Whisky Island
I’m writing this week’s missive from “the bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.” Of course it is raining and the Loch isn’t so bonnie.
I’m in Scotland. Why is a self avowed Bourbon enthusiast traveling to the land of Scotch?
Two reasons:
- I’ve never been to Scotland.
- I always wanted to go to Scotland.
I had the good fortune of traveling to the land of kilts and haggis this week and touring Isle of Islay (eye-lah) with Melissa and two other couples this week. It was everything I’d hoped it would be.
Blue skies and green hills and white painted buildings dotting the landscape. We hired an affable tour driver with a firm handshake and a quick wit named Ian Linn. He drove us 2 hours onto a ferry and another 2 hours later we set foot on “Whisky Island.”
We had tastings, warehouse tours and a visit to Lucci’s, a bar with over 700 varieties to choose from. I feel like I earned my Masters in Scotch.
The names painted in bold black letters on sea facing backs of the island’s nine distilleries read like a single malt hall of fame – Laphraoig, Lagavulin, Bowmore, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila and four other brands you can’t pronounce.
Scotland’s whisky regions are defined as Cambletown, Highlands, Lowlands, Speyside and Islay. These regions are legally recognized and contribute to the diverse character of Scotch whisky. The Highlands is the largest region. Speyside is known for its high density of distilleries. Lowland whiskies are typically lighter and more floral.
Islay whiskies are often called the Kings of Whisky, because of their famous smoky, peated single malts. Of the 152 whisky distilleries in Scotland, nine come from this tiny island in Southern Hebrides. Only real Scotch whisky is made in Islay.
In 1980 only 1% of Scotch sales then were single malts. Today it’s 10% of all Scotch and growing. I now know why. These friendly folks on Islay have been making their unique brand of spirit for almost 500 years. The founding dates on the bottles, like 1816 (Lagavulin), 1815 (Laphroig), 1846 (Caol Ila) and 1779 (Bowmore) are simply when the locals were finally caught by the English Tax Authorities and they had to organize as official companies.
You can book the best tour guide in Scotland here. This was my first visit to Scotland. It will not be my last. Ian, get the van ready.
#BoldBrandsWin
MONDAY:
FAKE PLANT, REAL DRAMA
While some of us were downstairs being productive, tragedy struck upstairs at Madison+Main: one of our office plants swan-dived from the window’s ledge down to the floor. No witnesses. No suspects. Just the unmistakeable thud of synthetic foliage giving up. It may be artificial, but the betrayal sure felt real. Mondays, am I right? But on a serious note, our beloved Accounts Director Allison Nida celebrated a birthday last weekend by visiting her mom in Urbanna, eating ice cream by candlelight during a power outage, and keeping her plants very much upright, thank you. Happy Belated!
TUESDAY:
THE SANDWICH SUMMIT
On Tuesday, Account Executive Ava Coles and Accounts Director Allison Nida took a well-earned break from emails and deadlines for a little 1-on-1 catch-up at Garnett’s Café. Between nibbles and gossip (the good kind), they swapped ideas, stories, and a much-needed dose of midweek serotonin. Nothing like sandwiches and sarcasm to keep the creative energy flowing.
WEDNESDAY:
NO BIRTHDAY? NO PROBLEM. LET THEM EAT CAKE!
Holiday Barn is throwing an all-day “Dogust” celebration this Friday at local SPCA shelters to honor dogs with no known birthdays (aka the “no barkday crew”). The festivities include a paw-some parade complete with confetti, cake, and canines galore. It’s about time Richmond’s shelter pups get the doggone recognition they’ve been wagging for.
THURSDAY:
THEY AIN’T AFRAID OF NO GOATS
For the second year in a row, Carter Bank partnered with Charlottesville-based Goatbusters to tackle tough terrain behind their corporate headquarters—because when your weeds laugh at lawnmowers, you bring in the big bleats. These four-legged landscapers, capable of devouring five to nine percent of their body weight in greenery every day, don’t just clear brush. They fertilize, reduce emissions, and boost morale one head-butt at a time. Forget gas-powered machines—there’s a new hoof in town.
FRIDAY:
DAVE’S ON THE (AIR)WAVES
And finally, I didn’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn today, because my radio segment with Gary Hess and Richmond’s Morning News on WRVA was at 8:05 a.m. to 1:05 p.m. local time in Edinburgh. Never fear, I was able to give folks an update on the Tax Free Weekend, a couple of cool events at Virginia Museum of History and Culture and the scoop on the Flaming Lips & Modest Mouse concert on Brown’s Island this Sunday. ICYMI, give it a listen here!
A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE EVENTS
RVA First Fridays
Dates: Friday, August 1
Time: 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Tickets: Free Admission
Location: Arts District (Broad Street)
Celebrate local arts with opening exhibits, happy hour specials, store sales and live performances throughout the District’s galleries, restaurants, and shops.
Virginia Brews Festival at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture
Date: Saturday, August 2
Time: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Tickets: $35 to $40
Location: VMHC
Sip and savor some suds courtesy of Richmond’s finest local breweries—plus live music and access to museum exhibits.
The Flaming Lips & Modest Mouse at Brown’s Island
Date: Sunday, August 3
Time: 6:00pm
Tickets: Around $77
Location: Brown’s Island
Brown’s Island continues to reel in huge musical acts to Richmond—this time bringing in two of the defining bands of the early 2000s.
“The king o’ drinks, as I conceive it, Talisker, Isla, or Glenlivet!“ – Robert Louis Stevenson