A person walks past Diageo owned whiskies on the whisky wall at their headquarters in Edinburgh … [+]
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Scotch is the most widely consumed whisky on the planet. Each year Scotland exports roughly 1.3 billion bottles worth of its native spirit. But for all its enduring popularity, casual drinkers—heck, even the seasoned ones—still have many questions regarding the liquid. EF Go Ahead Tours is now offering answers.
Today the company launches its Escape to Scotland Tour, in which you can reserve an hour long tasting with ‘Neil the Edinburger’. A native of the Scottish capital, he’s been leading actual distillery tours for decades. But in light of the pandemic, he’s uploading his expertise onto the digital space. For $19 he’ll guide you—and up to 4 guests—through an immersive scotch experience.
During the course of sixty minutes, the seasoned sipper teaches you how to actually interact with the spirit, including nosing and tasting techniques. And the real joy of the virtual seminar is the ability to ask the expert any questions you’ve ever had but were afraid to ask. They’ll be no judgments here, only drams.
Neil The Edinburger Holds Court at a Scotch Tasting
EF Go Ahead Tours
The whisky you’ll have to provide yourself, though. After signing up, he’ll recommend a Highland single malt, a peatier variation from Islay, as well as a blended scotch, for what he describes as an “oaky, smokey, and sweet” cross-sampling. He’ll go in depth about the history of the beverage and how its production techniques differ from region to region. And since this is all live, you can feel free to stop him anywhere along the way when something isn’t going down easy.
Billed as an opportunity to ‘drink Scotch like a pro’ the $19 lesson makes for a fantastic Father’s Day gift. Or a fun way to enjoy an afternoon ‘out’ with your friends on a virtual vacation. Sessions are still available on the afternoon of Sunday, June 21st; Saturday June 27th; Saturday, July 4th.
As an added bonus, the experience benefits a good cause. All of EF Go Ahead Tour’s Online Escapes give back to the communities involved. Aside from supporting the local hosts themselves, proceeds go toward providing 100,000 meals to Feeding America for children and families in need. So raise a glass to charity in the weekends ahead. And quench your thirst for knowledge—and good whisky—along the way.
The Scotch Whiskey Experience museum in Edinburgh, Scotland
EF Go Ahead Tours