Whisky Bars of Scotland - 1st Edition

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1st Edition

Nip inside Scotland’s top whisky bars

J & G GRANT, GLENFARCLAS DISTILLERY, BALLINDALLOCH, BANFFSHIRE, SCOTLAND AB37 9BD TEL +44 (0)1807 500257 INFO@GLENFARCLAS.CO.UK WWW.GLENFARCLAS.CO.UK

Glenfarclas encourages responsible drinking.

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1st Edition

Nip inside Scotland’s top whisky bars

Publisher: Media World Ltd. Editorial: Jason Caddy & Susan Young Business Manager: Lynn Kelly Design: Jill Donald Media World Ltd. Upper Floor, Finnieston House, 1 The Stables Yard, 1103 Argyle Street, Glasgow G3 8ND. Telephone: 0141 221 6965 Email: dram@mail.com Web: www.dramscotland.co.uk www.barandpub.tv The publishers, authors and printers cannot accept liability for errors/omissions. Any transparencies or artwork will be accepted at owner’s risk. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the copyright holder and publisher, application for which should be made to the publisher.

Articles published in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers. Š Media World Limited 2013.

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elcome to the first edition of ‘Whisky Bars of Scotland.’ In this guide you will find 58 of the best whisky bars Scotland has to offer, which all have two things in common. They pride themselves on the 1st Edition quality of whisky they have on offer and are passionate about Scotland’s national drink.

Great whisky bars come in all shapes and sizes – small, large, historical, contemporary, traditional - but they all come with a warm welcome and great customer service.

All of the bars featured naturally have an excellent selection of whisky and, as you will find, a good whisky very often goes hand in hand with excellent beer, a good range of wine, and tasty food too. The perfect package.

As a ‘Keeper of the Quaich’ one of my endeavours is to promote Scotch whisky and where better to enjoy it than in one of our featured bars. I have enjoyed checking them out and I hope you do too.

Susan Young Editor

Nip inside Scotland’s top whisky bars

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Aberdeen & North East Cheers Cafe Bar, Fraserburgh Glen Lui Hotel, Ballater The Highlander Inn, Craigellachie Knockomie Hotel, Forres The Marcliffe Hotel & Spa, Aberdeen Mash Tun, Aberlour The Craigellachie Hotel, Craigellachie Stables Whisky Bar, Dufftown

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Edinburgh Albanach Bar 22 Angels Share 23 Athletic Arms 24 Bennets Bar 25 Black Cat 26 Bow Bar 27 Indigo Yard 28 Kay’s Bar 29 Teuchters Bar 30 Teuchters Landing 31 Tigerlily 32 Whiski 33 Whiski Rooms 34 Whisky Bar @ The Scotch Whisky Experience 35

Glasgow Ben Nevis Bon Accord The Doublet The Lismore Oran Mor The Pot Still Ubiquitious Chip Uplawmoor Hotel

38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45

Highland & Islands Ballygrant Inn & Restaurant, Isle of Islay Dornoch Castle Hotel, Dornoch Eddrachillies Hotel, Scourie Lochside Hotel, Isle of Islay Macgochans, Isle of Mull The Mishnish, Isle of Mull The Oyster Inn, Oban Port Askaig Hotel, Isle of Islay Port Charlotte Hotel, Isle of Islay Sligachan Hotel, Isle of Skye

48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57

Loch Lomond Ardlui Hotel Great Scots Bar @ Cameron House Hotel Inn at Inverbeg The Winnock Hotel

66 67 68 69

Perthshire Bankfoot Inn, Bankfoot The Bar @ Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder Kenmore Hotel, Kenmore Killiecrankie Hotel, Killiecrankie Old Mill Inn, Pitlochry Poppies Hotel, Callander

72 73 74 75 76 77

Other Areas Ardshiel Hotel, Campbeltown Fort Hotel, Dundee The George Hotel, Inveraray Knockinaam Lodge, Portpatrick

81 82 83 84

Inverness-shire The Anderson, Fortrose 60 Fiddler’s, Drumnadrochit 61 Pibroch Whisky Bar, Drumnadrochit 62 A Wee Drop @ Creag Mhor Lodge, North Ballachulish 63 7

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10 Broad Street Fraserburgh AB43 9AH Tel: 01346 517620 www.cheersbarfraserburgh.com Cheers Cafe Bar is a real find in Fraserburgh.

It has more than 110 malt whiskies on offer and its collection is forever growing. If you are not sure what to order you can always peruse one of its whisky books or ask at the bar. You will find whisky package ‘deals’ offered by region, age, or distillery at a reduced price.

Its prices are extremely modest and are very competitive. They say the malt whisky is priced to sell not gather dust on the shelf. Aside from its great whisky offering, the bar also offers a wide range of spirits. Those include over 40 gins, many of which are Scottish , and the bar is the current holder of the Tennent’s Quality Award for its beer. This award winning bar was also recently crowned Sky Sports TV’s ‘Ultimate Venue’ for Scotland & North England 2013 and its large beer garden has also won awards.

So if you fancy a good dram in Fraserburgh, where better than Cheers?

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14 Invercauld Road Ballater AB35 5PP T: 01339 755 402 www.glen-lui-hotel.co.uk If you are visiting the Cairngorms National Park, where better to stop off than the Glen Lui Hotel, set in two acres of woodland ground.

The Glen Lui have an excellent selection of single malts from all over Scotland and well trained staff who can take you on a tour of the hotel’s whisky menu. With roaring fires, great views, and lovely food, it is a very cosy and welcoming hotel. There’s also a lovely decked outdoor area which is perfect in the summer. Add to that the fact the staff and proprietors are obliging and helpful, and you have the perfect hotel to chill out in and enjoy a dram or two. Also close by is the Royal Lochnagar Distillery & Visitors Centre, which runs regular tours, all of which finish with a dram of its award winning whisky.

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Craigellachie Speyside Banffshire AB38 9SR T: 01340 881 446 www.whiskyinn.com You definitely won’t be disappointed by the tremendous selection of whiskies available at The Highlander. It now offers more than 400 different and interesting whiskies, including a large number of Single Cask Malt whiskies.

It also has one of the largest selections of Japanese whiskies available outside South East Asia and a good selection of malt whiskies from other parts of the world as well.It was one of the first, if not the first, to offer ‘tasting trays’ made exclusively for the Highlander Inn by a local master craftsman.

As well as an excellent range of whisky and very passionate and informed staff it also offers tasty beers. There are always three CAMRA recognised cask conditioned ales available. Bar food is available at lunch time and in the evening. You can also enjoy a dram on its large outside patio, weather permitting.

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Grantown Road, Forres Moray IV36 2SG T: 01309 673 146 www.knockomie.co.uk The Malt Library at Knockomie Hotel in Forres has a collection of 80 single malts and some unique blends to offer guests.

