Category: Whisky

The Video Revolution !

2/7/2014

Well here we are in 2014, with new places to go and new drinks to taste !

I have been spending all my money on shiny new video equipment, (much to my wife's disgust), and believe that I can probably film things and share them with you a lot easier than I can write about them. Therefore "A View From The Bar" will be much more video heavy and text light.

Well here we go then !

One night in Glasgow provided me with the following films:

1. Tasting Glenmorangie Single Malt Whisky at "The Pot Still", which is in Hope Street, Glasgow

2. Tasting recommendations from Frank, The Bearded Barman, at "The Pot Still"

Talking to John Henderson, Owner of the "Scottish Borders Brewery" at a meet the brewer night in "Munro's", Great Western Road, Glasgow.

I also recently filmed a Belhaven Black review at my local pub, "The Masonic Arms", Broxburn

And just for good measure, for no other reason at all - Here's a joke about a dog

If you would like to see more clips then please subscribe to my Youtube Channel: TheDrinkingMansGuide ToScotland.

Cheers

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A Busy two months ! - Hampden - Prague - Deanston Distillery - Cameron House - Dublin - S.R.A.F.

7/2/2012

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It has been a very busy couple of months with work taking me to some far away places, this has given me the opportunity to try a lot of new beers and find some great new pubs !

I was working at Heathrow for a couple of days at the start of May and I went to a pub called "The White Horse". This pub is just beside the airport and if you are staying at any of the large hotels close by then ask at reception and they will send a car to pick you up. Then, at the end of the night, they will take you back to your hotel. This is free if you are having a meal there, or there are a few of you. I liked this pub as the food was good and the selection of beers were ok, but most of all it is a real pub, not a rubbish, expensive hotel bar.

Later in May I worked at Hampden football ground, this was for a conference. I didn't get a chance to try any of the local bars but I did get to hear my name over the P.A. in the ground !!

At the end of the conference at Hampden there was some sunny weather, so that weekend I went to a friends house for a barbecue. When he brought out some cold beers from the fridge he announced that he had found some bottles of home brew from around 10 years ago, YES 10 YEARS AGO. We looked at the bottles, they seemed to be properly sealed, we opened a bottle and poured it into a glass, it looked and smelt ok so we tried it, it was lovely !! Very smooth with a silky finish. Although we weren't brave enough to try a second bottle.

At the beginning of June I went back to work in Prague at another nine day event. This time we found a great Irish pub just off Wencesless Square. The name of the pub is Rocky O'Reillys. If you go then you should have the platter, its huge !!! and will take 4 people to eat it. The beers are the same as you would find in any Irish pub but the welcome is great !! We had a good couple of nights out here and I recommend it.

When in Prague I also had a trip out to a shooting range, "The Magnum", where I shot a Magnum 44 hand gun and a Kalashnikov semi automatic rifle. It's not the kind of thing I do often, but it was kind of fun.

The day after I got back from Prague I was working at the opening of the new Deanston Distillery Visitors Centre. This place is well worth a visit, it has a good tour, gift shop and does not look like your stereotypical distillery. It was in fact a mill until the 1960's (I think) and was then bought and turned into a distillery. At the opening I met Neil Oliver and one of the actresses from the new film, "The Angels Share", (unfortunately I can't remember her name). A lot of the film was filmed at the Deanston Distillery.

A few days after the opening at Deanston I was back on the road. This time I was at the Cameron House Hotel on the shores of Loch Lomond.

This is a beautiful place and if you can I urge you to visit. The job also involved putting a PA into "The Boathouse", this is a great restaurant and bar right on the shores of Loch Lomond. Check out the photos below, the first one was the view from my room and the last one was taken at the barbecue at the boathouse.

Towards the end of June I spent three days working in Dublin. We managed out on one of the nights and ended up in the Grafton Street area. This is a great area to go out in as it has loads of great pubs and restaurants. The first place we went to was "Peters Pub", a very well run pub with friendly staff and excellent beer. We then had a meal, I can't remember the name of the restaurant, and headed on to the "International Bar". This bar had a group of musicians playing various types of music, I joined in playing a song on the guitar and singing. They were far more talented than me but let me have a go anyway.

The Scottish Real Ale Festival was held at the Corn Exchange in Edinburgh this year and as you might imagine I made time to go along and try some new beers. I went with my good friend Duncan on the Saturday and we made our way through lots of different types of beer from many different breweries. I think my favourite this year is the "Cart Noir" from the Kelburn Brewery closely followed by the "Talorcan" from the Deeside Brewery. Check out the photos and video taken at the event.

See you next time !!!

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The Burns Supper

3/14/2011

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Most of the people in Scotland will not only know what a Burns supper is, but will probably have been to one. For those of you out there that don't know what a burns supper is, here is a quick description. It is a night when people get together to celebrate the life and works of Robert burns, poet and song writer. The meal that is served is usually Haggis Turnips and potatoes and the drink will include whisky.

At the start of the meal the host recites the Burns poem, address to the Haggis. This is what James is doing in the picture below.

The Burns Supper that we have is a very informal affair. During the meal we each have to do a Burns piece. It can be a poem or a song. There is no order to when we do our piece, you do it when you feel it's the right time. Christine and me did our piece quite early in the night as we were playing the song "Green Grow the Rashies o'". I played the guitar and sang and Christine played along on the violin.

We were enjoying a single malt that James had bought. It was The Glenrothes Select Reserve. This was a smooth whisky with a dry finish, I think it is a Speyside Malt - if it isn't then it tastes like one ! We also started the night with a McEwan's Champion Ale. This is a great ale, with a chocolate, caramel overtone. It also has a kick as it's 7.3%. There were various other drinks during the night, the Arran 10 year old made an appearence, (its worth a try as its an unusual island whisky as it's not at all peaty).

As the night went on other guests did their party piece's, Gillian Grant sang "Aye Fond Kiss", my brother Steven recited a poem about whisky. I'm afraid that I not sure what the other guests did as the drink was beginning to take to take its toll on my memory.

It was a great night out with friends and family, James and Gillian were very good hosts and have set the bar for next year. I believe next year it's Mine and Christine's turn to host the Burns night - I'm looking forward to it already.

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The Video Revolution !

2. Tasting recommendations from Frank, The Bearded Barman, at "The Pot Still"

Talking to John Henderson, Owner of the "Scottish Borders Brewery" at a meet the brewer night in "Munro's", Great Western Road, Glasgow.

I also recently filmed a Belhaven Black review at my local pub, "The Masonic Arms", Broxburn

And just for good measure, for no other reason at all - Here's a joke about a dog

If you would like to see more clips then please subscribe to my Youtube Channel: TheDrinkingMansGuide ToScotland.

Cheers

A Busy two months ! - Hampden - Prague - Deanston Distillery - Cameron House - Dublin - S.R.A.F.

The Burns Supper

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The Video Revolution !

2. Tasting recommendations from Frank, The Bearded Barman, at "The Pot Still"

Talking to John Henderson, Owner of the "Scottish Borders Brewery" at a meet the brewer night in "Munro's", Great Western Road, Glasgow.

I also recently filmed a Belhaven Black review at my local pub, "The Masonic Arms", Broxburn

And just for good measure, for no other reason at all - Here's a joke about a dog

If you would like to see more clips then please subscribe to my Youtube Channel: TheDrinkingMansGuide ToScotland.Cheers

A Busy two months ! - Hampden - Prague - Deanston Distillery - Cameron House - Dublin - S.R.A.F.

The Burns Supper

Author

Archives

Categories

If you would like to see more clips then please subscribe to my Youtube Channel: TheDrinkingMansGuide ToScotland.

Cheers