Ross Inglis's Tour of Scotland

20/12/2013

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

11/10/2013

Glen Coe

11/10/2013

Scotland's Industrial revolution created Scotland on the Great Glen is the Caledonian Canal its 62 miles from Inverness to Fort William 3 lochs across the channel connects from the east to the west. The canal is design and built by "Thomas Telford" completed in 1822 locks have 29. In Banavie Telford's eight locks name the Neptune Staircase its built in 1811 and it's funded by the Government and all boats are come and go.

The land Lochaber belong to clan Cameron there were a number of mainly Cameron settlements in the area and two footpath trail the Great Glen Way from Inverness to Fort William and West Highland Way from Glasgow to Fort William.

History about Fort William is meaning the Garrison lies near the head of Loch Linnhe one of Scotland's longest sea lochs, beside the mouth of the rivers Nevis and Lochy, fort constructed to control the population after Oliver Cromwell's invasion during the English Civil War, The fort was named "Fort William"' after William of Orange, and the settlement that grew around it was called "Maryburgh", after his wife. This settlement was later renamed "Gordonsburgh", and then "Duncansburgh" before being renamed "Fort William", this time after Prince William, Duke of Cumberland. plant in Fort William is made aluminium a plant and another pland at kinlochleven operated by Alcan.

Ben Nevis 4,409 ft the Highest Mountain in Scotland and Great Britain Standing at 1,344 metres. 17 August 1771, by James Robertson first success of geological structure. Cairn shows the summit of Ben Nevis is tallest many pictures view from Corpach Banavie and Fort William, many visitor came to Nevis range for viewing rambling hill walking and skiing and ride on the cable car.

Ben Nevis Distillery is one of Fort William's single malt Scotch whisky

18/09/2013

Acqua vitae is Latin and uisge beatha in Gaelic meaning "Water of Life" is known Scotch Whisky, Scotland's National Drink.

making single malt and blend is one thing how Scotland's made Scotch whisky can be split into five main production regions - Highlands, Speyside, Islands, Islay, Lowlands and Campbeltown.

The most oldest distillery is Glenturret in Perthshire in 1775. On the Isle of Islay Bowmore and owned by Diageo Oban distillery is oldest with classic malts owned by and the smallest distillery is Edradour.

Started as a way of using up rain-soaked barley and now the crystal clear spring Scottish water streams that flow through Scotland are at the heart of whisky production
the stages are to make the whisky in the distillery is malted the Barley the floor where the distillers turning the Piece of the malted barley and 8 or 21 days
than the kiln where the peat come from the fields cutting and take it to the distillery's kiln and burning the peat and smoke rises to dry the malt.
Than the malt goes into the Mash tun mixed it with sugar and a liquid brewing call it wort. Mas tun looks like a teapot water heated to 85°C thats very hot.
Than move onto the Washback is where all the wort alcohol that finds its way into a distillery to container about 12ft across and often 20ft or more deep. The action of the yeast on the sugar of the wort will produce alcohol and carbon dioxide. The wort starts bubbling, which will sometimes result in strong vibrations of the wash back making 8% beer before the whisky.

The still house where like kettle pots the stills are large and the neck is like a swan's neck and alcohol has to be 40% minimum where inside the water boiled. The washbacks move to wash stills and spirit stills.
spirit safe making sure the clear water is ready into the cask. when the water is cloudy it's not ready.
and the warehouse cask bourbon barrels American, European, sherry, wine and oak cask in with flavored peaty or smokie, light sweet fruity, rich and delicate
When our Single Malt is put into casks. Malt Whisky in the Barrel loses 5% of its volume immediately to the wood in the cask and a further 2% to evaporation each year. This is called the Angel's Share, and causes the volume of liquid to shrink, making what's left in the cask even more valuable.

blended Scotch whisky brands include Bells, Dewar's, Johnnie Walker, Whyte and Mackay, Cutty Sark, J&B, The Famous Grouse, Ballantine's and Chivas Regal.

In towns there have Whisky Bars across the country like one in Edinburgh and whisky tasting sessions

31/08/2013

Copper Stills at dalwhinnie distillery

14/08/2013

Uiversity of Bedfordshire pipe band at Perth Highland Games

University of Bedfordshire Pipe Band wearing the Black Stewart Tartan at Perth Highland Games play thier match off tune 11 august 2013

14/08/2013

Manawatu Scottish Pipe Band from New Zealand played their melody at the Perth Highland Games in Scotland

Manawatu Scottish Pipe Band from New Zealand at the Perth Highland Games in Perth Scotland 11 August 2013

14/08/2013

From Texas in America St Thomas Alumni Pipe Band playing grade 1 melody at Perth Highland Games

St Thomas Alumni Pipe band from Texas USA wearing the Isle of Skye Tartan come to Perth in Scotland for a highland games 11 August 2013

14/08/2013

Inveraray and District Pipe Band from Argyll winner of grade one pipe band at Perth Highland Games

Inveraray and District Pipe Band and their Pipe Major Stuart Liddell and their tartan Maccallum win a performance in the Grade 1 Medley here at Perth Highlan...