Whisky With A Twist

Whisky with a ‘twist’ usually refers to a dram with a hint of lemon peel. An odd addition you might think, but there are many variations and uses for the ‘water of life’.

Whisky dates back almost 1500 years on the west coast, which is home to approximately half the total number of distilleries in Scotland. Exported to more than 200 markets worldwide and enjoyed by many across the globe, whisky is used as a distinctive ingredient in the creation of unique and unusual products with just a splash of ‘scotch’, from cheeses and chocolates to scented soaps.

Mark Reynier, Chairman of The Whisky Coast says, “As well as the endless selection of bottled malts available, many whiskies from the west coast of Scotland are components in an array of more unusual whisky-related products, which make great gifts for those who appreciate a ‘wee dram’.”

Ideal for the single malt enthusiast, ‘The Bruichladdich Bar’ is a creation of The Spirited Soap Company which uses whisky to make transparent soap using alcohol to clarify it. The bar, commissioned by the Bruichladdich distillery on the idyllic island of Islay, is made using the traditional ‘cold process’ technique to capture the very essence of whisky-making. This involves cooking the soap with sugar, vegetable glycerine and finally adding the spirit. To avoid the ‘alcoholic’ smell, the soap is then scented with essential oils and whisky-drenched oak shavings from inside the cask.

Food-lovers will delight in the vast range of whisky fudge, chocolate, marmalade, mustard and cheeses created using samples from an array of the exceptional whiskies distilled on the west coast. One of the eight distilleries on Islay, Laphroaig, offers a ‘whisky lovers’ gift pack containing a bottle of Laphroaig 10 year old single malt whisky, Thick Cut Orange Marmalade with Whisky and Mustard with Malt Whisky. Culinary experts, silvernutmeg.com also chose to add a dash of smoky Laphroaig whisky to double cream, resulting in a delicious recipe for Laphroaig Whisky Ice Cream, which proved very popular with internet users of the online cookery site.

Arran Malt fudge, specially made with a drop of the island’s award-winning single malt whisky is available at the Isle of Arran distillery, set in scenic Lochranza, one of the most picturesque places in Scotland. Also using the famous Arran single malt, The Island Cheese Company produces an ‘islander’ cheese, which represents a combination of Arran's finest local produce with the whisky complimenting the richness of this classic Scottish cheddar.

Tobermory on the Isle of Mull is home to both a delicious chocolatiers and a very famous, old distillery. Tobermory Chocolate produces a wide selection of treats for those with a sweet tooth, and the Malt Whisky After Dinner Mints are a popular choice. A perfect accompaniment to finish off any meal, the chocolates are wafer-thin rippled squares, flavoured with whisky.

The Whisky Coast is a company formed through collaboration between sixteen distilleries, three tour companies, eighteen hotels, restaurants, golf courses and attractions on the West Coast of Scotland. The Whisky Coast aims to raise the profile of the West Coast as an area blessed with a high concentration of distilleries against the backdrop of a dramatic rugged coastline.

For more information on The Whisky Coast visit Whiskycoast.com.