Games And Scotch

Wednesday night on "The Amazing Race," the starting point is a castle in the Highlands of Scotland. Race Host Phil Keoghan just couldn't leave without sampling some of the area's rich and sometimes quirky traditions. Here's his latest Report from the Race:

The Scots have a long history of inventing strange and unusual games. I mean when you think about it, how ridiculous is golf, really? And not far behind on the oddity scale, are the Highland Games -large men in kilts throwing and heaving unusual objects.

It's an odd but enduring tradition. Every September, Celtic pride echoes throughout the prestigious Braemar Gathering. Thousands of McClouds and McLains, Fergusons and Stewarts - even the Windsors - gather to embrace their heritage.

"It's religion," says David Christie of N.H Highland Games with a big laugh.

It's a religion that's spread to many shores. New Hampshire is home to one of the largest American Highland Games.

"A thousand-odd years ago, the Kings of Scotland created a number of strength tests, basically to test out the bodyguards. And that's where the caber comes from," explains Christie.

Aah, the caber - it looks funny, but it's serious business. Sometimes you get the caber, tall, heavy and unwieldy; sometimes the caber gets you.

With games as old as the hills, change is rarely embraced. But American Shannon Hartnett - nicknamed "the Glamazon" - fought to compete with and against the men.

"Once they come out there and they see that I'm serious and I'm very technically sound with my throwing and my distances are very good, I think they realize that I've done my homework and I'm serious and not out there to make a show out of it," says Hartnett. "And going up into the Highlands of Scotland and throwing up there, where it all started. And there's dancing and there's the bagpipes. It's nice."

And when the games conclude, it's time to break open another Scottish tradition. Whisky - liquid sunshine - is as important to Scots as Braveheart or the 18th hole at Saint Andrews.

"Only if they come from Scotland can they put Scotch on the label - so all Scotch is whisky, but not all whisky is Scotch," says Jeremy Bell of The Glenlivet Distillery.

The historic Glenlivet Distillery draws its water from the River Livet;
distills the spirits in tall copper kettles, and then ages it all in fine oaken barrels. A touch of water brings out the best in this 21-year-old scotch.

"More floral, more fragrant, there's a chemical reaction that takes place. As we say in Scotland - nothing improves water like whisky," says Bell. "Nothing like going home, sitting in the armchair with a scotch - just turns a moment into a memory."

And that's worth toasting in any language. Cheers!