#theacademydrinksinscotland

[theacademydrinks]

THE MALTING FLOOR. Working backward from my bottling, cask rolling, & kilning posts because why not? After steeping (soaking in water) to trick it into germinating, the barley is spread then grubbed (raked) several times a day as it warms & sprouts to keep its new shoots & roots from matting. At Springbank, the whole process is still done 100% on site by hand. Highland Park, Bowmore, Laphroaig, Kilchoman, the BenRiach, and the Balvenie also malt some of their own barley on site. It’s backbreaking work — at least for someone usually writing 🧐. The repetitive strain injury one can develop working the malting floor is called “monkey shoulder.” Think shoveling snow all day, every day. Even at Springbank, these days the maltmen & women rotate through other production jobs. But it’s still hard work. #theacademydrinksinscotland #theacademydrinksatspringbank #whatimdoingwiththatphilosophyphd #whiskygeek #whiskytrivia #floormalting #whiskylove #instawhisky #singlemalt #scotchwhisky #whiskyporn #distilleryporn #whiskylife #whiskylife #singlemaltscotch #scotchwhisky #whisk(e)y (at Springbank Distillers)

[theacademydrinks]

I’ve read some heart-squeezing tributes about people who inspire. I love such posts & am not ashamed of being a big softy whose heart melts at some profiles. But I’m also someone who has met many dear friends by arguing with them about something. And not always something important. 🤼 🤺 🤼‍♂️🗣 That’s how I met my husband of 8 thousand years, way back in the mists of time before slide-rules existed. I’ve met some folk in the drinks world this way too. So I’ve decided to profile people I’ve met this way, since it’s something different & more in keeping with my nature than other sorts of tributes. There will be no regularity to this. People I adore because they’ll argue with me — or at least engage on a real level. One young gent I met while bickering about whisky online will probably be horrified that I’m going to out him as exceedingly kind & gracious. I recently visited @whisky_rover on his home turf. One of several places he took me was @tullibardinewhisky . We went other places as well but I like these photos because neither of us expected this tour — or even asked for it. A really nice—clearly busy — man simply offered to take us around with him as he was getting ready for something. He led us last casks, into an elaborate tasting room, gave us a lightning quick history & disappeared again as abruptly as he had appeared. 🏃🏻🏃🏽‍♂️🏃🏽‍♂️🏃🏽‍♂️🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♂️ Sort of like social media friendships for some people, I suppose. But I don’t roll like that. Friendships forged in argument, sealed in person with a dram, are permanent. Cheers JJ! Next time over a cocktail in my town. (Yes, I will put things IN the whisky & stir it all up. 🍸🍸🍸🍸🍸🍸🍸 #peoplewhoinspire #whatimdoingwiththatphilosophyphd #theacademydrinksinscotland #maltreview #gracioushost #toolingaround #oppositionaldefiantdisorder #oppositionaldefiancedisorder #speysidewhiskyfestival #dram19 (at Tullibardine Whisky Distillery) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxF81Q9nSH1/?igshid=361jfisn6zny

[theacademydrinks]

I’m about to head to Scotland again where I’m sure to be drinking lots of yumilicious* whisky. So I’m taking the opportunity to savor some of the other glories of Bacchus (Succellus?) beforehand. 🍇 🧝🏾‍♂️ 🍇 Ok that’s a really obnoxious way of saying “I had a martini & it was good!” 🍸 🎯 🍸 *yumilicious, from ancient Latin, meaning yummy 📜 😋 📜 #whatimdoingwiththatphilosophyphd #scotlandbound #theacademydrinksinscotland #nomnomnomnom (at 116 Crown) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwp8hMcHCne/?igshid=fry3dd8mzann

[theacademydrinks]

