malt month OF THE

Monkey Shoulder 40% ABV I once won a bottle of Monkey Shoulder at a Beetle Drive in Iona village hall. I was delighted to receive it. I had never had Monkey Shoulder – a very popular blend geared towards a younger market. If you have ever attended a beetle drive in the village hall you will know that it is well set up for the occasion. A long table sits along the middle of the room and various card tables are spread around the room. At one point during the event I felt as though I had super glued my bottom to a chair as I lost game after game. A beetle drive is a simple game, made harder by strong liquor and the need to stand up and join a new table every time you win a game. I lost 13 ‘beetles’ in a row. As 10-year-old Sean explained: ‘You are meant to win and move, not sit still.’ Sean travelled around the room three times as I remained static, winning nothing. It was in the tea break that I finally managed to hoist myself up out of my seat. Sean took advantage of my frailty and offered me raffle tickets. I bought £10 worth – showing off my big-city-Oban wealth. It was a game of two halves concerning the beetle drive. The second time around was much happier and I mixed with many tables of old and new friends. At the close of play we were reunited with our families and friends – my luck was certainly on the up when I was presented with the top prize in the raffle. Third prize, a bottle of advocate (out of date, of course), went to Louise Alloway, who always wins something (but not musical chairs – that’s my bag), second prize – a half full bottle of red wine – went to my friend Dot and I, lucky me, won a bottle of Monkey Shoulder. It too had been previously opened and two or three drams removed. I opened it again and passed it around – it was fine, not the best and not the worst and can probably stand up on its own as a sipping whisky. In fact, I know that is the case because when the bottle came back to me it was finished and enjoyed by most people in the room. I remember the days that alcohol was banned from Iona village hall – but I was happy to share my drink on that day. Louise Glen