I am writing this short review to use your review as last time I tried, it was long and I hit the wrong button so it vapourized,
I cannot insert and earlier date but this trip was actually back in August 2005 Liz and I decided to make the trip across the North Atlantic from the Pacific to see the United Kingdom as much as possible without worrying about numerous hotels and driving et cetra. As an introduction I was born In Hampshire where the Airshow is each year (clue 🙂 ) and Liz in Barbados but she had never seen the UK.
We cashed in an old Insurance policy as the kids were older now and used it to help us get to Southampton and embark on a cruise around the UK and Ireland. It was on Golden Princess which had just started these ten day cruises, ours was August 2005 . We had booked in March of that year and of course you all had that ugly bombing near the Hilton Euston I had booked as in the British Medical Association which was interesting as I worked at the time for the Medical Services Plan of BC in conjunction with or local BCMA.
Ok, that is the background. 🙂 🙂
One of our stops was Kirkwall Orkney Island's Lovely wife wanted see the Italian Chapel and area in the morning which I admit I enjoyed so I said well for the afternoon I want to go to the Highland Park Distillery. ta rah She agreed.
We arrived at the Highland Park Distillery and were escorted into a viewing area to see a film on the creation of this water of the God's my bias and at the end were offered a wee dram to taste. Mmmmm They said the tour would now start but if anybody did not want to go than one could wait and get a second wee dram sample. My eyes lit up , I started to raise my hand but the love of my life mumbled I need to be with her. Grrr….
The tour itself took you through the various areas where the peat is heated and mixed with heather , I know not all the details but we saw the floor where it is all spread out and mixed for the malt. The smell was lovely… well we all have our tastes. We were than taken to see the vats and finally the storage. The storage rooms are vast so casks for 12, 18 years and 21 years and more exist. Her Majesty s Customs and Excise visit on a regular basis to ensure their pound of flesh is not lost once the casks are moved to be bottled. The day we were present a small cask was maturing for 25 years and was to be awarded to a baby who happened to be the millionth visitor (some such number) a year or so prior once they attained the age of majority. The Dad was not allowed to claim.
We were than taken to their Shoppe, it had everything one could see with Logos and of course various aged Highland Park Distillery Whiskey including chocolates laced with wee drams.
I bought some for us hoping Liz would have a few on the ship but she bit one than another on the bus and next I looked before we got to the tender, all gone. I did get some but next time I will hide them , well I will try. This is a free tour and well worth it www.highlandpark.co.uk/.
