Growing up my Dad was a whisky drinker, mostly blends like Teachers of Famous Grouse. I never really took to them. Anyway, in the early eighties I had a deal for free accommodation provided you had your meals at the hotel. I chose to stay at the Log Cabin Hotel at Pitlochry. I took my mate with me whose style was, shall we say, a little effeminate. We asked for twin beds but were given a family room with a double and a bunk bedroom for kids to use. The first night in the hotel, we were treated quite oddly by the staff, who clearly thought we were a gay couple. We had a flower on our table, seated by the window for the romantic view, but the bar staff were really 'off' with us.
The next day all was different. No flower. No table by the window and 'different' service. The bar staff however were really friendly. When we asked what was going on, they explained they thought we were gay, but hold been told by the housekeeping staff that we had clearly slept in separate beds as one of the bunk beds was used. We had a big laugh, they were embarrassed and promptly offered us a free whisky or two.
I explained I wasn't a whisky drinker and they vowed to convert me. So I had a 'nip' from every whisky that had, which was more than a dozen! This had the obvious effect on me of being badly ill in my bed and needing to tip the maid substantially in the morning to clean up my mess. And that experience put me off whisky for a long time.
About ten years ago I won a bottle of 41 year old Bunnahabhain. One of only 719 bottles, distilled in 1968 and bottled in 2008. I think it was worth about £150 when I won it and I did not want to waste it on my palette, so I put it away and forgot about it. A couple of years back, I had it valued at between £600 and £700. Now I REALLY don't know what to do with it. It's worth more than my old Jazz!
