the pillars of Shandon...

... in the Temple of Shandon. Is it an Island? A Speyside? Is it peaty? Burnt caramel, ryebread, hot formula one tyres, vanilla, smoked butter were some of the parallels referenced by Pensioner (right) and my Dad (left).

My Dad and his manly friend once went to the Diggers for a whisky evening, ordering a fine Island to accompany their equally fine Speyside for analysis.... when men discuss whisky, it is very much like when they discuss football. It is serious, a reflection of the intelligence, observation skills, and hardness of each man. If a war broke out, the men who could talk accurate football tactics or pidgeon-hole whisky would essentially be much better soldiers.... They sat sipping them, jug of water on the side, allowing themselves to get lost in wild analogies and enthusiastic cultural appreciation of the nuances of Island whisky, robust and smokey, and the fine malt from Speyside, 'the champagne region', of Scotland. The barman was still only just hiding the glint in his eye when they thanked him for the two fine specimens and he broke. He explained that the 'Islay' was actually a Speyside, and vice versa.

Humility is a healthy thing I think, healthier than Islands or Speysides...