Larch Trees

Started the day with some sunshine and a day off, thanks to my birthday yesterday (forgot to mention that in my blip). My company now offers birthday leave, which means an extra day of annual leave that can be used within two weeks of your birthday or the nearest day if it falls on a weekend. After breakfast, I took a leisurely stroll around the park. Then, after coffee, my partner and I went for a little walk.

For my birthday, I received a whisky tasting tour—the Johnnie Walker Journey of Flavour Experience at the Johnnie Walker Princes Street building in Edinburgh. Since my partner isn't a whisky fan, twin 1 joined me. I took a pre-tour taste test and got a wristband that matched my taste preferences. The first part involved making a whisky highball using a dispenser and adding a dry ingredient from the selection on the table. We then moved to the next room for a theatrical presentation about how Johnnie Walker started making whisky and how the company grew in the 19th Century. The following room explained how whisky is made, starting with the three initial flavours and then maturing into three other flavours. We learned about the complex process of blending whiskies to create different Johnnie Walker varieties. The final room was a tasting room where we got to choose two whiskies to taste. I picked the limited production Autumn and Winter, and the Aged 18 Years. The whole tour lasted 1 1/2 hours and was very enjoyable, educational, and highly recommended if you're ever in Edinburgh.

Afterwards, I met my partner at a café. It was pouring rain, but a nice cup of coffee was the perfect way to end the day before heading home.