20.06.08: Welcome to my Blog!

Hello to all my readers and "Fit Like". = (How are you). See, you are learning the DORIC already. Now that I am abreast of what my Ambassadorship entails I will be blogging on a fairly regular basis. Even the spell check did not know what blogging meant and underlined it in red. These modern words! "I'll jist hae a blether". Translation = (I will pass on some news).

The evening of Saturday, 19 April 2008, was the presentation of prizes and end of season party for the Mosstodloch Indoor Bowling Club, (Moray), Scotland.

It was also a special celebration because it was the club's thirtieth year in existence. Guests were invited from Grange, Keith Bowling Club, Keith British Legion, Drummuir and Lhanbryde Bowling Clubs. Normally, in the league we play them all, home and away and do not see them again till next season. All thought this evening was a good idea. They had a great night and cannot wait till the end of next season next year for another party.

It was a night of celebration for my family and myself too because I won the club championship trophy, the two bowl pairs and recently became the Pipe Major of the Buckie and District Pipe Band. My wife Edith was the skip of the team of four who won the club rinks and my youngest grandson Gary was runner-up in the under 18 trophy and won the Hat Night trophy.

As a celebration dram, I took with me a bottle of anCnoc 12 year old whisky for this occasion. Some of the party had never heard of anCnoc but had heard of Knockdhu. All the guests live fairly local to Knockdhu (within 20 miles) but did not know that anCnoc was the new brand name of the whisky produced there. They all now know where the distillery is and why the whisky had to be named anCnoc.

I had a tasting session and most of those who participated, genuinely liked the taste. One woman thought it was even lovelier when I put a wee drop water in her glass. Some maybe favoured the taste because they were getting a free dram.

I had no sore head either when I had to catch the Pipe Band bus at 8.45am the following day, Sunday, to go to Inverness and entertain in the Bught Park at the start of the Great wee Scottish Walk. Felt a bit tired though.

I had previously arranged with Gordon Bruce the manager of Knockdhu to be shown round the distillery on Monday, 21 April, 2008, to see the recent alterations and improvements and to taste his recently marketed 16year old whisky matured in American Bourbon Barrels.

I was very impressed with the fully restored kiln and renovated kiln house. It was so impressive that I suggested to Gordon that he consider the Kiln as an ideal location for wedding services to be conducted. Would beat Gretna Green anytime.

Every time I visit the Knockdhu distillery, I see improvements and all due to Gordon and his dedicated, loyal work force.

Even Gordon's Labradoodle dog, Meg helps out with advice when it comes to reading the hydrometer. Attached is a picture of Ally Reid conferring with Meg about the hydrometer reading.

I feel privileged to have been selected as an Ambassador for such a thriving wee distillery and its very dedicated work force.

My eldest son-in-law John who does not like whisky, (his loss), was supposed to drive my youngest son-in-law Adrian, (a Yorkshire man who enjoys good whisky), through to the Knockdhu distillery to sample and give our opinion of the new 16 year old whisky. Aye, John forgot and went up to Aviemore skiing so we had to drive through ourselves. I was lucky because Adrian elected to drive and I was allowed to sample. Nice. Even nicer with that wee drop of water added to the glass. I bought a bottle to impress friends and relatives. No doubt I will be back for more. By the way, the weather was sunny and the glow from the whisky central heating was lovely.

Hope I have not blethered on too long.

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