1. Dalmore

Dalmore 12 Year Old Whisky

In 1263, an ancestor of Clan Mackenzie saved King Alexander III of Scotland from being gored by a stag whilst out hunting. The grateful King granted the Mackenzies the right to bear a stag’s head, with twelve points to its antlers, signifying a ‘Royal’ in their coat of arms. Today every bottle of the Dalmore single malt is adorned with the clan’s proud emblem. The distillery is located on the northern shores of the Firth of Cromarty overlooking the Black Isle, and was originally established in 1839 by Alexander Matheson, a trader who made his fortune in opium imports. The Mackenzie family bought the distillery in 1866 and have recently begun to use the Mackenzie motto of Luceo Non Uro (I shine, not burn) as the company’s philosophy. The Dalmore Single Highland Malt Collection is matured in a wooden casks (both sherry wood and American white oak) which, along with the years and the climate, contributes to the flavour of each malt.

2. Clan MacGregor

Clan MacGregor Blended Whisky

Clan MacGregor blended whisky takes its name from the highland clan, honouring one the descendents of ancient Celtic royalty as proclaimed in the motto ‘Royal is my Race’. The blend is made from 15 malt and grain whiskies from the heart of Scotland, blended to create a delicate, sweet aroma and smooth, mellow taste. The bottles proudly carry the Clan MacGregor badge and motto, and with his kind permission, the personal crest of the 24th Clan Chief, Sir Malcolm MacGregor of MacGregor. The Clan badge, a crowned lion’s head on a wreath encircled with a belt and buckle, signifies the unity and loyalty of the clan who suffered two centuries worth of oppression. It is enjoyed in over 60 countries around the world, from the USA to Venezuela and the Middle East to Thailand.

3. Talisker

Talisker 10 Year Old

My personal favourite, this wee gem of single malt is produced at the Talisker distillery on the shores of Loch Harport on the Isle of Skye. It’s the only distillery on the isle, with the distillery’s seaside home giving it a deep peaty character followed by a hint of sweet. The distillery was built in 1831 by brothers Hugh and Kenneth MacAskil after they acquired the lease of Talisker House from the chief of Clan MacLeod. When a new lease for the distillery was negotiated with the chief in 1892 the annual payment was to be £23.12s and a ten-gallon cask of best-quality Talisker. Today the single malt continues to be the preferred dram of clan chiefs – the MacNeil of Barra leases their seat of Kisimul Castle to Historic Scotland at a cost of £1 per annum and a bottle of Talisker. In 2007 Talisker 18 year old won ‘Best Single Malt in the World’ at the World Whiskies Awards and was one of three whiskies described by poet Robert Louis Stevenson as “The king o’ drinks, as I conceive it” in his poem The Scotsman’s Return From Abroad.

4. Clan Campbell

Clan Campbell Blended Whisky

While the link between this blended whisky and the actual clan is unclear, the whisky takes it names from the clan who have 14 million descendents around the globe. Clan Campbell is one of the largest clans in Scotland and renowned for its bravery and influence over the country’s history since the 13^th century. The whisky is distilled, blended and aged in the Highlands, combining Scotch grain and malt whiskies that have aged in oak casks for at least three years. The present clan chief, Torquhil Ian, combines his duties as Duke or Argyll, chief and landowner with a consultant role with Pernod Ricard, promoting Scotch Whiskies including Chivas Regal and Glenlivet.

5. Drambuie and Glayva

Drambuie Liqueur

Glayva Liqueur

Technically not a Whisky, Drambuie is a sweet golden coloured liqueur made from malt whisky, honey, herbs and spices. Produced in Broxburn, West Lothian, Drambuie derives its name from the Gaelic phrase an dram buidheach, (the drink that satisfies). After the Battle of Culloden in 1746, Prince Charles Edward Stuart fled to the isle of Skye. There, he was given sanctuary by Captain John MacKinnon of Clan MacKinnon. According to family legend, after staying with the captain, the prince rewarded him with this prized drink recipe. This version of events is disputed by historians who believe it to be a story concocted to boost sales of the drink. The MacKinnon family produce the liqueur to this day. A similar liqueur is Glayva, produced in Leith since 1947. It made from a blend of aged Scotch whiskies, herbs, anise, cloves, almonds, heather honey, and citrus fruits. Legend has it that when Bonnie Prince Charlie was served a whisky based liqueur, he looked at his host, held up the glass and spoke the Gaelic “Gle mhath!”(very good) thus giving the drink the name it carries to this day.

The post Top 5: Whisky of the Clans appeared first on ScotClans | Scottish Clans.