Relax and savour a dram by the fire, or enjoy a personal tutoring by Penny Ellis, who is passionate about whisky, so much so that she is a current Director of the Speyside Whisky Festival. Penny is a well known whisky aficionado and is happy to take guests on a whisky tour of Scotland from the comfort of their chair. The hotel, which has been owned by the Ellis family since 1986, is set in four acres of gardens and has a very romantic feel.

The whisky theme is continued with each of the 15-bedrooms named after Speyside distilleries, each with its own individual theme. While the restaurant at Knockomie has been known to use a dram or two on its menu.

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North Deeside Road Pitfodels Aberdeen AB15 9YA T: 01224 861 000 www.marcliffe.com The five-star Marcliffe Hotel & Spa is located in 11 acres of woodland on a hill just a few miles outside of Aberdeen. It was originally a Victorian mansion but it now boasts 38 luxury rooms, a newly opened spa, a conservatory restaurant, and a Drawing Room Bar and Lounge. The bar is stocked with more than 150 malts and a scintillating selection of Cognac, Armagnacs and rare European brandies. The Drawing Room Bar also has a baby grand piano as its centrepiece and has a warming open log fire. Around the rest of the hotel you will find original works of art, in watercolour, oils and sculpture, at strategic points. The Marcliffe was opened in 1993 by Soviet Premier, Mikhail Gorbachev, and is still the only five-star hotel in Aberdeen.

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8 Broomfield Square Aberlour Speyside AB38 9QP T: 01340 881 771 www.mashtun-aberlour.com At The Mash Tun you can enjoy locally sourced Scottish contemporary food and Scottish whisky, and stay in one of its five whisky themed rooms situated above the bar area. The bar itself is home to a wide and varied selection of whiskies, both single malts and blends, predominately from Speyside but also incorporating distilleries from the rest of Scotland. Included in this selection is the exclusive Glenfarclas Family Cask Collection. The Family Casks are a unique collection of 46 single cask whiskies, with one for each consecutive year from 1952 to 1997.

The collection is unique as there is no other known collection of rare and old whiskies that covers 46 consecutive years from the same distillery. Staff there are well trained and happy to recommend whiskies to try.

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@ The Craigellachie Hotel Victoria Street Craigellachie Speyside Banffshire AB38 9SR T: 0843 178 7114 www.bespokehotels.com/ craigellachiehotel The Craigellachie Hotel plays host to the worldfamous Quaich Bar. It is renowned because of its extensive array of whiskies which line the walls of this small, but perfectly formed, bar. In total there are around 700 whiskies, one of the biggest collections in the world. No surprise then that there is a resident whisky specialist who can conduct nosing and tasting sessions for groups of up to 20 people. So whether you are thinking about sampling a whisky priced at £2 a nip or one at £275 a nip you can be assured of excellent service, but it might take you a while to read throught the whisky list.

With a couple of leather chesterfield sofas and a few small tables, it’s a very comfortable wee bar, and if you fancy some good food there’s the Ben Aigan restaurant too.

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22 Fife Street Dufftown Banffshire AB55 4AL T: 01340 820 541 www.tannochbrae.co.uk Tannochbrae Stables Whisky Bar and Lounge has been called one of Speyside’s hidden treasures, situated in Dufftown the whisky capital, it plays host to more than 350 single malt whiskies. Tannochbrae is a delightful Victorian villa, which has been sympathetically converted into a guest house, restaurant and of course the Stables Whisky bar. You can stay over, enjoy a lovely meal in the restaurant which boasts a menu featuring the best of local produce, and then retire to the bar for a dram. The bar, apart from the original side panels from the Victorian Stable it is named after, is intimate and the welcome from this family owned business and the warmth of the log fire – make it a perfect setting to enjoy your favourite dram.

The bar and restaurant is also open to non residents.

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197 High Street Edinburgh EH1 1PE T: 0131 220 5277 www.albanach-edinburgh.co.uk The Albanach is the self-proclaimed ‘sophisticated city centre celebration of Scotland’. It’s certainly one of the coolestlooking bars in the Capital. Inside, you won’t be able to miss the Albanach’s wall of around 250 whiskies behind the long central bar, with a dedicated menu to make agonising over which one to try just that little bit easier. And this is a bar that takes whisky very seriously with its own whisky tours, whereby customers can select three or four malts themed by age or location. Real ales, including the occasional guest, sit next to a range of draught lagers.

This Edinburgh favourite is the epitome of Scottish hospitality, with an equal emphasis on the food side of things. Haggis, salmon and venison sit alongside pub-grub classics like burgers, grills, pastas and sandwiches.

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9-11 Hope Street New Town Edinburgh EH2 4EL T: 0131 247 7000 www.angelssharehotel.com Situated in the heart of Edinburgh’s trendy West End district, the Angels Share Hotel offers a bar, restaurant, and late night drinking venue all under one roof. The Angels Share Bar and Restaurant offers style, opulence and quality service, with over 200 whiskys on offer, live music and exceptional food served until late seven days a week. The back bar may groan with whisky, but the walls of the bar feature a veritable photographic gallery of modern Scottish excellence. So you may find yourself dining next to Paolo Nutini, Robert Carlisle, or perhaps Sharleen Spiteri. Live music is on offer every weekend from pianists to guitarists playing a blend of up beat treats to relaxed Sunday vibes. Visit its late night venue, the Devils Cut, where cocktails flow from teapots and tasty nibbles are served until 3am, amongst candlelit art work of famous Scottish success stories.

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1-3 Angle Park Terrace Edinburgh EH11 2JX T: 0131 337 3822 The pub is better known to the folk of Edinburgh as ‘Diggers.’ It has been called this since before the oldest local can remember, due to the fact it is located between two graveyards and was frequented by the grave diggers quenching their thirst after a long day of burying the dead. The pub was world famous for its cask conditioned McEwan’s 80/- and was simply referred to as Mecca by beer enthusiasts. Under the new management it has amassed a collection of over 250 single malts and goes a long way to prove that great real ale bars are also often great whisky bars. It has been modernised over the years but still boasts a real wooden floor, impressive gantry and eight tall beer founts, one of the only pubs in Edinburgh still to use them.

The whiskies on offer are served in Glencairn glasses and a satisfying quarter gill measure.

The whisky is very reasonably priced, which is just one of the reasons the pub is so popular.

Professional bar staff and great customers who enjoy a good time, adds to the pub’s appeal.

