Day 19
Cardhu Distillery
The tour of the distillery was very cool. We learned about the history of this location, the distilling process, the quality controls, and how they can tweak the product so it has the desired flavor profile (fruity). Cardhu is one of the four distilleries in the Johnny Walker brand, though it’s a secret about what blend from which distilleries are used in each final product. I also learned that Scotch whisky is spelled without the “e.”
I am usually not a whisky (or whiskey) drinker. I think the tasting was a little bit wasted on our group, to be honest. I tried adding a little water and it did change the flavor profile. The highball they gave us at the beginning of the tour was very tasty, though. It turns out it was Johnny Walker Black and ginger ale. I also enjoyed some local dark chocolate they had for sale in the gift shop.
While we waited for the second half of our group, we found some “retired” Highland cattle in the field next to the distillery.
Pictish Stones
During my lunch hour, I decided to walk to the churchyard at Inverurie to see the Pictish stones. (This ended up being a theme for me. I wanted to get the most out of my trip. Sometimes what I wanted to see was a long walk for an hour break.)
I had hoped that the stones were standing in their original locations, but instead they were in a display case. I still appreciated that they had these stone closer to their original location where the locals can see them without having to travel to Edinburgh. The horse carving on the left reminded me of the boar I had seen at the National Museum.
There was also a large mound in the churchyard that was the site of a 12th century castle. Steps circling the mound allowed me to get to the top for a nice view. I then realized that I was running low on time. I had just enough time to speed-walk back to the bus, grabbing a quick vegetarian sausage roll at Gregg’s (a bakery chain) along the way.
Aberdeenshire Highland Cattle
Highland cattle (“coos”) have to be the most photogenic cattle I’ve ever seen. They are either adorable or they look like a teen pop sensation with their perfect wind-swept bangs (or “fringe” as they say in the UK). The calf looked like a teddy bear. They are mostly kept for premium beef and for shows. We had a little tasting at the end, but I went for the shortbread cookies.
Key Moment of the Day: We ended the day with a lovely reception at the (temporary) home of our faculty leader. It was great to hang out with everyone and relax (with some wine and plenty of highland brie), reflecting on our experiences during the trip.