Visit Report – Bon Accord Bar, Glasgow.
(And we aren’t talking about the fishing port in North East Scotland!)
A recent trip to Glasgow left a massive disappointment. Two whisky shops and yet no whisky purchased, bringing the total number of consecutive whisky shops visited with no purchase of spirit to 4.
Feeling less than manly*, I decided to pay a visit to the Bon Accord, on North Street in Glasgow. This is where the disappointment came to an end. I’ve a great mental image to describe what walking into the Bon Accord is like. Readers of a certain vintage will get this immediately, but not too many decades ago, you could go into a grocers shop with the big shelves behind a large counter, and there on the shelves would be big jars of sweeties** to be put into a quarter pound bag (or bigger if you had more pocket money). Well, the gantry in the Bon Accord reminded me of this. I was metaphorically that kid in a sweetie shop.
Where to begin? Let’s start by saying there were so many whiskies on the gantry, bottles two deep on the shelves, it would be impossible to ask for something. They have a whisky menu, but impressively, it is displayed on an Apple iPad app. If you want to browse their collection before you even get to the bar, even from the comfort of your own home, you can plan what dram you fancy, or even plan a flight so you know what sort of budget you are aiming for.
I only popped in for one dram and ended up staying for 2, but also had a lunch special of soup plus roast beef in a Yorkshire pudding, which was £6 for the two courses. The two cost nearly 10 times that amount at £27 and £28 respectively.
The whiskies I chose were a 23 year old Kininvie (batch 3) and SMWS 41.101, which is a Dailuaine 28 year old. That was a fantastic dram, and I have done a separate taste review on each one.
Although these were expensive drinks, don’t panic. There are normally priced whiskies that may still be unusual to find in the average bar. Or, there are more expensive ones should you want to brandish your wallet about with masses of disposable income. The most expensive was the 72 year old Macallan at £5000 a nip, followed closely by the 70 year old Glenlivet at £900. Even a Macallan Easter Elchies Black 2018 was £100 a nip.
The other thing that was great was the staff. Very friendly and knowledgable about whisky. And, unsurprisingly in Glasgow, full of friendly patter. Somebody in the staff has a wonderful sense of humour as I had spotted a bottle of Buckfast on the top level of the gantry beside boxes for White Bowmore, Black Bowmore and Black Bowmore 1964.
Goes to show the Bon Accord is for everybody with all budgets.
The Bon Accord is at 153 North Street, Glasgow within the Charing Cross area of the city. You can find their app on the Apple App Store by searching for Bon Accord. They also have a website at www.bonaccordpub.com
*there was no need to feel like this. I’d just picked up auction winnings from SWA. A drinking bottle of Glenmorangie Signet nonetheless.
**sweeties are called candies in the US.
Slainte Mhath!
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photo credits
Whisky App – Bon Accord Bar / Fair Use
other photos – authors own.
Scotty’s Drams 