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8 Leven Street Tollcross Edinburgh EH3 9LG T: 0131 229 5143 www.bennetsbar.co.uk

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Since 1839 number 8 Leven Street has been a place to meet, socialise and sample some of the finest whisky Scotland has to offer. But it wasn’t until 1906 that Bennets Bar was born. It opened the same year as the King’s Theatre replaced the Taylor MacLeod brewery and as a result the main bar was, and still is, a favourite place for actors and actresses from the King’s Theatre for pre and post theatre drinks. Many of whom enjoy a dram. And they certainly have plenty to choose from with over 180 malt whiskies and a variety of blends and international whiskies to choose from you are spoilt for choice. Public whisky tastings are held once a month. The bar, which is Grade B listed, is very similar to the original bar that opened in 1906, but now offers food too. From ‘Saunderson the Butchers’ Steak and Caledonian 80/- pie, Traditional IPA battered fish and chips to guinea fowl and braised lamb casserole, there’s something for everyone at Bennets Bar. 25

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168 Rose Street Edinburgh EH2 4BA T: 0131 225 3349 www.theblackcatbar.com The Black Cat aims to provide for Edinburgh’s locals and visitors alike, creating a relaxed place to meet and enjoy a hand-picked selection of Scotland’s finest whiskies. Owner, Chris Miles, is a whisky enthusiast and is always happy to share his expertise with customers. It also stocks a large variety of local beers and a select few from further afield, as well as a selection of Scottish fayre served daily from 11am-11pm. However, you can pop in for a coffee from 10.30am every day, which can be enjoyed in the relaxed bar area or out front in its secluded and quiet seating area. Free WiFi is provided for all customers.

During the week they have live Scottish folk music sessions playing from 9.30pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, while it also hosts its own pub quiz is every Tuesday at 7pm.

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80 West Bow Victoria Street Edinburgh EH1 2HH Tel: 0131 226 7667 The Bow Bar is a typical traditional pub, with a mahogany gantry loaded with more than 200 malts. There is always a core of the popular and familiar, but their philosophy is experimental. Single Casks, various finishes (within reason), new releases, requests and recommendations, whims and fancies. As well as the many distillery brands, Independent bottlings include Adelphi, Berry Bros, Cadenhead’s, Chieftain’s, Dewar’s Rattray, Duncan Taylor and Gordon & MacPhail, to name but a few. The staff are enthusiastic about the whole subject and are happy to help you select a whisky to suit your palate.

As well as whisky, the pub also offers real ales served from a row of gleaming brass tall founts and a great selection of bottled beers too. Food, however, is limited to lunchtime pies and soup, but its friendly banter and no music policy means you hardly notice.

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7 Charlotte Lane Edinburgh EH2 4QZ T: 0131 220 5603 www.indigoyardedinburgh.co.uk

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Indigo Yard was one of Edinburgh’s original style bars, but a recent update has given the bar a more rustic look. They have married this with a new craft beer offering as well as an extended whisky and bourbon range. It now boasts more than 80 whiskies and 20 bourbons, as well as a few Irish whiskies too. Whether you fancy an Ardbeg Corryvreckan or a dram from Edradour, there is certainly plenty to choose from. They also do an impressive variety of cocktails with whisky as one of the key ingredients.

The bar is looking great and the mezzanine has been extended to create more space upstairs, which is ideal for private functions, whilst the terrace outside also embraces the artisanal atmosphere. There’s also a new menu that includes dishes like Orkney steak burger with Isle of Mull cheddar and hand cut chips. Indigo Yard prides itself on using the very best quality produce, so much so that every it hosts a Meet the Makers evening – a chance for customers to chat to the suppliers, pick up tips, and sample their wares.

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39 Jamaica Street Edinburgh EH3 6HF T: 0131 225 1858 www.kaysbar.co.uk Kay’s Bar is a great wee Victorian bar with an amazing collection of single malt whiskies.

It’s located right in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town and offers more than 50 whiskies from all over Scotland and Ireland. It’s a well preserved Victorian bar that still boasts some of its original fittings, including some internal signage, whisky barrels, wood pannelling, cast iron pillars, and a safe.

It is pretty small so it can get really packed, not surprising when you consider it also offers some great cask ales and the usual popular brands too, as well as traditional Scottish food. It is a music free bar, but during rugby matches, the TV has pride of place and it is considered one of the best places to watch rugby in Edinburgh.

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a room in the west end 26 William Street Edinburgh EH3 7NH T: 0131 225 2973 www.aroomin.co.uk Teuchters is a highland themed free-house with a real cosy atmosphere. It has a great reputation for real ales and of course an extensive whisky selection. It is one of Scotland’s Scotch Whisky Embassies and has more than 80 whiskies on offer for discerning customers. You can choose to relax with a dram beside the fire, or sink into its big comfy sofas. It’s a bar that attracts a lot of regulars, but staff are very friendly to newcomers too.

It doesn’t just offer a good whisky range - there are also five cask ale pumps and a wide selection of wines. Downstairs you can enjoy some fine food which has a Scottish twist and the menu also promotes the best fresh Scottish produce. Teuchters has a traditional pub feel with bare brick walls, wood panelling, and a blackboard that runs along the top of the bar revealing the great whiskies and ales it has to offer.

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1c Dock Place Leith Edinburgh EH6 6LU T: 0131 554 7427 www.aroomin.co.uk This Leith, free-house pub was formerly the waiting room for the steam ferry from Leith to Aberdeen and really is a great wee find. It’s a bit like the tardis – from the outside it looks quite small, but when you go through the door, there is the traditional wood panelled bar area, complete with a large range of whiskies (more than 90) and 18 cask ales.

Further through there is a small snug area which is perfect for watching sport. Then there is a dining area overlooking its outside area – a large floating pontoon. If it is too cold to eat and drink al fresco, there is an inviting stove in the bar area to warm the cockles. The bar menu offers Scottish staples including seafood and delicacies like haggis, but also offers a ’mug menu’ in which it serves food from a mug.

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125 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4JN T: 0131 225 5005 www.tigerlilyedinburgh.co.uk Tigerlily is a favourite place to see and be seen amongst those in the know in Scotland’s capital city. Against a backdrop of shimmering mirrors and dazzling chandeliers, it is the perfect place to try carefully crafted whisky cocktails. With Head Mixologist Kevin Griffin recently reaching the finals of World Class. Tigerlily’s mixologists are considered to be some of the best in the country, so you are in for a treat. Why not try a Salted Honey Whisky Sour, or one of their bespoke classic whisky cocktails served in a bottle, such as the Bottled Bowmore 12 Manhattan. The bespoke bottles are all numbered and bottled in-house. And if you really want to splash out, you could order Mr. Walker’s Nightcap. The recipe includes Johnnie Walker Blue Label, condensed milk, half and half, popcorn tea syrup, nutmeg, Chuncho bitters. It is served in a 1/3 vintage milk bottle with a straw. As well as some fabulous whisky cocktails, they also have an excellent range of malts to try.

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119 High Street Edinburgh EH1 1SG T: 0131 556 3095 www.whiskibar.co.uk The award winning WHISKI is undoubtedly one of Scotland’s premiere whisky bars. The owners and staff have a genuine passion for whisky. As a result the bar boasts some 270 malt whiskies and this total does not include all of its blended whiskies and whisky liqueur.

The bar has rare, vintage and cask strength, and all the major and lesser known brands including many from distilleries no longer in operation. The cult ‘Black Bowmore’ is available in the WHISKI bar, but only by special request. WHISKI specialises in all things Scottish and is a beautiful traditional bar with an extensive range of Scottish craft beers and cider. It is also a live music venue and holds many events at the bar, including whisky tastings and food and whisky events.

