Robin Laing packs his bags and heads out to Campbeltown to find whisky production is thriving again
Back in 1098, the Treaty of Tarbert granted to the King of Norway, Magnus Bareleg, “all the western isles round which a ship could sail”. The Viking warlord immediately had his longships dragged across the one-mile neck of land at Tarbert to prove that the Kintyre peninsula was an island too. He mad...
Distillery Focus
from Issue 63 published on 20/04/2007
Robin Laing delves in to the historical connections between the country’s saints and the water of life
Religion and strong drink do not usually seem to mix but having found a number of connections between whisky-making and Scottish holy men I wondered if men of God have always looked at distilling with a disapproving eye.
For example, is there a patron saint of distillers? I checked the Internet and...
Whisky History
from Issue 60 published on 10/11/2006
Whisky musician Robin Laing experiences the Kentucky Bourbon Festival for the first time and finds a home from home.
Oh, the buzzin’of the bees and the cigarette trees and the soda water fountain.
At the lemonade springs where the bluebird sings, in the big Rock Candy Mountains’ Bardstown must be one of the few towns in the USA to still have an old-style, drug store soda fountain. I sat in there with some friends...
Whisky Events
from Issue 59 published on 11/10/2006
Ghosts are a common feature in whisky distilleries. Robin Laing goes in search of some of the most famous onces
Scotland is a land of story tellers; maybe it’s the whisky.
Certainly in the Highlands (the spiritual home of Uisge Beatha) folk would gather together to share a dram and make music, sing songs and tell tales.
Perhaps because of our blend of strict religion and primitive beliefs, many of the sto...
Distillery ghosts
from Issue 58 published on 30/08/2006
Despite views to the contrary,grain whisky can be pretty sensational - and great value for money.
My prejudice against grain whiskies was seriously shaken recently when I encountered a 39 year old Invergordon grain, from Duncan Taylor.
It was in the company of eight malts, all more than 30 years old and to my astonishment the Invergordon was possibly the best of the lot. I could hardly believe ...
Grain whisky
from Issue 54 published on 03/03/2006
Glasgow has a long association with whisky. Robin Laing tells its story
In September thousands of people will congregate in George Square for Glasgow’s second Whisky Live event. Glaswegians think of their city as a no-nonsense sort of place, where whisky is the natural drink – quite different from the pretentious sherry drinkers of Edinburgh. But what are the facts? Wha...
Whisky Travel
from Issue 49 published on 15/07/2005
Whisky has long helped provide the inspiration for some artists. Glenfiddich even provides a home for artists each year. Robin Laing looks at the connection
Over the last three years visitors to Glenfiddich have had the usual distillery tour experience enhanced by being exposed to various art forms.
There is a gallery in the former distilleryshop where they have been able to enjoy, or puzzle over, art works ranging from paintings, photography, figurati...
Whisky and Art
from Issue 45 published on 21/1/2005
Robin Laing takes a gentle stroll with his friend through Speyside
Donald’s career path has taken him to the South East of England, close to the engine room of political power. This path has distanced him, in my opinion, from those magical places in Scotland where earth seems to interface with heaven. He’s my friend so I see it is my duty to bring him back whenever...
Whisky tales
from Issue 44 published on 25/11/2004
Singer and whisky lover Robin Laing was fascinated to discover that New Zealand has a long whisky-making tradition when he toured there recently. Here he tells its story
Afew months ago I was touring New Zealand and found myself becoming captivated by the story of New Zealand whisky – ‘New Zealand what?’ Aye, that’s right – Kiwi cratur!
But The South Island is probably the nearest you can get to the climate and landscape of Scotland in the southern hemisphere, and ...
New World Whisky
from Issue 32 published on 13/7/2003
