Sláinte!

Food isn’t the only delicious treat to be found on the West Coast. We are also famous for our fine beverages, from celebrated whiskies and award-winning gins to outstanding craft ales.

Whisky

There’s something special about the aqua vitae produced on the West Coast. The pure water, pristine environment and smoky peat combine with skills that have been passed down through the generations to produce world- class beverages. It is no wonder the area is also known as ‘The Whisky Coast’.

The word whisky comes from the Gaelic, uisge beatha, literally, ‘ water of life’. Some wonder why Scotch whisky is spelled without the ‘e’ as Irish and American whiskey. In the 19th century, Irish producers wanted to differentiate their product from the Scottish, so they added the ‘e’.

Whether you are a whisky connoisseur or merely whisky- curious, from beloved local pubs to legendary distilleries, there are plenty of opportunities to discover what George Bernard Shaw called, ‘Liquid Sunshine’.

Gin

Is gin overtaking whisky as Scotland’s national drink? Too bold a claim, maybe. But when you consider 70 per cent of all UK gin is produced north of the border and is shipped to 139 countries, Scottish gin deserves to be recognised as a serious industry.

Distillers here put their own spin on the classic formula of juniper berries, angelica root, cassia bark, cinnamon bark, coriander seed, lemon peel, orange peel, liquorice root and orris root – some brands add dozens of other botanicals that are hand-picked from the local area, such as myrtle, elderflower and heather.

With Scotland’s rich history of distilling, matched with the best natural larder in the world, the growth of locally created Scottish gin is a natural progression. So this spring, fill up your glass with a cold Scottish G&T!

Craft Ales

Outstanding craft ales are quickly catching up to Scotch and gin in popularity, and you will find them proudly served at pubs across the West Coast. The craft ale boom is part of a wider UK trend, helped by the progressive beer duty relief that former chancellor Gordon Brown introduced in 2002. Made with pure local spring or river water and distinctive recipes, Argyll’s craft ales go down a treat with a meal or at your local.