See its website for more details.

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7-9 N Bank Street Edinburgh EH1 2LP T: 0131 225 7224 www.whiskirooms.co.uk Whiski Rooms is situated on the Mound and is quite a unique venue. Not only does it have a bar and all day dining bistro/restaurant, but it also boasts a specialist whisky shop and tasting rooms. This is the ideal venue for whisky enthusiasts as the bar operates a ‘try before you buy’ policy whereby any whisky you try in the bar can then be bought from the adjoining shop. You can arrange to take part in a dedicated tasting session run by experts, or treat yourself to a great whisky cocktail. And it is also an Ardbeg Embassy – the only one in Scotland. But it’s not just whisky this bar excels at; it also offers a wide range of beers, lagers, and premium spirits as well as very tasty fresh Scottish food.

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@ The Amber Restaurant, The Scotch Whisky Experience The Scotch Whisky Experience 354 Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 2NE T: 0131 477 8477 www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk

Located in the vaults of leading whisky attraction, the Scotch Whisky Experience, Amber Restaurant and Whisky Bar provides the perfect sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile. The newly renovated Whisky bar boasts over 360 different whiskies from across Scotland, including single malt, single grain and blended whiskies, alongside a range of whisky liqueurs. The bar’s knowledgeable staff are on hand to help guide customers through the vast collection to find the perfect malt to match their palate. There are also a number of regional tasting trays available, which give a flavour of each of Scotland’s whisky producing areas. In the adjacent restaurant, David Neave and his expert team bring together the finest and freshest seasonal ingredients that Scotland’s larder has to offer to create dishes full of flavour and character. A number of food and whisky matching packages are available, alongside the restaurant’s famous Scottish tapas and Dim Sum. Open 10am - 7.30pm Sun - Thu, 10am - 9pm Fri & Sat. 35

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1147 Argyle Street Glasgow G3 8TB T: 0141 576 5204 www.thebennevis.co.uk This award winning, quirky pub offers a contemporary take on a Scottish theme. The wonderful array of whiskies is displayed on a wall that is all higglety piggelty – representing the mountains of Scotland, whilst the Highland fault line that runs across the floor represents the lowlands and highlands. Apart from looking the part, this bar offers great whisky – close to 300 bottles, good craft beer, and superb live Celtic music sessions.

Some call the bar one of Glasgow’s best kept secrets, but it does attract a wide variety of clientele from teachers to journalists and plumbers, and lots of tourists too. It’s quite quiet during the day but at night this place comes alive. Dogs are also very welcome and not only has the bar received the accolade Whisky Bar of the year, but also has a trophy for Dog Friendly Pub of the year too.

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153 North Street Glasgow G3 7DA T: 0141 248 4427 www.bonaccordweb.co.uk The Bon Accord pub is the kind of bar you could happily while away an evening in. It has a fabulous selection of single malt scotch whiskies (over 230) and has received various accolades over the years, not just for its whisky, but for its ale too. It’s a traditional pub with well trained staff who are happy to advise you on your perfect dram. It is also a partner bar with The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, the home to the Glasgow Whisky Club and The Bon Accord Malt Whisky Society.

Current proprietor Paul McDonagh and family have run the ‘Bon’ since 2001 re-establishing its reputation as a well respected whisky bar and a haven for real ale enthusiasts. It also does a good value pub meal and its menu boasts all the usual suspects from steak pie to fish and chips.

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74 Park Road Port Dundas Glasgow G4 9JF T: 0141 334 1982 The Doublet bar in Glasgow is a place that is as pleasingly familiar to regulars as it is to newbies. The traditional pub is now into its fifth decade and is regarded as somewhat of a West End institution. With a wide range of whiskies to choose from, the bar has a good array of accompanying cask ales, but is also known for its collection of gin. From the outside the venue looks almost like the tavern of a ski-resort, whilst inside music is selected by patrons via the jukebox in the snug upstairs lounge, and the stone walls help to provide the comfortable surroundings loved by many. Tickets for its 50th birthday party became the hottest ticket in town, so much so that Herald diarist Tom Shields rumoured to have sold his ticket for a healthy profit on eBay, such was the demand.

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206 Dumbarton Road Glasgow G11 6UN T: 0141 576 0102 The Lismore recently picked up the Wee DRAM Whisky Bar of the Year trophy. It has an excellent range of malts (200 plus), which is growing by the day, and also does a very reasonable Malt of the Month. It’s one of the best known pubs in the area and has been sympathetically restored. Lovely stained glass windows depict scenes from the Highland Clearances, while the urinals in the men’s loos feature the men who orchestrated the Clearances. Customers are welcome to pay their respects in the appropriate manner.

The main part of the bar stretches almost the length of the building and there is always a lot of chatter going on, while the lounge at the back is perfect for a relaxed drink. It also has an outside area where, weather allowing, you can watch the world go by.

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O M ran

Top of Byres Road Glasgow G12 8QX T: 0141 357 6200 www.oran-mor.co.uk Óran Mór at the Top of Byres Road, Glasgow, is one of the West End’s most popular and well-known destinations. The Whisky Bar boasts well over 250 malt whiskies, and you’re always guaranteed a traditional warm Scottish welcome in this cultural meeting place. The Whisky Bar hosts open stage nights, jazz sessions and quiz nights.

The traditional and informal setting offers a great chance to relax and the Whisky Bar is ideal for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. ‘More than just a Great Bar’, Òran Mór is a popular restaurant, gig venue and nightclub, also catering for weddings and private functions.

It is the home of Glasgow’s groundbreaking lunchtime theatre programme, ‘A Play, a Pie and a Pint.’ Òran Mór opens 9am - 2am Monday - Wednesday, and 9am - 3am Thursday - Sunday.

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154 Hope Street Glasgow G2 2TH T: 0141 333 0980 www.thepotstill.co.uk This famous whisky pub has had a new lease of life over the last few years, with the Murphy clan now in the driving seat. This iconic whisky bar, which was built in 1835, has more than 500 whiskies on offer and people come from all over the world to visit The Pot Still.

It’s not just the whisky collection they come to see and sample, they also enjoy the banter in this popular howff. The staff know their whisky and are happy to encourage ladies to partake of the amber liquid too – in fact the pub established its own Ladies Whisky Tasting evenings, which have been going down a storm.

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12 Ashton Lane Glasgow, G12 8SJ Telephone 0141 334 5007 www.ubiquitouschip.co.uk “Intrinsic to good eating is good drinking.”That’s the mantra at the Ubiquitous Chip on Ashton Lane in Glasgow and it’s one that has seen them establish themselves in Glasgow, with a reputation to match. Throughout its evolution, The Chip has grown to fill the beautiful Victorian mews and courtyard where it stands, but still has the feel of a charismatic local pub and high quality eatery. With three bars to choose from, the Wee Pub on the corner of the building is one of the smallest in Scotland. It is also a great place to stand, chat and wile away a few hours over a dram. Complementing their wine list, the Chip has a vast array of whiskies and intriguing spirits. And, after 30 years of serving draught Furstenberg as the house pilsner, there would be civil unrest if the Chip were ever to de-list it. Whether in the heralded restaurant or any of the three bars, the staff are equally knowledgeable and enthusiastic about all the drinks served.

