Culloden Battlefield, Whisky and More

Waking up at Molrich, we had breakfast and an early start as we had a full day of adventures.

 

Carribridge 

Our first stop was Carrbridge, a 300-year-old footbridge. It was a beautiful place to stretch our legs and take some photos of this picturesque location. There was a small store located next to where we parked, so it was also a great place to get snacks and drinks for later.

 

 

Of course, there was a car accident while we were there.

 

Culloden Battlefield

 

For all of our friends who are Outlander, you’ll enjoy today. The Battle of Culloden played a significant role in the show and was a bloody battle where the 1745 Jacobite Rising came to a tragic end.

The battlefield was an incredible way to spend the morning. They have a wonderfully designed interactive museum; you can view panoramic views of the battlefield from a rooftop garden, explore monuments across the field, and see restored 18th-century cottages. 

 

 

After exploring the property, we tucked into the cafe for a tea and a nibble and to warm up a bit. The Carrot Cake with Rose Petals was both pretty and delicious. Surprisingly, the rose was not overpowering.

 

 

Exploring Inverness

Along the way, we stopped in the city of Inverness. We had time to explore, shop, and grab some lunch. The part of the city along the River Ness was beautiful, and we found several good cafes and shops selling local goods.

 

 

We popped into the River Grill, a busy cafe filled with locals and tourists. We both opted for a soup and sandwich combo with Tomato Soup and Chicken Sandwich.

 

 

Raspberry Gin

Shopping in an artisan shop near where we had lunch, Chuck found a small batch of local Gin. Randomly, he chose their Raspberry Gin and we’ve really enjoyed it!

Caorunn (pronounced Ka-roon) is handcrafted in small batches at Balmenach Distillery in the Scottish Highlands. Caorunn is inspired by the Gaelic word for “Rowan Berry,” one of five unique Celtic botanicals used in their Gin. 

Their Scottish Raspberry Gin, like the others, is distilled in a Copper Berry Chamber and extracts the maximum flavor of the botanicals and the Perthshire Raspberries.

 

 

The Loch Ness Monster

On our way to our next destination, we stopped on the shores of Loch Ness. 

The scenery was beautiful, we saw more Hairy Coos and even a quick glimpse of the Loch Ness Monster.

 

 

Surprisingly, it was not as much of a tourist attraction as one might think. We were thinking it would be more like “South of the Border,” but there was very little kitsch.

 

Whisky Distillery and Tasting

Our final destination today was  The Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery.

 

 

 

The Whisky is made with Barley, and they are one of the largest distilleries. Barley from the Black Isle is used, which has salty waterways and fertile soil that barley likes.

They guided us through the process of steeping barley, germination, malting, and drying. They shared lots of information on the process of creating mash and distillation. 

The whisky they produce is not smoky; its flavors develop over time and through careful treatment, with the taste emerging from an extended, slow aging in casks.

 

 

Random Weird Stuff

The distillation yields three products.

The Head – very high alcohol content, which is often used as hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol.

The Heart – medium alcohol content, which is what they want.

The Tail – a low alcohol content, which is often redistilled to create more heart.

 

It was a fun and educational outing; we tasted lots of samples along the way. However, neither of us drinks Whisky, so we didn’t stock up.

 

More Random Weird Stuff

Scotch Whisky is always spelled without the “e.” It has to be matured in oak for at least three years, and production and maturation have to happen in Scotland. Single Malt Scotch Whisky has to be made with 100% malted Barley.

 

We returned to the hotel, joined friends for a pizza party, and got a good night’s sleep before another long day on the Isle of Skye!