Pride cometh before the fall, haste makes waste & all that other good stuff 🤦🏻‍♀️ 🙇🏻‍♀️ The other day I got on the wrong train & ended up in Edinburgh instead of Oban. Whatever mitigating circumstances you might be tempted to envision on my behalf, don’t. I was too early, the station was empty save for me, 2 trains, a bunch of staff — & I chose track 3 instead of track 2. 🚂 🚂 I knew there was a later train I could still catch that would get to Oban on time for the Colonsay ferry. But if I missed that there wouldn’t be another ferry for days. So when I got back to Glasgow & learned the train was cancelled, I’d have to catch a commuter line to a bus, & there was flooding along the coast, things got dicey. ⛴ ⛴ I would like to now tell the Homerian tale of my ensuing journey to Colonsay but instagram’s “a picture is worth a thousand words” philosophy prevents me from doing so here. Instead I’ll just say: that most Scottish phrase 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿“That’s all right then, we’ll get ye sorted,” 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿is very reassuring — mainly because it’s usually followed up by actually getting one sorted. 🙋🏻‍♀️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 #colonsay #historicscotland #hiddenscotland #theacademydrinksinscotland #whiskytravel #writerslifestyle #wrongtrain #instawhisky #whiskylover #explorescotland #saltire #scotchphd #theprofessorisin #cocktailhistory #whiskygram #whiskyporn #whiskywriter #scotchtasting #whiskytasting #spiritswriter #scotchwhisky #whiskylife #whiskeyporn #whiskygeek #whiskylove #whiskytime #singlemalt #singlemaltscotch #oban #calmac (at Colonsay General Store) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpATjR8AHeO/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=wum9w6snwqts

[theacademydrinks]

With the enormous NYC Governor’s Ball coming up, thought I’d share amazing band I was fortunate enough to hear recently on street in Glasgow. Swipe to hear 8 sec of them. (If you’re like me & can’t have sound clips on 1st page of your feed, I got you.) Of course they have a single malt Scotch: a heavily peated expression “Tu-Bardh” (after the band founder) from the small, traditional Edradour Distillery. #theacademydrinksinscotland #clanadonia #glasgow #glasgowmusic #pipemusic #whiskygeek #whiskylove #instawhisky #singlemalt #scotchwhisky #whiskyporn #distilleryporn #whiskylife #singlemaltscotch #scotchwhisky #whisk(e)y #theacademydrinks #pipeband #govball #smallestdistillery #sherriedwhisky (at Buchanan Street)

[theacademydrinks]

Bottling a single cask for a special release @springbank1828. The bottling line is such a beautiful place to work. Or in my case, to stand and ask the people actually working lots of questions as they let me push buttons, fill bottles & play w stuff. #singlecaskwhisky #bottlingday #springbankwhisky #theacademydrinksatspringbank #theacademydrinksinscotland #visitscotland #whatimdoingwiththatphilosophyphd (at Springbank Distillers)

[theacademydrinks]

Rolling filled barrels to the warehouse for aging @springbank1828 #theacademydrinksinscotland #theacademydrinksatspringbank #whiskycask #caskstrength #cadenheads (at Springbank Distillers)

[theacademydrinks]

@glenscotiamalts is getting ready for their #openday2018 Open Day on May 23. Go if you can. Wish I could! These guys are so welcoming. And Callum is a historian’s dream: he knows Campbeltown history & can paint a picture with just a few words. #theacademydrinksinscotland #visitscotland #campbeltown #scotlandisnow #whiskyschool (at Campbeltown)

[theacademydrinks]

Campbeltown used to have 30+ distilleries. @springbank1828 operates #glengyledistillery for only a short period of time every year. That’s where @kilkerranwhisky is made. #theacademydrinksatspringbank #theacademydrinksinscotland #explorecampbeltown #visitscotland #scotlandisnow #cadenheads (at Campbeltown)

[theacademydrinks]

What a view! Looking out from #glengyledistillery across toward @springbank1828 This is the motif on the label of @kilkerranwhisky #explorecampbeltown #theacademydrinksinscotland #theacademydrinksatspringbank #visitscotland #scotlandisnow (at Campbeltown)

[theacademydrinks]

This is what aging in a sherry cask does. (I didnt filter this photo). The other pix are this dram being pulled straight out of the sherry butt. Drinking this was like having fresh milk from a cow. Except it was scotch not warm milk. And I didn’t have to milk anything. #caskstrengthwhisky #theacademydrinksinscotland #sherrybutt #valinch #maltwhiskytrail

[theacademydrinks]

@thepotstill is one of the best whisky bars anywhere. But not just because of its selection (700+). The proprietor & staff know and care — and will tailor recs to your taste. #bestpub #bestwhiskybar #bestwhiskeybar #theacademydrinksinscotland #visitscotland (at The Pot Still)