Spirit of the Trail #6: Ebey’s Landing and Bruichladdich Classic Laddie
Welcome back! Spring has arrived in the Pacific Northwest, and it’s a perfect time to venture out and explore some new trail and whisky pairings! Here’s a brief refresher on my Spirit of the Trail series: I pair a trail experience (hike/run/race) with a whisky. It’s all about distilling an experience and whisky and sharing it with you, inspiring exploration out on the trails and in your glass! (If you missed the previous installments, you can check them out here.)
The Trail:
Ebey’s Landing Bluff Trail (Whidbey Island, WA) is a great hike for beginners or for experienced people alike. Located on Whidbey Island, you can make it a short out-and-back or a loop, if you include the beach. It begins with a short climb uphill with farms and a view of Mount Baker to your right, and Puget Sound to your left, with the Olympic Peninsula in the distance. The bluff trail is smooth underfoot and lined with tall trees on one side. And you’re lucky, you’ll spot some bald eagles in the trees or soaring above you. The expansive view of Puget Sound is stunning, and you can see the beach portion of the trail below you, along the lagoon. The beach walk includes knotted driftwood of all sizes and smooth, flattened stones in every color. All in all, it’s less than 4 miles, and simply a beautiful hike.
Fun Trail Fact:
There are two trailheads – one is from Ebey’s Landing Road (my preference). The second is the Prairie Overlook Trailhead. I like the first one better so you get the short climb out of the way in the beginning, rather than at the end of the hike.
The Whisky:
Bruichladdich Classic Laddie (Scotland) is a great whisky for beginners and connoisseurs alike! It’s an unpeated single malt from the isle of Islay in Scotland. Notes of light tropical fruits are bright, like the sun over the sparkling water, and it’s smooth like the trail. There’s a light honeyed sweetness, and an oakiness, suggestive of the tall trees on the edge of the bluff. There’s a touch of coastal minerality, reminiscent of the sea air on the beach trail. Like Ebey’s Landing Bluff Trail, it’s an approachable and enjoyable delight, any time of the year.
Fun Whisky Fact:
While it is from Islay, a Scottish island known for smoky whisky, this whisky is unpeated. It’s an absolutely fantastic dram that proves there’s more to Islay than peat monsters!
It’s been awhile since I wrote anything (the pandemic has sapped my creativity a bit, anyone else?) But the warming weather, increased trail time, and some hope in our global situation has really helped. Here’s to more adventures out on the trail and in your glass. Sláinte!
