Inspire Me – Whisky
LOOK NO FURTHER FOR INSPIRATION IN EAST LOTHIAN
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS BAD WEATHER, WHEN WHISKY IS LIQUID SUNSHINE
It’s the perfect 2-ball. A match made in heaven. Peanut butter and jelly. Cheese and onion. Astaire and Rogers. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Golf and whisky.
As the saying goes, too much of anything is bad, but too much whisky is barely enough. We are fortunate on Scotland’s Golf Coast, to have whisky in abundance.
As an English amateur golfer once said, “we borrowed golf from Scotland as we borrowed whisky. Not because it is Scottish, but because it is good.”
On the coast, with pride, our hostelries serve an array of Scotch.
At Garleton Lodge, there is the Glenkinchie Lounge, accredited by The Whisky Ambassador. With almost 200 whiskies to choose from, David, Garleton’s owner will guide you through the six regions of whisky. As a Whisky Ambassador himself and a member of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society he can confidently say there is a whisky for everyone, you may not yet have found it.
Just down the road is Duck’s, in Aberlady. Another member of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Malcolm has an impressive selection of whisky. From pairings with dinner, to a night cap and barstool putting, the Glenkinchie 12 year old is Duck’s pouring whisky.
The recently refurbished Marine Hotel in North Berwick is happy to add a twist to the whisky experience.
Their single malt selection is vast, but the Young Tom Morris cocktail has a slightly different take on the barley-bree. Highland Park 12-year old, strawberry, lemon, honey, champagne, a Bass Rock Bar favourite.
At Craigielaw, the land is owned by Lord Wemyss, whose cousin, William, owns Wemyss Malts and is Director of the Kingsbarns Distillery in Fife.
Craigielaw will gladly talk you through the selection of Wemyss whiskies and others, or you can even play for a bottle on their 6-hole par 3 course.
East Lothian is home to Edinburgh’s distillery. The lowland home of Johnnie Walker. Glenkinchie. Founded in 1825, the distillery has recently invested in a new visitor experience, which is well worth a visit. The Edinburgh malt, with its lowland style of fragrant flowers and dried cut grass is light and easy, the breakfast whisky.
A recent addition to the capital, is the Johnnie Walker Experience on Princes Street, in Edinburgh. Following 18 holes in the morning, jump on the train and immerse yourself in the history of the world’s best-selling Scotch.
Only a short distance away, Edinburgh has a selection of the best whisky bars. The Vaults, spiritual home of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, is in Leith. SCOTCH whisky bar at the Balmoral has over 500 whiskies to sample. The Scotch Whisky Experience at the top of the Royal Mile offers tours, tastings, and a fantastic restaurant. The Bow Bar won best bar at the Scottish Hospitality awards in 2018 and 2019. And finally, The Abbey Bar has 400 whiskies to deliberate.
It’s not that we want you to change your golf break to a whisky break, but it seems a shame not to put one alongside the other. Like Fuyrk and Fluff, Olazabal and Ballesteros, Molinari and Fleetwood, East Lothian offers you golf and whisky.