Whisky Capital of the World
The Laich o'Moray - the low, undulating country to the north of the Grampian Mountains, through which the lower reaches of River Spey pass - is known as 'The Garden of Scotland'. It enjoys an equable climate, has been cultivated for thousands of years and produces excellent barley (as well as soft fruits and vegetables). At the heart of the Laich o'Moray is the ancient Royal Burgh of Elgin, the elegant county town of Morayshire which justly describes itself as 'the Whisky Capital of the World'.
Mormaers
The town itself was founded in 927AD by a Norse warrior named Helgy, and was the capital of the ancient kings, or mormaers, of Moray. In the 13th century a royal castle was built here, and it became an ecclesiastical metropolis, the episcopal seat of the Bishops of Moray, with a magnificent cathedral, founded in 1224 - "the most splendid specimen of ecclesiastical architecture in Scotland", " a building of Gothic architecture inferior to few in Europe". It was first destroyed by the Wolf of Badenoch, son of King Robert 11, in June 1390, after a tiff with the bishop. Rebuilt, it was wantonly destroyed by Zealots of the Reformation in 1568.
Top dressings
The Elgin distilleries are mainly in the premier league: the best are Glenlossie, Glen Elgin, Glen Moray, Linkwood and Longmorn - four of them 'top dressings'. An unknown quantity (previously unremarkable) is Benriach, recently bought by Gordon & Macphail, Elgin's most experienced warehousemen, brokers and blenders. All these malts are in big demand from the blenders, so their owners don't promote them and they are rare.
The Speyside Regions
|