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Neilston Road Uplawmoor Glasgow G78 4AF T: 01505 850 565 www.uplawmoor.co.uk Labelled as a three Gold Star small hotel, the Uplawmoor Hotel on the south side of Glasgow is an AA Rosette Restaurant and holds a Scottish Thistle Award for Customer Care. It also offers a personalised service with genuine Scottish Hospitality. With doses of malt whisky, Irn Bru and Tam O’Shanter in abundance, the established, popular venue is a favourite for special family occasions. An impressive copper canopied fire is the centerpiece to the Cocktail Bar, inscribed all around with quotes from Scottish poet Robert Burns famous work, Tam O`Shanter. The bar is a perfect place to begin and end your meal experience or to enjoy a quiet relaxing drink from the extensive range of malt whiskies. The hotel has a great homely feel to it and time should be taken to sample the award winning Scottish cuisine, whether it is the renowned fillet steak with haggis or the delicious traditional steak pie.

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Ballygrant Isle of Islay PA45 7QR T: 01496 840 277 www.ballygrant-inn.com At the heart of Ballygrant Inn & Restaurant is its award winning whisky bar. Known locally as Robolls Bar, the whisky bar is popular with locals and tourist alike. The bar is well stocked with a selection of over 300 whiskies from Islay, Scotland, and around the world. It also serves a wide selection of draught and bottled beers and ciders, wines, spirits and soft drinks. Food is well received too with the chef using fresh local and Scottish produce.

The bar is traditional and welcoming, and also has a pool table, dart boards, an extensive whisky library, and a log-burning stove. It is located just off the main road, three miles from Port Askaig ferry port so do drop in.

You can rest assured you will get a friendly welcome.

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Castle Street Dornoch Sutherland IV25 3SD T: 01862 810 216 www.dornochcastlehotel.com Apart from being a beautiful and expertly run hotel in a stunning location Dornoch Castle Hotel also offers visitors the best maintained most varied selection of whiskies of any bar in Scotland. The bar features over 200 bottles ranging from classic examples from the majority of operational and closed distilleries to incredibly rare examples from the early 20th century and everything in-between.

The selection is impeccably and passionately maintained by Phil and Simon Thompson and their dedicated barman Scotty. They run their Whisky Collector blog and a twitter account which draws over 3500 followers and brings in many whisky lovers from all over the world. If you manage to make it to Dornoch Castle you’ll not only be rewarded with stunning locally sourced and prepared food, warm highland hospitality and one of the best kept most atmospheric bars in the highlands but you’ll get a chance to experience some real Scottish liquid history that you’ll be hard pressed to find anywhere else.

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Badcall Bay Scourie Sutherland IV27 4TH T: 01971 502 080 www.eddrachilles.com The Eddrachilles Hotel is magnificently situated at the head of Badcall Bay – what a view! This former manse is 200 years old and comes complete with stone walls and flagstone floors. The owners have retained the charm and character of the building and also created a comfortable hotel.

Guests are assured of a warm welcome at this accredited Malt Whisky Embassy and a relaxing environment to enjoy one of its 140 malt whiskies. The hotel boasts its own whisky ambassador who will be happy to take you on the malt whisky journey through its collection. It’s not just the whisky that is first class - the hotel has a super reputation for food too. It offers guests the opportunity to try its homemade sausages and ham – smoked in its own smoke house. The menu also includes superb seafood and beef, venison, and lamb from Highland farms.

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20 Shore St Bowmore Isle of Islay PA43 7LB T: 01496 810 244 www.lochsidehotel.co.uk The Lochside is an Islay institution. An affordable friendly hotel with a bustling restaurant, a lounge that has been recognised as one of the great whisky bars of the world, and a cosy pub offering whisky and local Islay ales, which is loved by locals and visitors alike.

You can choose from an amazing array of 300 Islay Malts on offer in the Lochside whisky lounge and Duffie’s bar. From the teenage spirit of Ardbeg’s Very Young to the mature flavours of a 42-year-old Black Bowmore, the Lochside’s cellars contain a vast range of bottles showcasing the fascinating range of styles that underpins the global love affair with Scotland’s national drink. The Lochside has stunning views from its conservatory dining room, a waterside terrace, and a menu offering scallops and langoustines straight out of the sea. If you are staying over, the rooms offer a lovely view of Bowmore’s picturesque harbour. It has a lot to offer and a few characters in the bar!

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Ledaig Tobermory Isle of Mull Argyll T: 01688 302 350 www.macgochans-tobermory.co.uk Macgochans was relaunched in February 2012 by Muileach Neil Morrison and uniquely designed by Ranold MacColl of Oban. Now the venue has three distinct areas - Bar-beag is in the style of an original fisherman’s cottage and showcases a fine range of around 100 Scottish whiskies and local cask ales. It also has a large open peat burning fire. Every week it has live music on. Infact it has everything you would imagine a Scottish Island bar would have.

Meanwhile the Restaurant Bar offers a slightly more contemporary setting and is the ideal place to dine. The menu changes daily with the chef using the finest of locally caught seafood and home reared meats. While there is also a function suite which gets well used. Its location in Tobermory is ideal when the weather is good because Macgochans boasts a 250 seater beer garden. It gets the sun all day long. Perfect!

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Main Street Tobermory Isle of Mull PA75 6NU T: 01688 302 009 www.mishnish.co.uk The Mishnish hotel, which is situated on the sea front of Tobermory’s busy yachting and fishing harbour, was built in 1861 and has been in the Macleod family for generations.

The famous bar, known locally as the ‘Mish’ was painted black a few years ago, but since then it has been returned to yellow by the current generation of Macleod’s who also proudly continue to maintain the heritage of offering Highland hospitality, comfort, traditional home cooking and camaraderie.

The bar has an old world charm with a roaring fire and a traditional feel. It offers an excellent selection of whisky and beer, and there is often live music on. Guests of the hotel can enjoy spectacular views over Tobermory bay from their bedrooms. Food is served in the bar but you can also enjoy meals in the hotel restaurant.

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Connel By Oban Argyll PA37 1PJ Tel: 01631 710666 www.oysterinn.co.uk The Glue Pot bar in Connel is situated right next door to the Oyster Inn and this historical pub is one of the most atmospheric pubs on the west coast. It was built originally in the 18th century to serve ferry passengers, but the ferry has since been made redundant by the modern road bridge alongside the cantilever railway bridge of 1903. It’s a busy bar with great character, a cosy log fire, and enriched with history from throughout the centuries. As well as offering a fine range of malt whiskies, the bar also offers a good selection of ales, and mouth-watering food, which is served all day and made using only the finest local ingredients. The bar also plays host to live music throughout the year. It’s a popular stop for walkers, divers, canoeists, fisherman and yachting enthusiasts along with tourists and locals alike.

