Whisky
I recently spent an afternoon at the Scotch Whisky experience in Edinburgh. Situated at the top of the Royal Mile, just off the castle. this experience gives you the sights, sounds and the flavour of our national drink.
In my writing, I feature whisky as the drink of choice for the likes of Will Logan in the Canongate Containment and John Hunter in the Clockmaker Conspiracy. I should point out that these characters and the worlds they inhabit have still to see the light of day. The reason for choosing whisky as their drink is because I enjoy a whisky and know something about the industry and culture which surrounds it.
There are two main experiences in Edinburgh. There is Johnnie Walker on Princes Street which goes into the history of that particular blend. I’ve been twice and it’s well worth it. It’s new and opened in September 2021. The experience on the Royal Mile has been around for many years and has changed in format. I’ve visited a few times and this most recent visit took in the latest tour. It’s not built around a particular brand or blend, but covers single malt whisky across the five whisky regions of Scotland. These are Campbeltown, Highland, Islay, Lowland and Speyside. Each has its own unique characteristics and flavour, which means a single malt whisky from Islay is a completely different experience from, for example, a Highland whisky. If you google this you will find pages on a sixth region – the islands – but traditionally these are the five ‘classic’ regions of malt whisky.
The highlight of the tour – other than tasting whisky – is seeing the world’s largest collection of whisky. The Diageo Claive Vidiz Whisky Collection went on show in 2009 and features over 3,000 bottles. It’s quite a wow moment when entering the vault for the first time and for me, the experience has never lost its magic.
After the tour I spent the afternoon in the whisky bar, trying a few malts and enjoying the conversation. This included one of my favourites, the Bowmore 18 year old. No surprise to read that my main characters also prefer this whisky. They did have a 25 year old in stock, and I did debate going for it, but it was very expensive, so I reluctantly declined. Since then I’ve resolved to go back and purchase a glass.
There is no correct or right way to enjoy whisky. You can mix it as you like or drink it straight with a drop of water. I enjoy the various malts and that’s what I prefer to drink for now. There are many blends of whisky, but other than Johnnie Walker, which is a brand leader, I don’t go for blends. That is simply because I’m exploring the single malts. Another reason why my main characters also enjoy a single malt.
I’m not one of those writers who stays up grappling with my muse while downing whisky. Perhaps they exist, I don’t know, but I never write if I’m having a drink. I tend to stick to having a drink at the weekend. Scotland has a challenging relationship with alcohol and I’m conscious it doesn’t need me contributing to the problem, so once a week suits me and means I’m not having to negotiate hangovers or any after effects. The nice thing about drinking whisky for me is I can take my time and ‘coorie in’ as we say, with a glass and maybe a piece of shortbread, savouring the taste and indulging in the tradition and history that is part of the experience. A glass at the weekend is a treat I can look forward to. I appreciate it’s not for everyone, and I know folk who won’t touch it. Each to their own. Slàinte Mhaith.
The Fiction Factory 