Pistonheads whisky cask

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ClassicMercs

1,703 posts

180 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
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I could easily do this in a (long) day trip but MrsMercs won't drive the 170 miles home so we will likely be looking for a B&B etc which takes dogs - and as she is gluten free she had better get sorting out some places that can accommodate her. The nearest potential place of any size is Newton Stewart - followed by Kirkcudbright, Castle Douglas then Dumfries. Or heading a bit further - Ayr. I'm sure there will be some nice smaller places in between.
Other whisky related things in the area are :
Bladnoch - not sure if its re-opened - think they are still busy with the new stills etc - Whiskybroker might be able to help ''broker'' ? Last time we turned up was the day 'they' went bust.
Annan - open - but in keeping with this thread - Its Not Ready Yet !!! But a lot went into its restoration and opening.
DramBusters shop in Dumfries - quite well stocked and some good prices.
Rattray - just seen this one - near Ayr.
Further down the road quite a way - Lakes Distillery - near Keswick - and that's not ready either (did you get there Lefty ? - It wasn't quite open when we were last there).
Heading the opposite way for the adventurous - ferry to Arran - distillery - ferry to Campbeltown for overnight - then Springbank !!

Lefty

Original Poster:

16,132 posts

201 months

Sunday 22nd January 2017
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Craig told me has ever stayed in the boozer at Newton Stewart which seems like a good plan.

Here's a starter for ten: meet late afternoon on the Thursday to collect samples. Go to the pub, have supper and drink them. Get pissed. Talk bks. Put photos on here to make the other cask owners jealous. Friday morning, head back to Creetown, arrange bottling (and perhaps even do some), head off home (sober) Friday PM.


TFatC

397 posts

251 months

Sunday 22nd January 2017
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Lefty said:
Craig told me has ever stayed in the boozer at Newton Stewart which seems like a good plan.

Here's a starter for ten: meet late afternoon on the Thursday to collect samples. Go to the pub, have supper and drink them. Get pissed. Talk bks. Put photos on here to make the other cask owners jealous. Friday morning, head back to Creetown, arrange bottling (and perhaps even do some), head off home (sober) Friday PM.
Now that sounds like a damn good plan to me!

ClassicMercs

1,703 posts

180 months

Sunday 22nd January 2017
quotequote all
Lefty said:
Craig told me has ever stayed in the boozer at Newton Stewart which seems like a good plan.

Here's a starter for ten: meet late afternoon on the Thursday to collect samples. Go to the pub, have supper and drink them. Get pissed. Talk bks. Put photos on here to make the other cask owners jealous. Friday morning, head back to Creetown, arrange bottling (and perhaps even do some), head off home (sober) Friday PM.
Give us a clue Lefty - There appears to be one ''Inn'' but I reckon they don't have rooms. There is the Galloway Arms - with rooms - allows dogs - and I'm sure we could assess that Mrs Mercs doesn't get glutened. I can ask. Think we would fill the place.
And I see mention of whisky cellar !

Then there is the Crown Hotel.

hidetheelephants

23,775 posts

192 months

Monday 23rd January 2017
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Does this boozer do rooms? I think I may attend this time.

crmcatee

5,691 posts

226 months

Monday 23rd January 2017
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FYI - the nearest one to Whiskybroker is actually the http://www.ellangowan.co.uk However it's claim to fame is it was used in the filming of the Wicker Man film. Reading the online reviews on Tripadvisor it reads as if it hasn't been looked at since then - I opted to go elsewhere

I opted to stay in Newton Stewart (http://www.blackhorsenewtonstewart.co.uk) nice enough bar and nice rooms but limited whisky in the bar although bare in mind the restrictive driving limits for alcohol north of the border. Room 5 (directly above the bar) you will hear the music they're playing downstairs but the other rooms are not above the bar area so you'll be fine - can you guess which room I had. Good breakfast and a couple (three spaces) of off street parking but really the main street isn't that busy.

There are two others on the same street - another pub with rooms almost right next door - http://www.the-bruce-hotel.com (a little bit pricier), and then a little further (we're talking 100 yards - http://www.the-crown-hotel.com).

If you're coming up from the South - the section from Gretna Green to Newtown Stewart takes longer than you think - especially when you're stuck behind artics/tractors and your hoping that there's a section of dual carriageway coming up.

TFatC

397 posts

251 months

Monday 23rd January 2017
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Thanks for the hotel info. As soon as it is confirmed when and where we are going, I will get booked in.

