I was out and about in Edinburgh last night and found a great pub. The New Town was never an area that I would go for nights out but recently I have found a treasure trove of pubs tucked away in this part of town. Kays Bar is the latest of these and would probably be described by an estate agent as "bijou". The whisky selection is respectable in size but what it lacks in volume it makes up for in variety. The Port Ellen jumped off the shelf but at £15 a dram I went for a very pleasant 18 year old Highland Park instead. A great wee pub that I will definitely be back to spend some time in.
I had started the evening at the Canny Mans on the other side of town and I'm beginning to wonder if it's worth the effort anymore. The selection in the CM is vast but you unfortunately have to speak to the staff to get served. The CM is a pub that splits opinion into the those that find it charming and idiosyncratic and those that think it's a pretentious pub with ideas above its station. Unfortunately the sarcastic bar manager doesn't help to swerve opinion away from the latter. I tried the Ardbeg Blasda (drier and saltier than the superior "Beastie") and was on my way.
