Whisky Galorious Max-Innes

After sitting forlornly in the Craigs Graveyard in Fort William, waiting for the rain to fill my waterpot, (because I have been painting graveyards recently and had forgotten to bring any water,) it was ironic that the rain came in the following days and everyone’s water pot runneth-ed over. Roads closed from landslides, lochs, rivers and puddles swelled to rarely seen proportions and Lochy Bridge looked like it could break into pieces by the force of the torrent. It rained and rained and rained. Big solid drops of serious rain with no let-up.

There was little choice but to join the Lochaber Whisky Club. I’d been meaning to do this ever since enjoying a visit to the Whisky Shop in town when I was looking for a special whisky to buy an Irishman on his wedding. Even if you don’t buy a whisky, the pleasure of Max Stephen’s knowledge and enthusiasm is catching. I joined his mailing list but lacked the pre Christmas energy to make the December tasting night and hadn’t recovered it for the January one. February and a dearth of dry graveyards to paint in finally pushed me out the door for some inspirational company.. I enjoy my reclusive anti-social life at home whilst also genuinely enjoying the company of fleeting conversations and experiences when out and about. This was a wee piece of perfection on many levels. (With a slight sting in the tail.)

Spook and I went with our neighbour Rou. The Black Isle Brewery is a great venue for a warm up drink and a pizza before the event. The upstairs venue opens at 7.30 with first dram poured at 8. By the time we wandered upstairs we were almost last in and the room was full of familiar faces without necessarily knowing everyone, and there was a buzz. Max and his colleague Innes Mackintosh, greeted us at the top of the stairs and explained how it worked. It’s £20 on the door, and you get a glass, a piece of paper and a pencil. Then you sit at the long, shared tables and wait for the drams to be poured. Either Max or Innes talked about the individual whisky whilst the other went round and poured it. I loved this so much more than when you arrive and all the drams are pre poured, set up in front of you. There was a lot of people to get round for one man pouring, and yet it added to the growing excitement that came with each new dram. There were a lot of father/son combinations in attendance (possibly mother/daughter one’s too, but I didn’t note them,) and we sat with one such combination. You immediately have the whisky in common so converstation flows naturally and at our table it was light-hearted and no one had to pretend they knew anything about it other than that we had a mutual liking for the stuff. I particularly admired the nurturing father who swapped glasses when his son was out of the room, and took the larger dram to protect his son from potential ill health the next day (if only I’d had such a caring father in attendance.) Max and Innes moved around the room, sitting at a table here and there, with their own drams and joining the group chats. They are wonderful hosts and their age is such a part of their success. They both went off to University and after completing their degrees (and more) chose to come back to Lochaber and share their love of whisky - perhaps not in the way that I have shared the whisky love with many Highlanders over the years, but in a more thoughtful and informed manner where the precious liquid is treated with great respect - with a twinkle of fun thrown in. This is a place of Highland Hospitality and welcome.

As one of the newest members of the Club, I felt it was important to make very careful notes of my impressions. Ever the professional, I wanted to show that I also, had the necessary respect for this golden liquid.

I think it’s worth having a wee look at the increasing strength of the drams. Whilst my notes were not particularly informed nor elaborate, they did deteriorate a little as the night when on. The writing is hard to decipher, but I was wanting to share in the conversations as well as take notes and drink the whisky and I’m a chronically bad multi-tasker. After the last dram I proudly showed my notes to my neighbouring companion, James. He looked at the last note - “And it took you 6 drams to establish the fact?” was his only comment.

I also see that there is a Glentauchers whisky stain on the last comment - so clearly not all the whisky was getting down my gullet!! And I see that I have observed that Spook is clearly “scuttling the goldies” (Still Game reference) whilst I am delicately savouring them.

The night was so friendly with everybody chatting and clearly enjoying themselves. Spooks grin got wider with every dram and we all declared we’d be back for the next event on the 7th of March…..until the next morning. With a raging thirst and thumping head, I could barely get out of bed. I was supposed to get an early lift to town to retrieve the car, but there was no way that was happening. Spook made me a cup of tea and left me lying on the sofa - groaning. He and Rou made it to work without an effort and I didn’t make it to breakfast. By 9.30am I’d made a good recovery, thank goodness and decided that the best way of a full recovery was to walk the 4.5 miles to get the car. This pleased the dog.

And gave me time to reflect upon my behaviour. I don’t wish to be unable to attend the whisky tasting nights so a new approach is required. At £20 (and it may be £40 for the next night if they introduce a £500 bottle - when else will you get to taste THAT?) it’s great value just to be part of the night. There is no requirement to take the full dram which is generously poured. I am not without discipline (and loathe a hangover which comes with a very long memory - it’s 20 years since my last one,) and I think I’d simply ask Innes and Max which is their favourite and take the full dram for those and just a wee taster for each of the others. And totally cleanse the gullet and the gut with a big glass of water between drams. Like Gordon Jackson and many others, I was possibly born 2 drams below par, (Whisky Galore reference) so 2 is all it takes for a good night, plus a wee swirly around the mouth for the rest. Perhaps my note taking will improve. As my next hangoer is not due until I’m about 80, I would like to navigate my way there, enjoying a few lovely drams on the way and I can’t think of a nicer way of doing some of that with The Lochaber Whisky Club.