Scotch

Now to serious stuff, the Scotsman's staff of life, whisky that's been brewed from peat stained water that's trickled through the heather and rumbled down a mountain burn. Brewers the world over have tried to imitate Scotch and all have failed miserably. First and foremost it's an absolute desecration to add ice tae guid Scotch. If ice is your preference in a drink then dinna waste guid Scotch and your money but buy any other brew that catches your fancy. Of course Scotch is best imbibed in the company of a good friend as after a hard day the shoes are kicked off, you settle in to comfy arm chairs, lay back, close your eyes and reminisce. I've often been asked what is it that's in Scotch that makes it so different and sets it apart from all other drinks?  Would the questioner even understand if I were to tell him? There's a very good reason why Scotch is called Scotch but every Scotsman would answer the question a little bit differently. I'll let you in on a few of the ingredients of what's intilt for me besides malted barley. 

It's the red grouse calling go-back, go-back, go-back as a covey skims low ower the moorland heather.

It the soond o' the geese flying high on a mane licht nicht.

It's the far awa soond o' the pipes driftin on the wind.

It's the cackle of  water tumblin  ower boulders in a hillside burn. 

It's the flash of a troot.

It's a salmon leaping up the falls as it heads for hame.

It's twa men in a wee boat flingin a flea on a loch.

It's the lonesome call of a curlew on a rocky shore.

It's the vision of the thistle that Wallace gave to his betrothed.

It's the swing o' the kilt.

It's the snaw that in winter covers the hills.

It's a fine warming fire on a cauld winter nicht.

It's the remembrance o' absent freends the world ower.

These are some of the magic ingredients that's intilt for me that sets Scotch apart and worth its every bawbee. 

Turn the lamp low. Close your eyes. Slide doon intae your favourite chair, gaze intae the fire and frae a wee hand warmed finely cut crystal  glass, sip it slowly.