Campbeltown Malts Festival - Please don't read...

In 2014 my friend Steffen Bräuner told me he was going to Scotland and attending the 1st annual Campbeltown Malts Festival. The what? I asked... Considering I was going to be around for a few weeks, we decided to travel and go together.

When I started telling a few other people I was going to Campbeltown they giggled or at least smiled through the corners of their mouth and warned me the place and its people were 'different'. I started to worry and wonder what exactly I had agreed and gotten myself into?! Steffen and I arrived on a Wednesday afternoon and within a few hours of being there I started sending photos and texting Graham. 

My hometown - Campbellton NB (Population 7,300)

Funny enough I was born in the town of Campbellton NB and the UK version was strangely reminiscent of my own hometown. Campbeltown UK is also small (population 4,800) but big in pride. It may be a tiny town on the Kintyre peninsula but it is a huge community and yes they are different so if you come from a large city where you are one of the faceless millions, I could see how small town Scotland could seem weird and possibly make some people feel... awkward. But for me, I felt completely at home. I guess that makes me 'different' as well which is why this year when Graham and I returned to Scotland I made sure we attended the 2nd annual Campbeltown Malts Festival. 

It's hard to believe when you arrive there that at the height of the whisky boom & mid 19th century Alfred Barnard had visited 21 distilleries and Campbeltown was the richest town per capita (1,969 living souls) in Britain. To this day the whiskies still have a reputation for their very distinctive styles. Back at the height they were highly sought after and quite popular on an international level; however, greed caused a catastrophic decline in quality which resulted in a massive consumer backlash. 


Apparently, word gets around quickly when distilleries start churning out the equivalent of what people started to describe as the smell and taste of stinking fish. By the end of 1934 only two distilleries remained: Springbank and Glen Scotia. Production for both was sporadic over the next fifty years as the whisky business saw its fair share of ups and sharp downs but in the end both still stand not only in the physical sense but also in spirits (see what I did there ;)

At one point the SWA took away this region's geographical designation. This did not sit well with the current chairperson of Springbank, Hedley G. Wright, so he bought and had the Glengyle distillery rebuilt. In 2004, three whisky distilleries were in production and the designation was reinstated. That is your history lesson, well the Lassie crib notes version anyway.

Back to 2015, shall we: I was indeed super excited to have Graham by my side and be back in Campbeltown for the Malt Festival. This little three day festival achieves five things for me:

1. Fantastic value for money. The cost of accommodations, tickets, food and gas are beyond very affordable.

2. The breadth of whiskies that you get to try at masterclasses or warehouse tours are some of the best I have had the opportunity to try in my lifetime, thus far.

3. You don't have to drive anywhere! Most of the amenities such as restaurants, B&B's, hotels, distilleries and shops are all within walking distance.

4. Three full distillery tours where, as a whisky geek, you can ask all the questions you want, take as many photos as you like AND see many parts of the operations that are often off limits in any of the larger conglomerate owned distilleries. 

5. Three words: Cadenhead's - Mark Watt. 

No bull... just Mark ;)

One of THE BEST masterclasses you could ever attend and if you are lucky enough to get a ticket to the Cadenhead's Warehouse tour, you may think you have died and gone to whisky heaven. Absolute mind blowing once in a lifetime whiskies that leave you gobsmacked! One of the few times I've been in a tasting where almost an entire room goes quiet (well except for the Danes, they are never quiet ;) 

I purchased the Rosebank 25 year old for Graham last year and Mark was sure to write on the bottle: Drink me! Drink it, we did. It was one of Graham's favorite drams to share in 2014.

So what do those five things really amount to? They equal one of the best little festivals in the UK when it comes to the full whisky distillery & festival experience. 

There is something else I didn't mention and that is the fact that Springbank has one of the most in-depth whisky schools in the UK. So popular with hard core enthusiasts that it's almost fully booked for the next 2 years. You can read about it here: 

springbankwhisky.com/whisky-school

I will often talk about the gems I find during my travels but I was really hesitant to write about this. You see... Feis Ile started out as a sleepy little whisky/music festival and has grown into a bit of a monster in the sense that the island becomes a nuthouse for 8 days: The banking machines run out of cash, it's almost impossible to get a seat at a restaurant, the lineups for anything are long AND... some of the distillery releases are expensive and bring out some pretty "greedy" characters. 

I love the fact that the Campbeltown Festival is young, special and that only a few hundred people know about it. There is no bullshit, no marketing distortion and the people that live there and attend truly make the experience worthwhile. The whisky simply becomes the backdrop and the icing on the proverbial cake. 

I want to thank Gavin McLachlan, Robert "Pop" Scally, Mairi Paterson, Ranald Watson, Grant Macpherson, Iain McAlister, Mark Watt and ALL the unnamed, behind the scenes people, who made my stay in this lovely little town most memorable for two years in a row. I will be back, guaranteed...