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Photo by: Peter A McNally

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Port Askaig, Isle of Islay PA46 7RD T: 01496 840 245 www.portaskaig.co.uk The Port Bar at the Port Askaig Hotel is the oldest continually licensed premises on Islay (dating from the 16th Century) and carries an extensive selection of Islay malts in addition to a display of old and rare bottles. It also has a Snug Bar which is ideal for a pre-dinner drinks or a cosy evening with friends. Family-owned and run for more than 50 years, the hotel offers a warm welcome and staff are always happy to talk about the selection of whiskies on offer. But the hotel is not just well known for whisky, it offers excellent food too. Its Starboard Restaurant offers bistro style dining with seafood a speciality. A full meal service is available in both bars with snacks and freshly brewed teas and coffees available outwith main meal times. The hotel is situated near the ferry terminal to Jura and the mainland and it has the most amazing view from its harbourside beer garden.

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Port Charlotte Isle of Islay PA48 7TU T: 01496 850 360 www.portcharlottehotel.co.uk

The Port Charlotte Hotel and Bar sits prominently on the Main Street in Port Charlotte, one of Islay’s most beautiful Georgian villages, and has a beach-side location overlooking Loch Indaal. This awardwinning, whitewashed small hotel boasts 10 rooms, a bar, restaurant and conservatory. Its residents’ lounge and public bar feature open fires where guests can unwind with convivial company and of course a malt whisky. The bar plays host to nearly 150 Islay malts including rare ones and local ales too. As well as some lovely artwork the hotel also offers live music two nights a week in the bar, which creates a great atmosphere. A few years ago it won the accolade Malt Whisky Bar of the Year from The Good Pub Guide while its restaurant has just picked up a Trip Advisor accolade - ‘Certificate of Excellence.’ The Port Charlotte Hotel may be small but it is very definitely welcoming.

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Sligachan Isle of Skye IV47 8SW T: 01478 650 204 www.sligachan.co.uk It would be hard to find a more dramatic and inspiring setting in the whole of Scotland, than the one enjoyed by the Sligachan Hotel.

It has the Black Cuillin towering at its back and the sparkling waters of Loch Sligachan at its foot. Much loved by subsequent generations of visitors and locals, Sligachan is still family owned. Drink in the magnificent views from the Collie Lounge, sample a rare malt in Mackenzie’s Bar and relax beside a log fire. The Sligachan Steakhouse and Grill serves the finest produce in comfortable and welcoming surroundings. In contrast to the peaceful retreat of the hotel, Seumas Bar is the place to enjoy the famed ‘craic’ of the Highlands. It has over 350 malt whiskies on display and a great selection of real ales most of which are brewed on site at The Cuillin Brewery. The thirsty traveller is well catered for here.

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by Inverness IV10 8TD T: 01381 620 236 www.theanderson.co.uk The Anderson is conveniently-located for easy day trips to the distilleries of both Speyside and the less-visited distilleries of the Northern Highlands. But most of its guests prefer to do their travelling from the comfort of its Whisky Bar, which features more than 200 singlemalt whiskies from Scotland and beyond. The Anderson stocks an impressive collection of malts from “silent stills,” which long ago ceased production, as well as rare and commemorative bottlings that normally end up on collectors’ shelves, never to be opened. Having trouble deciding which malt to choose? Try one of their special ‘flights’ of three malts, served on a special tray at a discounted price.

The Whisky Bar is located inside the hotel, while its sister bar is located round the corner and has an enviable reputation for great beer.

Add to that a restaurant offering excellent food, reasonably priced accommodation, and a mad as a hatter owner, and you can see why it’s a perfect place to visit.

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The Village Green Drumnadrochit Loch Ness IV63 6TX T: 01456 450 678 www.fiddledrum.co.uk Fiddler’s Malt Whisky Bar is renowned amongst whisky enthusiasts because owner Jon Beach is truly passionate about whisky and over the years has amassed a fine collection. Its famous Whisky Library includes nearly all the named Scottish single malts available from Aberfeldy to Tullibardine. While its top shelf is home to many older expressions, awardwinning drams, Inverness malts, rare whiskies, and even some international whiskies.

One of Fiddler’s Whisky Bar’s specialties is Port Ellen with at least a dozen different expressions open at any one time, including all eight of the Annual Releases from Diageo.

Independent bottlers are also represented to show the amazing breadth and diversity of Scottish Whisky. As well as the well stocked bar, food is also an important part of Fiddler’s offering, and it has accommodation too.

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@ Loch Ness Lodge Hotel Drumnadrochit Inverness-shire IV63 6TU T: 01456 450 342 www.lochness-hotel.com The Loch Ness Lodge Hotel is a privately owned hotel in Drumnadrochit, which has 50 rooms, a bar and restaurant. This Highland hotel dates back to 1740 and has been sympathetically restored and features exposed stone walls, tartan carpets and open peat fires. The Pibroch Whisky Bar offers a celebration of the finest malt whiskies and Scottish folk music. Its specialised whisky masters will help you choose a nip or two of ‘uisge beatha’ from its wide selection of Scottish malt whiskies. They stock a variety of local Loch Ness Brewery ale from the village of Drumnadrochit. You will often find whisky tastings taking place and while you can enjoy a bar supper in the Pibroch, you can also dine in its Library Garden Restaurant.

The chef uses carefully prepared Scottish produce and local produce, from cheese from the local dairy to West Coast salmon, West Coast scallops and langoustines.

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North Ballachulish by Fort William Inverness-shire PH33 6RY T: 01855 821 379 www.creagmhorlodge.com Creag Mhor Lodge guesthouse doesn’t just offer lovely rooms and stunning scenery, but also has the well stocked whisky bar, A Wee Drop. It is a place where you can relax and enjoy a drink in front of a log fire from an extensive collection of malt whiskys, as well as wine and beer too. The main attraction of course is its collection of single malts with more than 340. This extensive listing comes from all over Scotland and are aged up to 40 years old. It offers limited editions, closed distilleries (Brora, Dallas Dhu, Littlemill 8, Linlithgow, Port Ellen) and cask strength drams. Favourites include Bowmore 15yo Darkest, Dallas Dhu 1982, Macallan 18yo, Glenlivet 21yo Archive, and Glenfiddich 30yo. It is situated on the main West Highlands tourist route, so why not stop off and enjoy some real Scottish hospitality?

The bar is open to residents only, although in October and November it has special ‘winter offers’ for accommodation.

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Ardlui Loch Lomond G83 7EB T: 01301 704 243 www.ardlui.com The Ardlui Hotel is a Whisky Ambassador Hotel so, as you can imagine, it does offer a reasonable range of whiskies in its cosy bars.

Its lounge bar, where the majority of the whisky resides, is elegant, and comfortable with exposed stone walls and the occasional stag head. You can peruse the whisky list at your leisure. There is also the Lomond Bar, which is more informal and offers an authentic wood burning stove, wooden beams, a pool table, a jukebox and Sky Sports.