ClassicMercs

1,703 posts

180 months

Monday 23rd January 2017
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Thanks for those Craig - as the one I found first can't help - but looked reasonable.

The problem with Google searches - you don't always get the full answer in the results.

I'll check them out.

ClassicMercs

1,703 posts

180 months

Monday 23rd January 2017
quotequote all
Thanks for the info Craig - I'll get on with some checking being the one (possibly) with the most needs (dog + coeliac). The one I tried last night has come back as not available.

I did see the Wickerman one - moved on myself from that one.
Google - arrgh - you never get the full results.

ClassicMercs

1,703 posts

180 months

Monday 23rd January 2017
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Right made some calls.

Apparently there is a wind farm going up in the area and bookings are not easy - block bookings for weeks are occupying some places - happy days.

Craig's Blackhorse does have five rooms at present - but its no good for me - no dogs.
The Crown - full
The Bruce - lots of rooms - dogs - gluten free - that'll do me. Quoted £55 single and £70 double. But it can suddenly change with the wind farm.

S6PNJ

5,158 posts

280 months

Monday 23rd January 2017
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In the spirit (see what I did there?) of trying to help make this happen, I'm booked into the Black Horse Hotel for the night of the 9th Feb, so that's at least one person (or two if you count my good lady!) committed to this trip. Just need a few more or Lefty and I will be sampling the whiskies on our own! Come on chaps, get booking and confirming! Will be great to put faces to names to PH monikers.

crmcatee

5,691 posts

226 months

Tuesday 24th January 2017
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Those that are going will get to meet the maddest and baddest guard dog I've ever seen. Just don't pet him on the head like I did.






















He'll follow you about all day looking for more. smile




ClassicMercs

1,703 posts

180 months

Tuesday 24th January 2017
quotequote all
crmcatee said:
Those that are going will get to meet the maddest and baddest guard dog I've ever seen. Just don't pet him on the head like I did.
Come on - surely the correct way to approach and make friends is by sniffing further back !!
Do you think he'd had too much of the Angels Share ?

crmcatee

5,691 posts

226 months

Tuesday 24th January 2017
quotequote all
ClassicMercs said:
Come on - surely the correct way to approach and make friends is by sniffing further back !!
Do you think he'd had too much of the Angels Share ?
He's too busy eating all the bungs that come out of the casks so I'm sure he's pretty happy all day smile

TFatC

397 posts

251 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
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Is this confirmed? If so I will book myself in.

Where/when are we meeting etc?

ClassicMercs

1,703 posts

180 months

Friday 27th January 2017
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My hotel is booked as well - but I'm at the Bruce as they take dogs. The two are less than a minutes walk from door to door.

My plan is to include a distillery as well so I am going to aim for Annandale to include a late morning / midday tour etc. I will ring and check that time near the date - as long as it fits with the final agreed time to meet up at Whisky Broker (''late'' afternoon - 3pm ?). But should be possible.

Which Saab ?? Carlsson

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Friday 27th January 2017
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st fk.

The one week we can't do. frown

Lefty

Original Poster:

16,132 posts

201 months

Friday 27th January 2017
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Ive taken the Thursday and Friday off work, confirmed today. I'll be hoping to be there around lunch, probably check in to the hotel, just need to decide whether to leave the car there or drive to Freetown... what time will everyone else be arriving? Just need to confirm arrangements with whiskybroker.

S6PNJ

5,158 posts

280 months

Friday 27th January 2017
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A quick look at Google maps and it suggest 5:30hrs and 323 miles travel for me so assuming a single 30 min stop for fuel (for the wife, me and more importantly the car!) and no bad traffic issues I'll be looking at at least 6hrs. Assuming I get away at around 8:00am, I'll be there for anywhere from 2:00pm onwards (Newton Stewart but can meet directly at the whisky brokers). Lefty, from an earlier email you sent us all, do you still have the mobile ending 503? I'll pm you my mobile in case of any issues. Do we have the starting of a list as to who will be attending?

Lefty

Original Poster:

16,132 posts

201 months

Friday 27th January 2017
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Excellent.

So far we have:


Classic & Mrs Mercs.
S6 & Mrs PNJ
Lefty
Coneyhurst Blue

Still some rooms free in The Bruce, cone on chaps!

Yes, my mobile still ends in 503. You can add me on Facebook too if you like. You know my name hehe

Edited by Lefty on Friday 27th January 21:42