Jody Buchan, the Ambassador to Scotland for premium blended malt whisky-makers, Monkey Shoulder, tells us all about his love of the brand and his three favourite Scottish venues.

When did you first know Monkey Shoulder was the whisky for you?

I fell in love with Monkey Shoulder the first time I tasted it. Not just the whisky, but the brand and its Made For Mixing ethos. When it comes to whiskies that aren’t afraid to play with the cocktail shakers as well as the dram glasses, accept no substitutes – it’s got to be the OG for me. When other brands try to emulate the fun and excitement of Monkey, we shake things up and keep people guessing. 

Are there any new products coming out soon?

We’re just about to launch our third member of the family, but at Monkey Shoulder, we don’t just release a flavoured version of our liquid or play by the usual whisky rules of simply adding it to a cask for ‘finishing’ – we go big. Keep your eyes peeled for something fresh and exciting, dropping this summer... 

What else have you been up to with Monkey Shoulder?

I recently began filming an online show called Speed RAILL (Random Adventure to Interview Local Legends) where I journey across Scotland on the Monkey Shoulder motorbike to interview bartenders who serve the best drinks, as I visit the best places to enjoy Monkey Shoulder. Whether it’s in a cocktail, in a highball, paired with food or enjoyed on its own.

What are your three go-to venues to visit around Scotland?

It’s hard to pick just 3 venues to talk about but, in no particular order, here are some of my favourites. Be sure to check them out if you want to find out what  we’re launching soon. 

The Workshop, Aberdeen

Located at Shiprow Village in Aberdeen and  presided over by Aberdeen’s Milo Smith  – creator of the Drumstick cocktail (yeah,  that one!) –this cool, subterranean hotspot  boasts amazing cocktails, beers and just  oozes atmosphere. A repurposed archway  underneath Aberdeen, it is illuminated with  candle-light and serves up deliciously crafted  cocktails. The back bar is extensive and has  something for every taste, for every mood  and whatever time of night that you happen  to visit. Look out for their featurette on  SpeedRAILL (via YouTube or my instagram @jodyspiritual), coming soon. 

Uno Mas, Edinburgh

Spanish for ‘one more’, opened just prior to the ‘L’ word (lockdown). This late-night cocktail bar has something for everyone. Whether you’re interested in a locally brewed beer or an in-house, signature cocktail, the award-winning bar team at Uno Mas have you covered. With live music nights, open-mic shows, DJs every weekend and fantastically curated playlists, they really do make it very easy to answer the question; Uno Mas? It’s also an industry hangout, thanks to its later opening hours, so if you want to drink the best cocktails with some of the city’s best makers and shakers, it’s the place to be. 

Hoot The Redeemer, Edinburgh 

Sister venue to Panda & Sons and Nauticus, Hoot is the quintessential party venue. Designed like a fairground, there are arcade machines, boozy ice- creams and even a  grabber machine to ‘design your own cocktail’  with the team bringing their magic to your  randomly selected ingredients. You simply  can’t visit Hoot without ordering one of their  slushy cocktails. I tend to get one as a palate  cleanser while I peruse the menu. . Word to  the wise; book a space. Even if there’s two of  you, just going for a quick drink, they’re so fun  and popular, you may be disappointed if you  just turn up. 

Visit drinkaware.co.uk for all the facts