SCOTLAND - Time for a wee dram

Today's weird place to get out of the train was Dalwhinnie. Although no where near as remote as Corrour or Rannoch, it is a lonely, windswept place on the Highland Main Line not far from the Drumochter Pass - the highest point on the national network.

The trains here though are my favourite. Inter City 125's. When they were retired from front line service last year the Scottish government had some completely refurbished for internal Inter City services in Scotland. Having an engine at each end makes them perfect for the gradients on this stretch of line.

Station usage is getting lower, only 3400 people a year get out at this isolated community, which is the coldest in Scotland apparently, and I was the only one that got off this morning and the only one to get on this afternoon.

So why am I here? To visit Scotland's highest distillery. The guide said that the colder air temperature in Dalwhinnie has a positive effect on the whisky production.

You start off by making unflavoured beer - beer without hops. This is then distilled and the resulting clear liquid is put into wooden casks and matured for at least 3 years. The colour of whisky comes from maturation in the casks.

After the tour there was of course a tasting. 4 single malt whiskies each paired with a chocolate. Strangely, the eating of a chocolate before tasting the whisky completely mellowed the flavour.