John Gibson: Yes, it's great stuff, but not for wee boys

Published on Monday 12 October 2009 09:14

It's entirely a matter of taste. It's a society affair. And you can get high on it, if you're not careful. What's dispensed at 28 Queen Street is the absolute creme but, permit the exaggeration, it could blow your head off.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society moved into these premises five years ago in the wake of the Chartered Institute of Accountants, and Jan Damen, 38, a Dutchman who migrated to Scotland 16 years back, has been in charge. You'd never guess he's from Holland.

"The Society's origins go back 21 years, started in Leith by five chums mad keen on the malt, who'd invested in a cask of Glenfarclas," said Jan. "They set up first in Leith in the Vintners Room. The plan for a long time had been to flit uptown, where we don't have a tremendous footfall, exactly, nor is it ideal for parking day time.

"But we've 8,500 members around Edinburgh and 20,000 UK-wide. To drink at the bar you've got to be a member – a member can bring three guests – but our 32-cover restaurant and 14-capacity smaller room are open to the public."

First Friday every month there's a tasting exclusively of cask-strength single malts. Jan, who was in food and beverage at the George for several years, poured me a glass. Whoa! Water, water . . . somebody!

A bottle royal

Shake hands with an old friend, says Clarissa Dickson Wright, talking about death. "I would be quite happy to go to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland come the time. The thing is, if you are the sort of alcoholic that I was, death becomes an old friend. You never know which bottle is going to kill you and you stop being afraid of it."

Chewing the fat

&#149 Major Tum to Fat Control: the NHS has spent 4.4million on big gear for fatties, e.g wider and reinforced beds and lifting equipment. Lardy, lardy! Has to be good news for the portly people who patrol George Street and what's left of Princes Street.

Afterwords . .

. . . "I knew my marriage was over when he bought his third motorbike." Life coach Suzy Greaves, who has just left her husband after 16 years of marriage and has a book out that might mend a broken heart.