Murrayshall Lynedoch 15th.
Things were warming
up nicely in the old
blacksmith’s forge,
outside Kirriemuir. The
fire was working wonders,
the warmth contained by
the thick stone walls… the
gin was doing likewise,
warming us from the
inside out.
Scotland has a reputation for the best
whisky in the world but the thrust of a
new generation of gin distillers is giving
the country additional bragging rights. The
stone building doesn’t look like much from
the outside, like so many bothies common
to Scotland, but this is now home to the
Gin Bothy, and we were sampling a range
of flavours from Original and Gunshot, to
Rhubarb and Chilli. I had never liked gin but
as our host Linda guided us through the
varieties with an enthusiasm that proved
infectious – delicious, almost – I found
myself being swayed. It was how each drink
was presented that proved so interesting.
On the table were bowls of mint, orange
peel and rosemary. It was a heady mix
of flavours and scents that turned the
traditional gin and tonic into something far
more adventurous.
Carnoustie Country holds a vast range of
choice for golfers, far beyond the bucket
list destination of Carnoustie, but what the
region offers runs far deeper than tight crisp
fairways and slick greens. Kirriemuir is the
perfect example. This small town is home
to two famous sons from very different
spheres of life. In the heart of the town
stands a statue of Peter Pan, a tribute to
Volume 4 • Issue 44
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