The hotel, built in the early 1800s as the hunting residence of the Colquhoun family, also offers authentic country house Scottish cooking. The family-owned and run hotel, with its easy-going and homely atmosphere, offers a warm welcome and it has a beautiful setting right on the banks of Loch Lomond.

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Loch Lomond Alexandria Dunbartonshire G83 8QZ T: 0871 222 4681 www.devere.co.uk The Great Scots Bar at the 5 star Cameron House Hotel doesn’t just look superb, but has an excellent range of whisky too. And you are in good company because the walls are lined with famous Scots from past and present. The horseshoe shaped pewter bar is impressive and the views from the large windows are spectacular. The bar boasts more than 270 whiskies, which includes 17 limited editions. Feel free to perch at one of the high stools which surround the bar and garner knowledge from the bar tenders. Whether sitting at the bar or lounging in one of its comfortable tartan and leather wing chairs or sofas, you’ll find it is the perfect location to enjoy a dram. But with 132 luxurious bedrooms, the Cameron Grill, the Boat House featuring seafood from Loch Fyne, the Claret Jug, and Wishart’s at Loch Lomond, as well as golf and a spa, there’s plenty more on offer too.

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Luss Loch Lomond G83 8PD T: 01436 860 678 www.inverbeghotel.co.uk The Inn at Inverbeg is a stylish, contemporary inn, which first opened in 1814. Today it has retained its traditional charm yet, it now boasts modern accommodation, uniquely stylised public spaces, a great restaurant and bar with furniture in a range of leather, cow hide and of course a roaring fire. Its Mr C’s Fish and Whisky Bar and Restaurant, is a novel concept celebrating two things Scotland is famous for; fresh fish and fantastic whisky.

The bar itself is crafted from hand-finished beautiful elm. It has an organic, rustic feel and at the far end there is a roaring fire with oak mantelpiece, which provides the perfect perch to enjoy one or two malts. It is a Scottish Whisky Embassy and has, with the help of Gordon & MacPhail, specially selected whiskies from the top seven whisky regions.

So there will be a whisky that suits you.

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The Square Drymen Loch Lomond G63 0BL Tel: 01360 660 245 www.winnockhotel.com This 18th century inn near Loch Lomond, has the perfect bar. The Ptarmigan Bar, the hotel’s public lounge bar, boasts a roaring log fire, more than 70 malt whiskies, and a cosy ambiance. The Ptarmigan Bar is the ideal place to linger in after dinner with a fine speyside, island or lowland malt. Formerly a coaching inn, The Winnock hotel has been lovingly restored and tastefully extended to its present day form. It now has 73 bedrooms and, as well as The Ptarmigan, you can enjoy bar food in the bar. The hotel also has the Merlin Restaurant, which is ideal for more formal dining. After dinner, you could join in on one of the hotel’s many ceilidh or Scottish nights and reel the night away.

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Main Street Bankfoot Perthshire PH1 4AB T: 01738 787 243 www.bankfootinn.co.uk This 18th century coaching inn is ideal for whisky lovers because it not only has an excellent range, but is situated not far from Speyside, which is renowned for its distilleries.

The Bankfoot Inn, rumoured to be haunted, may be small but is family-run and offers the warmest of welcomes. It has two bars with open fires, a restaurant and six comfortable bedrooms. The friendly bar serves malt whiskies and real ales, along with old favourites. It offers newcomers like the Talisker Port Ruighe and Tomatin Legacy, as well as others finished in Ximenez & Oloroso casks. Its restaurant offers traditional food and hosts live music at the end of each month. There is also an open folk music session every Wednesday evening. The hotel is not just popular with whisky lovers, catering for shooters, hikers, bikers and cyclists.

It was runner up in the Tayside Pub of the Year 2013, and is dog friendly too.

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@ Gleneagles Hotel Auchterarder Perthshire PH3 1NF T: 0800 389 3737 www.gleneagles.com The Gleneagles Hotel® is a world-famous 5 star Luxury Hotel. Set within the gentle beauty of 850 acres of Perthshire countryside, this five star Leading Hotel of the World is home to three championship golf courses, an award-winning spa, and an exhilarating array of outdoor activities. But if you want to enjoy a malt whisky, head to The Bar. Inspired by the jazz age glamour of the 1920s, The Bar offers a selection of more than 120 single malt whiskies, vintage Champagne by the glass, excellent wines and the very best draught Guinness. It is the social heart of the hotel. And it’s not the only place you can enjoy whisky at Gleneagles. The Blue Bar at the Dormy Clubhouse opened in 2011, and offers a unique al fresco experience, where guests can enjoy some of the world’s finest cigars and whiskies. The Blue Bar is available as a venue for corporate events and private functions.

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The Square Kenmore Perthshire PH15 2NU T: 01887 830 205 www.kenmorehotel.com The Kenmore Hotel, a former 16th Century coaching inn, is Scotland’s oldest inn and is now a privately owned hotel, situated in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. It nestles on the banks of the River Tay and has fabulous views over the river. In 1782, Rabbie Burns was so struck by the area, that he composed a poem sitting on the bridge over the Tay and wrote it in pencil on the chimney breast of the fireplace in the Poet’s Bar where it remains to this day. The Poet’s Bar is a traditional Highland bar featuring an open fire, stone walls, comfy chairs, and a range of fine malt whiskies, as well as a selection of draught beers and locally-brewed real ales on tap.

It’s close to Dewar’s World of Whisky as well as various other distilleries and you will often find guests of the distillers in the bar.

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Killiecrankie by Pitlochry Perthshire PH16 5LG T: 01796 473 220 www.killiecrankiehotel.co.uk

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Killiecrankie Hotel is a small, friendly hotel, ideally located at the gateway to the Highlands, just three miles north of Pitlochry, and host Henrietta Fergusson couldn’t be more welcoming. This hotel has a cosy whisky snug and features more than 40 malts to be enjoyed by guests. Its malt whisky selection includes malts from Jura, Orkney, Skye and Speyside. It has an excellent reputation with three Red Stars and two Rosettes from the AA, Scottish Hotel of the Year from the Good Hotel Guide 2011 and an entry in the Good Food Guide. The restaurant boasts a daily changing menu, using the best Scottish produce with some Scottish delicacies, such as Fincastle beef, Rannoch-smoked duck, highland venison, and breast of wood pigeon. And if you feel like a setting less formal than the dining room, there is also the Bar Conservatory.

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Mill Lane Pitlochry Perthshire PH16 5BH T: 01796 474 020 www.theoldmillpitlochry.co.uk

The Old Mill Inn is a converted corn mill situated in the centre of the Highland resort of Pitlochry with a working water wheel in the courtyard. The Inn has a great reputation for fine food and drink and, of course, accommodation. The family owned business has a lively bistro and bar, which not only offers a good range of whiskies, but a fine range of ales and cocktails too. Relax and enjoy a drink and bite to eat on the Inn’s sundeck or in the winter months cosy up by the fire. One of the highlights of any visit to The Old Mill Inn is its entertainment. At the weekend the bar rocks as live performers take the stage. Friendly and helpful staff are only too happy to tell you about what’s coming up, and if you are staying over, the rooms are lovely, some newly decorated and quite luxurious.

