Dramboree 2013 has been, and gone…

And all we have to remember it by is a load of new whisky friends, some great tasting memories, and a pile of Twitter and Facebook updates.

As if a weekend in a Victorian house with a load of very fine people and a 80+ bottle-strong selection of magnificent whisky weren’t enough, the weekend also featured:

The first ever tasting of Daftmill to be held outside of the distillery, with Francis Cuthbert – exploring some differences in flavour profiles when you’re distilling in summer versus winter.
A tasting of some old & departed styles of whisky bottled in the 1970s and 80s with Angus from Mulberry Bank Auctions – and the taste of that Glendronach 12 year old is never going to be forgotten! And long will the marketing debate rage, no doubt.
A behind-the-scenes tour of Aberfeldy Distillery with Dewar’s marketing manager Stephen Marshall, who showed us some stuff that visitors don’t usually get to see, and led us through a memorable cask sampling session in the warehouse.
A (d)ramble up the Birks of Aberfeldy: a woodland path with some very pretty waterfalls that inspired Scotland’s Bard to wax lyrical.
A brace of cask samples from Campbeltown’s fiercely independent and utterly unique Springbank Distillery (and “cousin” distillery Glengyle also) with Melanie Stanger.
Possibly the most unusual (but fun) Feis Ile tasting ever – incorporating quiz, charades, contortionism, loud arguments, and lunacy – by The Whisky Lounge lads Eddie & Joe.
Some fine non-Balvenie-Balvenie from Dr Sam’s Secret Drams.
And to finish up, an utterly magnficent barbecue feast of ribs, pulled pork, and coleslaw provided & prepared by the fine team at Master of Malt. Based on this, they could consider opening a parallel business called Master of Meat.

It’s only a pity it had to stop, really.

We’re having a little break now, but if you’d be interested in being the first to hear about any more Dramboree news – including what our plans might be for 2014 – then sign up for email updates using the little signup box, here: