Cuimhnich an tabhartas orionnsa
Remember the gift of the prince
Drambuie (an dram buidheach) is a heather-honey
flavored liqeuer based on whisky. The recipe is legendarily a 1746
gift from Bonnie Prince Charlie to the MacKinnon clan for helping
house him on the Isle of Skye ahead of British pursuit.
The man the Jacobites of Scotland knew as Bonnie Prince Charlie was Charles Edward Stewart, a royal scion
who sought to claim the throne of his forefathers, but who was defeated in battle on Culloden Moor. If captured, his life would be forfeit, so he made his
escape from Scotland with the help of loyal Jacobite Scots.
One
of these was Flora MacDonald, who assisted his escape from Scotland
proper to the Isle of Skye off the west coast by arranging for him
to be rowed across. He was disquised as her Irish maid, so that no inquiries could be made.
They made landfall
at Kilmuir, Skye. Flora stayed with him on their land journey as far as Portree, at which point they separated,
never to meet again.
Strong was the loyalty of the MacKinnon Clan held to Prince Charles. And strong was his dedication to his land and his peoples.
Captain John MacKinnon personally welcomed Bonnie Prince Charlie and promised him safety until he could arrange passage to France. It was at this point that it is
said that the Prince provided the recipe of the beverage that was to be known as Drambuie, to John MacKinnon
As far as Flora MacDonald goes, she was imprisioned for her role in the escape, but was released in 1747.
She married her fiance, Allan MacDonald, in 1750, and lived a long life, passing away in 1790.
~
Sir Harold Boulton, a little known poet, penned the words of the Skye Boat Song circa 1884, putting
them to music written in part by Annie MacLeod:
Speed bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing,
Onward, the sailors cry
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to Skye
Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar,
Thunder clouds rend the air;
Baffled our foe's stand on the shore
Follow they will not dare
Though the waves leap, soft shall ye sleep
Ocean's a royal bed
Rocked in the deep, Flora will keep
Watch by your weary head
Many's the lad fought on that day
Well the claymore could wield
When the night came, silently lay
Dead on Culloden's field
Burned are our homes, exile and death
Scatter the loyal men
Yet, e'er the sword cool in the sheath,
Charlie will come again.
~
Drambuie itself, now. Gift of a King, or at least of a Prince. The MacKinnon family kept the recipe, "an dram buidheach",
serving it to visiting dignitaries, or so it is said. In 1892, a drink called Drambuie was sold by John Ross at the Broadford Hotel on Skye.
This might provide a truer beginning for Dramhuie.
And, what is it? Drambuie is made from aged malt whisky, heather honey and a secret blend of herbs and spices. There
is a rumor of lime and saffron.
It is produced in Skye, Skye and Lochalsh, Highland, Scotland, and can be drunk straight, on ice, or used as an ingredient in a mixed drink,
So, where IS Wallace, after all?
