The Glenlivet Whisky Distillery is about 1.5 hours north-west of Aberdeen in a beautiful, rural pocket of the Cairngorms. It’s surrounded by forests, rivers, hills, and farmland.
The buildings are black in this next photo because the whisky production process attracts microorganisms causing it to go black. A fungus – Baudoinia compniacensis – feeds on the ethanol which evaporates from ageing barrels of whisky. It’s sometimes referred to as distillery fungus and is also found around brandy and vodka distilleries. The tell-tale blackened trees made it easy for tax collectors in the 19th century to find illegal distilleries.
This is the Old Bridge of Livet, a 16th century stone bridge which originally had three arches. One of the arches was washed away in floods in the 19th century. That’s a dusting of snow on the ground. We’re expecting more overnight.
rachel.blog 
This reminds me that I need to buy my annual bottle of single malt scotch to give a toast to the faltering daylight of autumn. I love my wine and beer, but when the air turns sharp and the trees become increasingly bare, I need a sip or two of Glenlivet to warm the spirit(s). 🙂
It does make you feel warmer although I’ve heard this is only a temporary effect. Cheers!
Aww… another fabulous set of photos and post. You seem like such a lovely family with such solid ethics/politics that I have to admire you. So here’s one for y’all. When I went to the home of my favourite whisky in Crieff you were given a tasting tray of all the best. Coffee liqueur, various ages and the like. They claim to be the oldest distillery in Scotland. As do others. I can recommend the Glenturret 8YO as one to savour and taste all around your mouth and body! It was my late father’s favourite and quite honestly, even as one who loves the smoky/peaty tastes from the isles, this is one of which I have to say “the old man got it right”. I didn’t say that enough when he was with us! A bit of a trek for you up in Aberdeen to there southwards, but a trip worth making, Rachel. Thanks for sharing this.
Aww thanks, Wheatypete! I do love Perthshire and next time we’re in that area I’ll try to make sure we visit the distillery. I only occasionally drink whisky but I like the smell of it and find distilleries to be fascinating places.
[…] Ben accidentally made me a coffee with caffeine. I gave up caffeine 2.5 years ago on our trip to Glenlivet. Now I drink only decaf and it has been the best thing I ever did. All my life I have struggled […]