An Island Odyssey

An Island Odyssey
with Rachel Rennie
www.whiskywineandwords.com

CCR After Dinner Scotch Whisky Tasting

January 21st 2010

Scotland has close to 800 offshore islands, 92 of which are inhabited today. Only 14 of them are populated by over 1,000 people and 45 by over 100. The population of all the islands totals less than 100,000.

Single malt Scotch whisky, revered worldwide for its astounding diversity of flavours and aromas, is distilled on only 6 of these magical islands; Arran, Islay, Jura, Mull, Skye and Orkney; islands whose culture has been influenced over the centuries by Celtic, Norse and English speaking peoples and whose names reflect their history. To the west, names derived from Scots Gaelic predominate, while those of the Northern Isles have Viking origins.

Although single malt Scotch whisky is distilled from only three ingredients - barley, yeast and water - even subtle changes in terrain or climate influence its character.

Think then of the strong tides which sweep the islands; of the Corryvreckan tide race between Scarba and Jura, one of the largest whirlpools in the world, or of the fierce currents surging through the Pentland Firth between mainland Scotland and the Orkney Isles. Think of the mountains of Skye and Mull whose bedrock is some of the oldest in the world. Think of the peat bogs of Islay and the windswept heathery flatness of treeless Orkney.

What better way to explore these magical islands than through the ‘uisge beatha’, ‘water of life’, produced in their distilleries?

Join us on Thursday January 21s to experience ‘the spirit of the Isles’ - pungent, full bodied malts and light, lively drams.

CCR Members 30 euro

Friends and Guests 45 euro

Limited spaces available. You are financially responsible for your RSVP.

Time: January 21st 2010 8:30pm

Location: Home of CCR V.P. L. Beaulieu
Via Dei Villini 26, near Piazza Galeno
Parking available on street. Near Metro station Policlinico

RVSP by 19 January 2010 to canadarome@gmail.com.