Our Good Friend Bachelor Steve is a Scotch lover, just like Banjo Man.  During the overseas-travel phase of my life (also called “getting away from the kids”) I discovered a love of exploring liquor stores, the kinds of small intimate wood-panelled shops with proprietors who love to talk about whisky and offer a “wee dram” to enthusiastic shoppers.

I bought cognac from a stall in a Paris market.   Single malt Scotch at its Orkney distillery.  Scotch poured and bottled from a cask in London (a bottle of which was brought to Bachelor Steve).  Scotch from a tasting at Stirling Castle.  Scotch and cognac from airport duty-free stores.  I could fit three bottles in my leather backpack (during the years before 9-11).

Banjo Man would be so excited when I staggered off the bus from Boston and handed over the backpack (I don’t drink the hard stuff).

Anyway, Bachelor Steve has long longed to have a Scotch-tasting event, since he has quite a collection of single malts now.  He has invited two other couples for the tasting, and I am producing a genuine Scottish dinner.

There will be six courses.  And I have never made any of these recipes before in my life.  In other words, this is going to be a busy day.  Which is why I’m up at 4:30 to work before the madness begins.

I bought 8 plaid placemats on sale at JCPennys.  Matching brown napkins at the consignment store.  A $2 ceramic fish platter for the smoked salmon appetizer.  I have 2 cd’s of Scottish music.  And the guests are supposed to wear something plaid.

Oh, and according to Tasting Rules, there will be no perfumes, colognes, after shave, scented candles or heavy scents of any kind that could ruin the “nose” part of the tasting.  Thank  goodness I will be in the kitchen when all that sniffing goes on.

Just a hint about Scottish food:  potatoes, leeks, oatmeal.
Wish me luck.