auld Smitty's. Lori enjoyed mussells and Nigel the steak and sausage pie. Delicious! Wandered up and down the High Street before moving on to see Stanley Mills which is a closed down mill that operated until 1989. It was a cotton mill that was in operation since the 1700's. There was a very informative exhibit here with lots of hands-on sections. It showed how the mill transitioned from a wooden wheel mill, to a wheel with buckets, then finally a turbine powered mill. The workers there had been part of the clearances and had been offered a new home and piece of land if they agreed to leave their home and work at the mill. The alternative was to be simply kicked out of their homes as the rich people wanted to clear the land so they could breed sheep.

Back home for a quiet evening and an early night.

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Photos

Dram of whisky
Nigel enjoyed these VERY much.

That's a lot of scotch
Edradour casks and many more.....

Yet another piper!
They're everywhere!

Rachel dressed as a cotton mill worker
She's a hard worker!

Comments

[Mom Coleman]

I just can't picture Lori enjoying the scotch samples !!!!!!!! but maybe I'm wrong.......anyway I'm sure you were in heaven ,Nigel !........Rachel is playing clarinet anything like playing bagpipes?......maybe Russell could take up Bagpipes ?!

[Patrick Bothwell]

Bring back a bottle & make sure Lori is driving at Burn's night next year!!

[Dad \"C\"]

Hi Sweet People............firstly, I won\'t comment on the weather in these parts............methinks you\'ve heard reports from others..............your \"exchange family\" couldn\'t have enjoyed nicer weather thus far into their trip (I just blew it.......a comment on the weather !!)............I know that your family is having a good time, albeit in a country where there is no other food but blood pudding, haggis and Scottish scones...........oh yes, fish and chips !!!!..........j/k.................Hi Rachie & Russell..........I\'ve been following you everywhere in Google Earth...........my two favourite towns so far: Crieff and Pitlochry............both charming towns...........I love the stone buildings and varied architecture..........stone walls / fences everywhere in front of the residences which certainly adds a lot of character to the neighbourhoods........some very interesting store and pub names......to date, I\'ve only spotted a handfull of satellite dishes mounted on buildings........this surprises me !.............being an ex pilot, I\'ve checked out most of the airports / landing strips across Scotland and the outer islands off the west coast........I\'m vicariously enjoying your trip but must confess that I\'d limit myself to two feeds of haggis and blood pudding over a two week period !..........I\'m happy that Nigel is in \"Haggis Heaven\" as Lori puts it.............the visit to the distillery would be another memorable occasion........Scott informs me that he has enjoyed single malt whiskey from Edradour..... keep up the blogs and give a big hug to Rachie and Russell.........cute pics of the two beavers.............ciao...........Dad \"C\"

[mom]

26 year old edradour
Grampa(dave) wants to know if you are bringing one back,for which he would gladly pay

[Elke & Don]

Scotch tasting
We are so glad to hear that you ejoyed Edradour so much. WOW, a 26 yr old Scotch - that's some generous tourist!