Some Cool Things About Scotland

First of all, let me get this out of the way up front.  Scotland is not “officially” a country by itself.  It is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.  That is the UK’s official full name.  The UK is made up of Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland.

The coolest of the four, however, in my opinion, is Scotland.  I mean, how can it NOT be, with the national animal being a unicorn?  The reason behind this?  Well, it all goes back to history.  England and Scotland have traditionally been at odds (and sometimes war) for a very long time.  England’s Royal Coat of Arms has a lion.  The only animal said to be able to defeat a lion?  You guessed it, a unicorn.  The UK’s Royal Coat of Arms has both the lion and the unicorn today.

Another fun fact? Drambuie, that whiskey liqueur made from aged Scotch whiskey, spices, herbs and heather honey, can be traced back to Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Royal Apothecary having created it during the Jacobite uprisings.  The recipe was passed to a trusted aide and remained on the Isle of Skye, where in the late 19th century it was improved and the liqueur was sold at the Broadford Hotel on Skye. To this day the Broadford Hotel claims to be the birthplace of Drambuie.  The first commercial production of Drambuie began in Edinburgh in 1909.

What country or place do you think is the coolest?  Why do you think it is the coolest place?  Let me know in the comments below!

RUSTY NAIL

2 oz Johnnie Walker Black Label (made in four key distilleries that are chosen to represent the four corners of Scotland)

1 oz Drambuie

Pour both into a glass and stir with ice.  Strain into a rocks glass to be served.