Macbeth Illustration

The Isle of Skye has been confirmed as a shooting location for the latest version of Macbeth to take to the silver screen. The Hollywood blockbuster, starring Oscar contender Michael Fassbender in the title roll, has received £200,000 worth of support from arts body Creative Scotland for several on-location shoots due to take place later this month in the north of Skye.

Known as Shakespeare’s Scottish play, the film adaptation is set to be a traditional retelling of the story of the 11th century general-turned King of Scotland. The film’s synopsis reads, “Macbeth is the story of a fearless warrior and inspiring leader brought low by ambition and desire. A thrilling interpretation of the dramatic realities of the times and a truthful re-imagining of what wartime must have really been like for one of Shakespeare’s most famous and compelling characters, a story of all-consuming passion and ambition set in war torn 11th Century Scotland.”

Lady Macbeth will be played by French Oscar winner Marion Cotrillard, who last week voiced concern that her attempted Scots accent may curse the film. A source said: “Marion worked with a voice coach to learn the accent but it drove her crazy and she feared she would ruin the film. The idea of Lady Macbeth speaking with a French accent is entirely legitimate, taking into account the French-Scottish alliance of that time.”

WINDFARM THREATENS MACBETH HILL FORT

In other Macbeth related news, a major campaign was launched last week to prevent what would be Perthshire’s tallest windfarm being built near an ancient hill fort immortalised in the play. The owners of the Bandirran Estate and green energy company Banks Renewables have submitted a joint application to develop a “community” wind project near Balbeggie and close to the historic fort on Dunsinane Hill.

The development has sparked an outcry among residents and anti-windfarm campaigners, who it will overshadow the scenic Sidlaw Hills in Perthshire and the hill fort made famous when, in the early 1600s, William Shakespeare wrote: “Macbeth shall never vanquished be, until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him”.

The Braes of the Carse Conservation Group has launched a Save our Sidlaws campaign, aimed at blocking the development.

Marilyn Webb, the group’s secretary, said: “Six massive wind turbines are proposed for the initial development. These would be over twice the height of the Scott Monument in Edinburgh, bigger than Big Ben and out of all proportion to the surrounding landscape.

“They will be visible from Birnam Wood and large parts of central eastern Scotland – the Three Witches never predicted this one.”

The post Macbeth News: Blockbuster Set to Film on Skye, Windfarm Threatens Hill Fort appeared first on ScotClans | Scottish Clans.

The cliffs of Ben Chracaig looking north over the Sound of Raasay

Donors are currently being sought to help preserve ancestral land home to Clan MacNicol/MacNeacail for at least 800 years. The Clan MacNicol Federation are currently seeking donations from around the world to cover maintenance, insurance and upkeep on land known as Scorrybreac at Ben Chracaig on the Isle of Skye.

Scorrybreck spans 130 acres of hillside and cliff-tops adjacent to Loch Portree and the town of Portree on Skye. The lands are situated half a mile from the ruins of Scorrybreck House on Ben Torvaig, where the chiefs of the MacNicols lived for hundreds of years up until the last chief left around 1826 to settle in Australia. In 1987 part of the ancient lands of Scorrybreac were purchased by members of Clan MacNicol from around the world.

Today the land is kept entirely for conservation purposes, with the only new additions being a footpath, memorial clan and flagpole erected by the clan society. Between 1993 and 2003 the clan had a management agreement with the Skye and Lochalsh District Council, who provided help with maintenance. However this agreement was not renewed in 2003 because of budget constraints, and was the main reason for the decision to begin appealing to clan members and others around the world for support.

Ben Chracaig, Clan MacNicol Land

The land at Scorrybreck is described as very rugged, and include a popular walking circuit open to the public known as the Portree Circuit. Funds raised by the clan currently go towards repair work on the track, as well as general upkeep and public liability insurance. Unpredictable emergencies, such as landslides, also have to be dealt with by having a contingency fund available.

Clan MacNicol have played an important part in the history of Skye. The Reverend Donald Nicolson of Scorrybreac, head of the clan at the end of the 17th century, is a well known figure in clan history and reputed to have had 23 children, through whom he is a common ancestor of many Skye families. Many members of the wider clan and septs were involved in concealing Bonnie Prince Charlie on Skye after his defeat at Culloden in 1745.

Information about becoming a friend of Scorrybreck can be found here.

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Emmanuel Coupe’s picture of sunrise over the Old Man of Storr on the Isle of Skye was picked as the best out of thousands of entries in the Take a View – Landscape Photographer of the Year Award 2009. The Paris based photographer scooped the £10,000 prize with his stunning picture [top].

John Parminter’s shot of a wintery Buachaille Etive Mòr [above] won the Classic View award, whilst his atmospheric picture, titled Food For Thought [below], taken at Aberdeen harbour, won in the Your View Category.

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