Lassie

PS, it's all Gavin's fault that I now drink Gin. Old Raj was my first pleasant and tasty experience. 

PPS...  Now that you've read this post, tell no one! Thank you... ;)

Day 4 - Spirit of Speyside...3000ft, a bit of humility & the joy of biscotti

Designed by Danielle Magee - Vancouver BC

In my youth (clears throat...) I used to be an avid hiker and I loved it. I mostly climbed the peaks in Eastern Canada & US and more often by myself then in groups. There was something gratifying about peaking that always led to the personal satisfaction that I could do "it". But like most of us, with more responsibilities and "life" came much less hiking which led to none for almost 8 years. 

In January of 2014 when the schedule came out for the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival I immediately jaunted down some of the things I wanted to ensure I did. One caught my eye -> A whisky hike up Ben Rinnes with Dave Broom.  

BEN RINNES in the spring...

Now... for those of you who have met me face to face, you know that mentally I'm about 13 years old but that "joie de vie" is bottled in a 48 year old shell. So of course I said to myself, I can hike that mountain, pshhhaw! Point, click, pay -> DONE! Then as the date drew closer my 48 year old ego started whispering: "Psssst... hey Doogie Howser it's a 3000ft peak and you are going to have to do more than dog walking a couple of times a week". Of course the 13 year old laughed and ignored that voice at several reprises. 

We learned about a month before the hike that Dave Broom had to bow out because of a massive conflict of schedule. Just so happens, he was going to be in Canada the 2 weeks I was in Scotland... bah! Annabel Meikle (@whiskybelle) stepped in and we were back on track! That Sunday morning near Craigallachie Graham packed a backpack, we grabbed our gear, drove off and arrived at the foot of the trail to meet our group. We were about 20 people from all ages & backgrounds. After a quick discussion about rules from our guides we proceeded to climb. I started strong and was at the forefront of the pack. By the first quarter, I was falling to mid-pack and by half I was...

DEAD last! My cardio SUCKED. I was out of breathe and my heart rate was quite high but I kept taking my time, slow & steady while always apologizing to the guide who had to stay with me the entire time. It got colder and started to mist about 3/4 of the way up, a bit of a wardrobe change, some more water and back to one foot in front of the other. I wasn't struggling, just really slow. "Not so bright eyed and bushy tailed now are you", whispered the 48 year old voice sarcastically. 

I reached the summit about 3-5 minutes behind everyone else. I was exhausted but happy to have completed the climb. Whisky started to flow immediately and Miranda Nijenhuis had brought Glencairns (I was impressed...), Henk Seine her partner poured us all a Glentauchers Single Cask 15 year old. With whisky in hand the conversations came alive. There were 5-6 bottles circulating of some very special whiskies. Then a short little man who looked like he was in 70's stood directly in front of me and in his broken English told me he was happy to see me work so hard to get to the top. He offered me some authentic Italian biscotti that he had brought with him. I was wet, sore and cold but I tell you now that I soaked in every moment of being on the summit with those people. The whisky was fantastic, the biscotti to die for and I took the time to talk to almost every single person. It was the quickest hour ever spent in my life, I'm sure, but some of the most wonderful conversations I have ever had. 

We were advised it was time to leave, everyone packed up and we started our descent. Henk and I hiked back down together, again another full hour of listening to adventures, stories, life with his partner Miranda and their never ending quest to live life to the fullest. It was to say the least, a beautiful lesson for me because they are slightly older than me (I'd say they are 15 & 16, ;) and although in much better shape physically, are in the same place mentally that I am: Out to explore, learn, share and love the whisky lives we have. It was one of those moments when I felt like I'm "not the only one"... 

And just like that, the trek was over. The mental anguish I had for being so slow and the physical limitations I felt (for a few days) were non-existent during the descent replaced with the sheer pleasure of having created yet another #whiskyfabric memory and bond with total strangers from all over the world. Henk was probably one of the most interesting people I met while in Scotland. I doubt he realized the impact he had. 

Whisky... is NOT just about drinking. Whisky, for myself and many others is about finding common grounds and creating those moments that you end up treasuring for the rest of your life. My trip to Scotland had just begun and I was loving every second. Here's to your own journey and how you choose to live it. May there be peaks, hardships that teach you not to give up on the things you want and may there always be plenty of whisky to share and enjoy!

Spirit of Speyside reveals - International Women of Whisky Day for 2014 Festival

You know... Back in November of 2013 as I drove to a whisky dinner being hosted by Martine Nouet I felt like I was at a crossroads. Many things had happened over the course of the summer & I was struggling with where I "stood" when it came to whisky & me. As I entered the hotel room and poured myself a bath, I texted Graham and said: "I don't even want to go to this event now" I utterly felt defeated and couldn't even explain why but I put on my best face and went. About 20 minutes into the evening Martine took a few moments and did something that shocked me: She introduced me to the attendees. May not sound like much but for me it was the kick in the pants I so desperately needed. That night was the beginning of the end of doubt as to where I was going and although I may feel sometimes like I still have no idea where the road leads, I'm confident that it's bringing me exactly where I'm suppose to be.  