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Leny Road Callander Perthshire FK17 8AL T: 01877 330 329 www.poppieshotel.com

Ramblers and lovers of the outdoor life, as well as those more suited to the indoors and a drop of malt in a cosy bar, are well catered for at Poppies Hotel & Restaurant. Camerons Bar and Restaurant within the hotel is as warming as the whisky, with a soothing and friendly atmosphere. Its range of Scotch malt whiskies is over 120-strong, made up of local and regional standards, and of course from beyond. Directors’ Editions, de luxes, cask strength, and rare bottles are also on display in beautiful oak casks. There’s also a cellar of over 30 wines that have been handpicked for their unusual qualities. As well as castles and historic landmarks and many other attractions in the vicinity of the Trossachs, the Glenturret Distillery, Glengoyne Distillery, and Deanston Distillery are also close at hand.

Accommodation consists of nine individually designed en suite rooms fusing traditional and contemporary touches.

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Kilkerran Road Campbeltown Argyll PA28 6JL Tel: 01586 552 133 www.ardshiel.co.uk It can be a long and winding road to Campbeltown, and The Ardshiel Hotel provides a whisky oasis for the thirsty traveller. Owned and run by Flora Grant and Marion MacKinnon, hotel guests and visitors to the Usquebaugh Bar are able to sample an array of Scotch whisky – with over 500 malts available. The hotel, originally built in 1877 for one of Campbeltown’s many whisky barons, overlooks the Loch at the front and Ben Ghuilean to the back. There are also many whisky events and private functions going on the whole year round in the Arran Suite, which can accommodate around 65 people.

Homemade food also comes as part of the offering and the Garden Restaurant is open daily, serving up the likes of Kintyre lamb and locally caught scallops.

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48 Fort Street Broughty Ferry Dundee DD5 2AB T: 01382 737 999 www.fort-hotel.com The bar at The Fort in Broughty Ferry was beautifully refurbished a couple of years ago and now boasts a good collection of malt whiskies and some rare malts too. The bar marries traditional and contemporary styles and the bar itself has been hand carved in burnt mahogany, while the back gantry features bespoke gargoyles. The soft furnishings are contemporary with state-ofthe-art technology ensuring an excellent sound system, and digital TV. As well as an excellent range of whisky, the bar offers quality beers. In fact it has picked up numerous quality awards, including the famous Sunday Mail Pub of the Year accolade. Good service, good value food, and an excellent array of whiskies are supported by other spirits, quality beer, and an annual music festival. All this put this Broughty Ferry bar on the map.

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Main Steet East Inveraray Argyll PA32 8TT T: 01499 302 111 www.thegeorgehotel.co.uk The George has always had an enviable reputation for ambience, friendliness and its cuisine. With its original solid stone flagstoned floors and four roaring log and peat fires, the George is a lively haunt for both local characters and visitors alike with more than 100 malt whiskies, real ales and an extensive wine list. It deservedly earns its place in the Good Pub Guide and the Good Beer Guide.

The emphasis on the menu is using the very best of local quality - well hung West Highland beef and lamb, seafood and fish bought from the local fishing port of Tarbert, and the famous Loch Fyne salmon. These ingredients are used imaginatively and simply, to produce well cooked meals at a fair and reasonable price. The hotel has been in the Clark family since 1860 with generation seven now in charge. It is atmospheric, hospitable, characterful, and offers value-for-money.

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Portpatrick Dumfries and Galloway DG9 9AD T: 01776 810 471 www.knockinaamlodge.com A true Scottish experience would not be complete without savouring a whisky or two in the lovely little wood panelled Whisky Bar at Knockinaanm Lodge, the only luxury boutique hotel in Dumfries and Galloway. With a selection of over 160 single malts with around nine from nearby Bladnoch Distillery, the bar has enough to please even the greatest of connoisseurs and its house selection is definitely worth sampling.

This award winning hotel also boasts 3 AA red stars, 3 AA food rosettes and a Michelin star - one of only 11 Michelin starred hotels in Scotland. It is a “home away from home� for many of its guests and with the hotel set in 30 acres of stunning landscaped grounds that wind down to its own private beach, you can understand why it is so highly regarded. If you have time you could also visit the Bladnoch Distillery.

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Bar/Pub A-Z

Location

Albannach Bar Edinburgh The Anderson Fortrose Angels Share Edinburgh Ardlui Hotel Loch Lomond Athletic Arms Edinburgh Ardshiel Hotel Campbeltown Ballygrant Inn and Restaurant Isle of Islay Bankfoot Inn Bankfoot The Bar @ Gleneagles Hotel Auchterarder Ben Nevis Glasgow Bennets Bar Edinburgh Black Cat Edinburgh Bon Accord Glasgow Bow Bar Edinburgh Cheers Cafe Bar Fraserburgh Dornoch Castle Hotel Dornoch The Doublet Glasgow Eddrachillies Hotel Scourie Fiddler’s Drumnadrochit Fort Hotel Dundee The George Hotel Inveraray

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Bar/Pub A-Z Glen Lui Hotel Great Scots Bar @ Cameron House Hotel The Highlander Inn Indigo Yard Inn at Inverbeg Kay’s Bar Kenmore Hotel Killiecrankie Hotel Knockinaam Lodge Knockomie Hotel The Lismore Lochside Hotel The Marcliffe Hotel & Spa Macgochans Mash Tun The Mishnish The Old Mill Inn Oran Mor The Oyster Inn

Location Ballater Loch Lomond Craigellachie Edinburgh Loch Lomond Edinburgh Kenmore Killiecrankie Portpatrick Forres Glasgow Isle of Islay Aberdeen Isle of Mull Aberlour Isle of Mull Pitlochry Glasgow Oban

Bar/Pub A-Z

Location

Pibroch Whisky Bar @ Loch Ness Lodge Hotel Drumnadrochit Poppies Hotel & Restaurant Callander Port Askaig Hotel Isle of Islay Port Charlotte Hotel Isle of Islay The Pot Still Glasgow The Quaich Bar @ The Craigellachie Hotel Craigellachie Sligachan Hotel Isle of Skye Stables Whisky Bar @ Tannochbrae Guest House Dufftown Teuchters Bar Edinburgh Teuchters Landing Edinburgh Tigerlily Edinburgh Ubiquitous Chip Glasgow Uplawmoor Hotel Glasgow A Wee Drop @ Creag Mhor Lodge North Ballachulish Whiski Edinburgh Whiski Rooms Edinburgh Whisky Bar @ The Scotch Whisky Experience Edinburgh The Winnock Hotel Loch Lomond

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