Unforgettable summer journey through Scotland's Whisky Heritage 🏰 - Day 3: Exploring Keith and Elgin – Strathisla and Glen Moray
In 2014, a group of friends and I embarked on our first whisky adventure, and now, ten years later, we continue to explore the world of whisky with the same passion and curiosity. Despite a brief pause during the pandemic, our dedication to uncovering the beauty of distilleries and deepening our whisky knowledge remains strong. To celebrate our tenth journey, we returned to Scotland, the heart of whisky production. Scotland, along with Ireland, offers not only a rich history but also a relatively accessible destination for us Czechs. Over six days, we planned to visit 12 distilleries and had the unique opportunity to meet two of the most respected figures in the whisky industry—David Stewart and Alan Winchester.
Strathisla Distillery
We kicked off Day 3 in the quaint town of Keith, home to the renowned Strathisla Distillery, the birthplace of Chivas Regal. While Chivas Regal is a global icon, it was the charming Strathisla single malt that drew us in. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the distillery’s signature pagodas and lush gardens—there’s no question why Strathisla is often considered one of Scotland’s most picturesque distilleries.
Though I had visited the distillery before, this time I finally had the chance to join the full tour, guided by the lovely Gemma. Strathisla’s tour is a perfect blend of history and whisky-making insights. Despite being the home of Chivas Regal, the tour didn’t solely focus on the blended whisky. Instead, we learned just as much about the distillery’s production of Strathisla’s own single malt, which was a personal highlight. During our tasting session, we sampled some unique drams, including the Strathisla 11-year-old bourbon cask exclusive and a special 16-year-old Strathisla matured in Cognac butts. While everything we tried was pleasant, it was the extra tasting session in the shop that truly impressed me, especially the distillery-exclusive 18-year-old first-fill sherry cask Strathisla—a powerful whisky, full of rich fruits and spices, though the £195 price tag meant I had to reluctantly leave it behind.
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Hopeman West Beach
Before heading to our next distillery, we detoured to Hopeman West Beach, where we braved the chilly North Sea waters for a quick swim. The 19°C weather didn’t stop us from enjoying the beach before we warmed up with lunch at Bootleggers Bar, overlooking the sea.
A Hidden Gem: Glen Moray Distillery in Elgin
After lunch, we made our way to Elgin, a town steeped in whisky history and the birthplace of the independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail. With only a short amount of time, we paid a quick visit to their store, where an overwhelming selection of whiskies lined the shelves. If we’d had more time, it would have been easy to lose ourselves in this whisky haven!
Next on our list was Glen Moray Distillery, located just outside of Elgin. Glen Moray, known for producing affordable yet quality single malts, offered us a fascinating tour. While the distillery isn’t as well-known as some of its neighbors, we were thoroughly impressed by its range. The tour provided great insight into the production process, and we were particularly taken by the warehouse experience, where various casks were displayed for us to examine and smell. From bourbon to sherry and cognac, the diversity of casks used in their whisky maturation is impressive.
The tasting that followed allowed us to sample a wide array of Glen Moray whiskies, including the 15-year-old core range and the Twisted Vine, finished in Cognac casks. We also opted for the limited-edition flight, which included an exceptional 11-year-old Amontillado cask finish, a 14-year-old Amarone finish, and a beautifully rich Oloroso-cask-aged expression. While Glen Moray might not get as much attention as some of the bigger names in the industry, their whiskies are excellent, and the value for money is hard to beat.
After the tour, we took a leisurely stroll back to Elgin, stopping for a relaxing pint at local pubs like Mucklecross and Granary. There’s something incredibly satisfying about ending a day of whisky exploration with a cold beer in hand!
SlĂ inte mhath!
Pavel, The Whisky Game
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