Whisky distilleries
The word whisky is derived from the Gaelic uisge beatha - water of life. Unsurprisingly, visiting distilleries is particularly popular with tourists in Scotland. For visitors who do not have time to travel, fine whiskies can be tasted and purchased just one mile from Baltersan at Dewar Rattray in Maybole, producers of Stronachie malt as shown above.
Apart from pure water, two other essential components are malting barley and oak sherry casks. The sight of masses of barrels such as photographer Jens Gawandtka has captured would delight the imbiber and Chancellor of the Exchequer in equal measure.
Distilleries with visitor centres within a day trip of Baltersan:
Isle of Arran, Lochranza
Bladnoch, by Wigtown in Galloway
Glengoyne, Stirlingshire, just north of Glasgow
Auchentoshan, Dunbartonshire (north side of the Erskine Bridge)