March Elite Event @ The Butchershop

Yay!!! It’s my favourite time of the month, oh yeah it’s Unilocal time.
I was entrigued by the name of The Butchershop Bar & Grill. I think I was maybe expecting sawdust on the floor maybe some meat hanging from metal hooks, a butcher in a stripey apron chopping up some beef but alas no I walk into a classy restaurant.
I was a little confused when I went in at first though as there was some old men hanging about and they ask me if I was from the media, which I technically am. They started winding me up in their usual old man stylee, so I was glad to see Chris D. walk in at that point.
I was the «un“officical photographer of the night as the lovely Katie N. wasn’t able to join us. The staff had laid out lots of glasses with some bourbons on display. I knew instantly this was for us. The old men thankfully went through to another private area of the restaurant, probably to talk politics and drink sherry.
Many more Unilocal folks started turning up and were labelled by the lovely Jessie D. Unilocal’s newest recruit to the team. Suddenly the place was buzzing, it was very well attended especially for a Tuesday evening.
We had an interesting lowdown on the various bourbons allowing people to try them. I’m not a bourbon drinker so I knew I’d no likey and I didn’t want squiffy photos either.
I met some more faces from Unilocal that I chat to online, so it was nice to meet them in the flesh. It was good to have the camera as I felt I mingled a bit more than usual.
The food was well tasty, haggis balls being of course the highlight for me. I think they called it something more posh but haggis balls is good enough for me. It was a lovely spread and the whole lot was scoffed.
It was a great wee night and I hope to pop in for a proper sit down meal for some meaty goodness.

On a lovely Tuesday evening, I found myself in the Bön Accord surrounded by the Glasgow Whisky fellows. Pints were being quaffed as the night’s bottles were placed on the barrel. Despite the camaraderie and the lovely drams on offer, I put myself out into the Glasgow evening air and wandered down to the end of Sauchiehall.
I have been past the Butchershop Grill on several occasions but never went in. This was my first excuse to wander into this place. It is a bit daunting. Setup like a massive gentleman’s club in the edge of Sauchiehall street.
The event was based upon the tasting of bourbons. A flavour I have tasted a lot in a variety of whiskies and also, funnily enough, a taste that took me back to my early years.
The place was full of us. I love it when I walk in and am welcomed as a friend. None are as welcoming as the Unilocal folks. Name Badge acquired from the lovely Jessie I met the Portonian and his elegant wife.
The bourbons had been laid out and we started on a Rye Whisky. This was an American version but I am well used to the Canadian variety. Seagram «7» and Canadian Club fuelled the Chicago prohibition and most of my Manitoban Undergraduate career.
Next was a pair of bourbons which were to be compared and contrasted and to be honest, I think I got two of the same. The youth of the whiskies did not result in the harshness that you would expect from a Scottish Malt. A four year Malt whisky would not have the sweetness that these pair of drams exhibited.
The food was brought out and a lovely spread of haggis balls and other goodies offered some sustenance.
The folks there and the venue were lovely. The neighbouring room had been sequestered by a large group of elderly gentlemen. While they were probably bankers or businessmen, I fed my imagination by envisioning them as a group of elderly super-​villains or a guild of mages who have defended us from an evil we cannot envision. I nodded in appreciation on my way to the men’s room.

Good fun, even for a non-​bourbon drinker — and some of them didnt burn too much!
Im only slightly in the photos so that was a winner!
Nice to put some faces to names and hope to see you all again at the next one!

Another very successful Unilocal Elite event, which allowed me to taste hitherto untried bourbons, and to put more faces to names. Well done again Chris!

My first elite Unilocal event and a most enjoyable experience! The bourbon tasting was a nice change from my usual evening activities, although I began to wish that I had only ordered a small wine before the tasting began! Two big thumbs up for the haggis balls as well!
Alas I left the Butchershop without my promised Unilocal mints — I shall just have to await the next event!