FUN-travel: Jubilant Japan in Bloom! – Kyoto – Whisky & Sake

April 19, 2018 by · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Jubilant Japan in Bloom! – Kyoto – Whisky & Sake 

  • Suntory Whiskey Tour… in 1923, Shinjiro Torii inspired by traditional Scottish whisky…

…envisioned one filled with the essence of Japanese nature, hand-crafted by artisans…

…subtle & refined, yet complex & suited for the delicate palate of the Japanese…

…to enhance their dining experience.

  • Fushimi Sake District…charming & picturesque willow-lined canals…

…home to nearly 40 breweries…dating to 1637…

…with traditional Japanese lunch in original Sake Storage House.

Today’s Special Secret Treat! – Sekihoji Temple… Zen temple where famous artist Ito Jakuchu spent over 10 years creating the 500 statues of disciples of Buddha.

  • Fushimi Inari Shrine…1300-years-old & famous for its magical…

…seemingly unending path of over 5000 vibrant vermilion torii gates…

…lining the paths up and down a mountain.

FUN-fact – Fushimi Shrine was dedicated to the god of rice and sake is known for bringing fortune.

More FF – Sekihoji Temple was not on our itinerary. It’s not even listed in guide books because it’s so remote.

More Treats! Yellow Cherry Blossoms!

FUN-travel: UK & Whisky Festival Trip Recap

June 26, 2017 by · Comments Off on FUN-travel: UK & Whisky Festival Trip Recap 

Our tasting at the Bowmore House

  • I learned a whole lot at “Scotch School”…

…and drank more single malt whisky in 5 days…

…than in my entire life…

…just wee little drams mind you…

…and some just a wee little bit bigger!

  • My personal favorites were the ones finished in a sherry cask.

And we were so LUCKY to have gotten a room in Islay at the Bowmore House B&B. The first week of January not a room was to be found. And then by magic…one opened up! Andrew, the owner, made the trip so much more memorable and a totally different experience! We would have never had the 2 special tastings or benefited from the wealth of whisky knowledge he has.

  • And while I now have an appreciation for fine whiskies…

…my distilled spirit of choice…

…is still an extra dry Gin martini straight up!

Many people we encountered during our trip said, “I hope you’re having a good time.” To which my response was, “There is no other option. It’s compulsory!” That’s pretty much how I feel about travel.   I WILL always have a GOOD TIME!

Ardbeg Fesitval Day

Also many people were concerned that we were traveling to the UK so soon after the Manchester bombing. But we believe it is never safer to travel then when there’s been an incident like that. Everyone was on high alert. Then the London Bridge terror attack happened.

Hairy Coo (as they pronounce them)

We were never anywhere near a big city, let alone a big town, other than Glasgow for a train to plane change. A terror attack can happen anywhere in the world and unfortunately it’s becoming far too common these days. But it will never make us so fearful that we wouldn’t travel.

  • That being said…

…it makes us very, very happy we are…

…almost at the end of our bucket list!

FUN-fact – Our Daily UK Weather Report – sunshine mixed with clouds and rain. And that was pretty much it. Only caught a few occasional short sprinkles until the last day when it was pretty wet in Oban. And when we arrived in Paisley before our flight to Islay. It took longer to take a cab then to walk 500 meters to the Ashtree House Hotel. Big thanks to Chris for packing those umbrellas!

FUN-photos: UK – Scotland

June 19, 2017 by · Comments Off on FUN-photos: UK – Scotland 

The whole reason for taking this trip was to experience Fèis Ìle…The Islay Festival of Music and Malt!

  • Whisky tasting is a whole lot like wine tasting. Swirl, smell, sip, swallow…and then the taste…                        …soft & subtle…or strong… smoky, spicy, salty, sweet?

After spending the night in Paisley, the town next to the Glasgow airport, and a short 45 minute flight we arrived in Islay at 9:15. That gave us 3 full days on the island, where we made it to 7 of the 8 distilleries, and tasted a record 35 different single malt whiskies!

  • Our last two days were spent in Oban on the west coast and southern part of the Scottish Highlands.  We took the ferry to Kennacraig where Alex & Barbara awaited us for the scenic 2 hour drive back to their home. We met them on our “Slow Boat to Singapore Cruise” in 2016. We had a lovely time exploring the sights, which included a tour of the Oban Distillery, and of course drinking more whisky!

By the end of our 5 days in Scotland, we had tasted a grand total of 45 single malt whiskies…plus 2 rhubarb gins (one with ginger added) & 2 liqueurs…mind you they were wee little tastes…

…some just a wee little bit bigger!

FUN-travel: Oban, Scotland – Day 2

June 17, 2017 by · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Oban, Scotland – Day 2 

  • Our second day included a lovely stroll along the waterfront…

…with an afternoon tour of the Oban Distillery…and of course more whisky tasting !

To peat or not to peat? That is the question…

…and only you can decide…

…best bit of advice…

…is to get tasting!

  • Orkney peat tends to reflect a heathery, mossy character determined by the island’s abundance of heather and lack of trees.

Islay peat often brings you down to the seashore with a marine and sometimes medicinal character influenced by its coastal location.

  • Highland or mainland peat frequently displays wood smoke aromas from its woodland landscape. So…

…depending on where the peat comes from…

…determines the taste.

Tasting whisky is as much art as it is science. A lot of both are involved in the process. To learn how to fully taste whisky takes time, patience and on a positive note, practice, practice, practice. After all…

There is no such thing as bad whiskey. Some whiskeys just happen to be better than others.”     ~ William Faulkner – Writer and Nobel Prize laureate

Fresh Caught Crab

FUN-fact – Oban translated means The Little Bay and is dubbed “the Seafood Capital of Scotland.”

FUN-travel: Islay, Scotland – Fèis Ìle – Day 2

June 12, 2017 by · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Islay, Scotland – Fèis Ìle – Day 2 

  • Lucky us…get a ride from Canadians staying here…

…you can’t drink those darn taxi fares!

Smokies

1st stopArdbeg Feis Day – £5 gets a souvenir glass…

…filled with the dram of your choice…

and a smokie

…whole smoked mackerel…YUM!

2nd stopLagavulin…just a one mile walk…

…along lovely stream…

…with asphalted path…

…and busier than expected…

…thought everyone would be next door at Ardbeg.

3rd stopLaphroaig…just 1.5 miles more

…down same winding path…

…next to stream.

…we own a square foot of Islay…

…and the best part…

…we collect rent…

…a dram of the finest as they say…

…plus a mini bottle to go…

…such a deal!

4th stopPort Ellen – just ¾ of a mile…but more hilly…

…so it feels farther…pick up bus back to Bowmore…a steal at £5.50!

FUN-fact – Rumor has it Irish monks first introduced the art of distillation to Islay, during the early fourteenth century. Fertile for growing barley, called bere in the old days, with excellent pure water sources and plenty of peat, the island had everything in favour to distill whisky.

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