][1]Tuesday is the first World Whisky Day, an event set up to celebrate both Scotland’s national drink and the life and work of the late Michael Jackson, one of the world’s most prominent whisky writers.
Some 124 events are taking place around the world and you can see them all here.
Cameron House on Loch Lomond is marking the day with the official launch of its new Whisky Bar, headed up by their whisky ambassador Johnny McMillan.
Enthusiasts who are keen to learn more about the water of life can enjoy whisky tutorials led by Johnny every Thursday evening and sample some of the finest whisky flights from around Scotland, including the prestigious Glenmorangie Distillery.
Featuring a new Whisky Tasting Table, which seats eight people, the bar boasts a selection of over 260 different whiskies, including Glenmorangie Pride – one of the rarest whiskies at £250 per dram – and a 1939 Linkwood, which is unique to Cameron House.
Real enthusiasts can even buy a bottle and have it stored in a personalised locker in the bar along with their own individual quaich.
Cameron House has also come up with a range of tasting experiences. The £25 introduction to whisky does just what it says on the tin over the course of five malt whiskies.
The £50 per person Touch Wood tasting is designed to show how much wood influences the character of whiskies while the Older and Wiser tasting, at £150, features five rare whiskies, all over 20 years old.
If you want to make a night of it then you could combine a tasting with a meal at the Michelin starred restaurant Martin Wishart at Loch Lomond. At the time of writing, the restaurant is the top rated venue on 5pm.
Alternatively, you could enjoy a meal in the baronial splendour of the hotel’s Cameron Grill, the New England style Boathouse or The Claret Jug restaurant and bar by the golfing facilities.
Sticking with the subject of whisky, The Scotch Whisky Experience on the Royal Mile has just unveiled a £1m refurbishment of its shop.
Key features of the new experience include an interactive flavour map and touch-screen distillery guide.
A new VIP area has a space in which connoisseurs can peruse the shop’s collection of high end whiskies on iPads.