Mr Lyan's Taste Trips: A Scottish Homecoming
Hosted by the award-winning bartender and flavour obsessive Ryan Chetiyawardana, better known as Mr Lyan, this first-of-its-kind series takes viewers on a globe-trotting culinary adventure, exploring deliciousness and helping us to taste more. And with one memorable trip, Mr Lyan returns to a place he called home for seven years - Scotland.
A place with an unrivalled drinks scene. A place where ancient castles and windswept coastlines are just part of the every day. And a place filled with bustling pubs, backstreet gems and thriving distilleries, all ready to showcase the finest flavours of Scotland's past, present and future.
Where does Mr Lyan visit in Scotland?
Mr Lyan brings his fans and the flavour-curious on an all-access trip across Glasgow, Inverness, Speyside, Loch Ness, and Islay - with plenty of drams and scran along the way.
Join him as he goes behind the scenes at Glen Ord, home of The Singleton and winner of the World’s Best Distillery Tour, and the iconic Lagavulin distillery on Islay, while meeting the people who shape the distilleries' whiskies and visitor experiences - including Kirsten (pictured), Senior Operator at Lagavulin, and the first woman in the history of the distillery to hold this role.
Along the way, not only will he share some fascinating insight into these celebrated distilleries which produce some of the finest Scotch whiskies, he'll delve into everything from beekeeping at Struan Apiaries to peat, distillation, and foraging, all in pursuit of sharing what makes Scotland’s hospitality (and its drams) so special.
Feeling adventurous? Try a Mr Lyan cocktail for yourself
Mr Lyan has built a massive following based on his elaborate, exciting and extravagant creations, so you didn't expect this one to be basic, right?
To make Mr Lyan's Meadow Old Fashioned - an inspired twist on a classic whisky cocktail - it'll require a bit more effort - but the pay-off will be worth it. First, you'll need to make a Nettle and Primrose Blossom Honey Syrup. You'll need:
200g Struan Apiary’s Blossom Honey (regular honey could work, in a bind)
20g Primrose Flowers
20g Nettle Leaves (you can simply forage and wash these!)
To make:
Mix primrose flowers into honey and leave to infuse for at least 24 hours.
When ready, pour boiling water over nettle leaves and brew into a tea.
Once cooled, mix 2 parts honey with one part tea by weight.
Mr Lyan's Meadow Old Fashioned recipe
Once you've got your syrup ready, it's time to make the Meadow Old Fashioned.
You'll need:
10ml nettle and primrose blossom honey syrup
2 dashes orange bitters
Lemon verbena sprig
Ice
To make:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass filled with with cubed ice and stir down well until very cold
Strain into a chilled rocks glass over fresh ice
Garnish with a lemon verbena sprig
A bit of spice. A bit of sweet. A lot of flavour. Oats, ginger and fresh herbs come together for a memorable twist on a refreshing drink.
You'll need:
100g rolled oat flakes
10g sliced fresh ginger
25g cranberry sauce
3 sprigs of fresh thyme
1 pinch sea salt
600g boiling water
To make:
Rinse oat flakes under running water twice to get rid of excess starches
Combine oats with the rest of the ingredients, and stir well
Leave to infuse for 20 minutes before straining through a fine strainer, muslin cloth or clean tea towel, pressing/squeezing gently to increase yield
Store in a clean, sealed container or bottle in the fridge for up to 1 week
To serve, simply pour over ice or top with soda water.
You'll need:
50ml The Singleton 12
7.5ml Struan Apiary’s Heather Honey Syrup (2 parts honey: 1 part water)
3 dashes (1.5ml) of Dandelion & Golden Saxifrage infused Angostura Bitters*
*15g Golden Saxifrage, 15g Dandelion Leaf and 100ml Angostura Bitters combined and infused at room temperate overnight, then fine strained into a bottle.
To make:
Add all ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice and stir down until well chilled
Strain over fresh ice into chilled rocks glass
Garnish with a fresh coastal herb such as oyster lead, samphire or sea purslane
Ready for a Taste Trip of your own?
Immersed in Mr Lyan's flavour exploration? Wishing you could take a sensory sojourn around Scotland's distilleries for yourself? Well, you can. While his cocktails and creations might require a bit more effort, getting to visit the likes of The Singleton and Lagavulin is much simpler.
Located in the heart of the Black Isle, close to the scenic North Coast 500 and Inverness, The Singleton of Glen Ord distillery is ready to welcome you to a world of exquisite taste and unforgettable experiences.
Or perhaps you fancy adding a distillery stop in as you explore the magic of Islay, the enchanting island off the west coast of Scotland. Then pay a visit to Lagavulin, ranking among Scotland's oldest distilleries and, as well as fine drams and plenty to do, offers a taste of coastal life, with views of the bay and fresh, Atlantic air.
Wherever and whenever you decide to explore Scotland, you're guaranteed something memorable. But a visit to Scotland can be more than just ticking another place off your list.
A visit to Scotland is the first step in a longer journey through the world of whisky. A visit to Scotland is the start of a lifetime pursuit, where only the finest flavours and unrivalled quality will suffice.
Wherever you choose to start with your distillery adventures, we know it won't be the end.
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