MACGREGOR’S BAR in Inverness is offering its customers liquid history lessons, with an inventive new range of cocktails dedicated to famous – and infamous – characters from Scotland’s past.
“The whole idea was to create something totally unique for our pub – we have always claimed to be #morethanabar,” said owner Bruce MacGregor.
“I’ve always wanted history to be fun – way more exciting than anything we ever got in school – so we’ve not hit on all the usual Scottish icons,” he explained. “Yes, there’s a Robert Burns cocktail, but there’s also a cocktail for Aleister Crowley – the occultist who lived on the banks of Loch Ness and became known as the Beast of Boleskine. There’s also the story of the bagpiping adventurer John MacGregor who ended up alongside Davy Crockett at the Battle of the Alamo.
“We’ve rolled out the first five cocktails but there’s loads more to come,” said Bruce. “We’ve tried to tailor the menu so people identify with the characters of the cocktails. The promos come with the question: ‘Which one are you? ‘The Romantic’, ‘The Adventurer’, ‘The Gael’, ‘The Philosopher’ or ‘The Beast’?”
The new menu has been devised by MacGregor’s Cocktail queen Sasha Brandon. The Romantic, inspired by Rabbie Burns, is made with Glenfiddich Fire and Cane whisky, Chocolate Liqueur, Hazelnut Syrup and Chocolate Bitters.
The Gael, dedicated to Gaelic songwriter, poet and political champion of the crofters, Màiri Mhòr nan Òran (Big Mary of the Songs), uses Bramble Gin, House-Made Nettle Tea Syrup, Lemon and Soda.
At the other end of the moral scale, The Beast, inspired by the not so great Aleister Crowley, offers a guilty mix of Glenfiddich XX, Kahlua, Caramel Syrup and Fresh Espresso.
