During the Offshore Europe Exhibition in early September we met lots of interesting guests from all over the world.  One of my personal favourite events was for Talisman Energy.  They invited some of their valued suppliers on a 'Malt Whisky Journey of Discovery'.  It sounds a bit dramatic, I know, but that's exactly what it was and it was very well received by Talisman's VVIP's.

We met at Deeside Activity Park for coffee and bacon rolls before introducing our three guides/drivers for the day.  The guests got onboard the three station wagon Santana's, like Landrovers but better, and set off.  Gentle at first we started at Queens View, Douneside before heading up Glen Tanar over the Military Road and driving up Glen Gairn.  We then pasted the ruin of Morven Lodge, over the top and through 'The Strone' to Balmoral and twisting up to Royal Lochnagar Distillery.

We had stopped a top 2000 feet Tom Liath for sloe gin and dram cake, and on arrival at Lochnagar we where met with a gazebo full of fresh poached salmon, roast Cairnton Aberdeen Angus beef, and many other fresh and tasty goodies.

Having enjoyed lunch, outside and in one of the most glorious days of the year, we met Stuart Adamson who guided us on a tour of the still and it's workings.  He was great, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and with a spot of humour.

Stuart then took us into a wonderful room, with a huge oak table big enough to get us all around and surrounded by malt wiskys from all over Scotland.  We where offered four different malts, first to nose and then to taste - Royal Lochnagar, Coal Isla, Clyneish and the other, which tasted great but I can't remember it's name.

Anyway, it all came to an end too soon as a coach was waiting to take some of our guests back to the airport.  It really was a great day, something quite special and different, and as Blair Donald the Project Services Manager at Talisman said "(it was) such an enjoyable day for us and our guests last Friday.  The mix of on and off-road around some very interesting and scenic countryside was just pefect and complimented by your obvious wide knowledge of our local history."