Everything seemed to naturally fall in place after that. Chance encounters led to new friendships & concrete projects. I often take the time to thank Martine for being a role model for so many of us trying to break into this field and I will never let her forget how important she. The giants:  Rachel, Ann, Angela, Martine and so many more are where they are because of their passion, love & dedication. We, the next generation of whisky women, look forward to doing them proud and continuing the ground work for those that will come after us. 

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival declares May 3, 2014 - International Women in Whisky Day 

Spirit of Speyside is proud to introduce the first ever International Women of Whisky Day on May 3, 2014 to recognise the growing number of women working in the industry and sipping Scotland’s national drink.  

It wasn't that long ago that 20% of whisky drinkers were women, the number has doubled with numbers reaching up to 40% in some countries.   With that comes a growing number of women taking on key roles in the industry, from production managers to brand ambassadors. 

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival chairman James Campbell hopes that whisky drinkers will mark the day no matter where they are in the world and adds:  “It seems fitting that Speyside should be the focus for the very first International Women in Whisky Day, since it is home to Cardhu which was founded by Helen Cumming in 1824. To this day it is still the only malt whisky distillery pioneered by a woman.”

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival takes place in Scotland’s most prolific whisky producing region from May 1 to 5, and will host a day-long programme on Saturday May 3. It takes place at The Aberlour Hotel in Aberlour and will be complemented by other events led by women during the five day Festival.

IWOWD kicks off with Introduction to the Sensipedia of Whisky with Johanne McInnis, a Canadian whisky writer and judge known as Whisky Lassie. She will be teaching people how each of the five senses can be used to appreciate and enjoy Scotch.

Another Canadian – Alwynne Gwilt – will be leading a whisky and chocolate pairing session. Alwynne, also known as Miss Whisky and now based in London, is the current Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival International Ambassador of the Year in recognition of her efforts to educate people about Scotch whisky.

Renowned whisky writer Annabel Meikle will be shedding light on tasting notes by exploring the language of whisky, explaining where the aromas come from. Participants will then be tasked with creating their own tasting note after a blind taste test. In addition to writing about whisky, Annabel has her own consultancy, The Whisky Belle.

Master blender Angela D’Orazio from Mackmyra Distillery in Sweden will be introducing revellers to the unique whisky expression at her event. She will be sharing the story behind the distillery, her rise as one of the whisky women of her generation and a few fantastic drams. 

Ann Miller is international brand ambassador for Chivas Brothers and is also one of the directors of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival. She will be contributing to the programme by running a guided walk – the James Fleming Trail – looking at the story of the man who founded Aberlour Distillery, and a tasting which deconstructs Aberlour’s double cask maturation.  She says, “International Women of Whisky Day is a fantastic way to recognise the contribution made to the industry by women not just in Scotland but all over the world.  

"It will also help to underline the opportunities that exist to develop a career in the whisky industry, which is no longer the once male-dominated place that it used to be. It is essential that we encourage new blood – whether female or male – into the Scotch whisky industry to ensure it continues to go from strength to strength."

“The programme taking place at Aberlour is one of the most anticipated events of the Festival – each of the women participating is an authority of whisky in her own right and although these events are hosted by women, they are not just for women, but for everyone.”

“The inspiration for this day came in part from the enormous influence of whisky writer and expert Martine Nouet, who has been a regular participant of the Festival for over a decade. She has led a range of not to be missed events over many years and this year Martine will host a number of events at Glen Rothes Distillery.”

A Twitter hashtag has been set up for International Women in Whisky Day - #IWOWD. There are events led by women taking place throughout the Festival, including distillery tours and whisky tutoring.

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, which is now in its 15^th year, takes place at venues across the region and boasts a programme of over 30 events. A signature event for Homecoming 2014, it will start Whisky Month – a four week national celebration of Scotland’s world class food and drink.

It will also launch a brand new event this year – The Spirit of Speyside Sessions – which aims to put to spotlight on the area’s traditional music heritage with concerts and ceilidhs being staged in venues closely linked to the whisky industry.

Tickets for all events in the 2014 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival programme, including the roving judging sessions, can be bought via the website – www.spiritofspeyside.com The Festival is also active on social media – facebook.com/WhiskyFestival and @spirit_speyside on Twitter. 

It is with the greatest anticipation that I look forward to the road and where it will lead me.  All I know is... for now, it's looking really great and the company I keep is pretty awesome too. 

Lassie