I was fortunate enough to be taken to a far flung place recently. Described by George Orwell as the most difficult place in the World to get to, the location for where he would write 1984. I imagined the West Coast of Scotland to be brutally wild, miserably wet, dreary and if entirely honest a little bit more akin to Game of Thrones. What would unfold would be a trip full of surprises in one of the most stunning places you’re ever likely to find. Seas as clear and as blue as the Caribbean albeit colder. Shores with talc white sand, Paps rich in colour with Viking standing stones adding to the mysticism of the place.

Invited by Jura Whisky, the first stop ahead of the Island was to Whyte Mackay’s head office in Glasgow to meet Richard Paterson master blender. A character who wanted to sort the whisky drinkers from the “Pussies” as he gave us a brief history of the famed Scotch, sorting the malts from the blends, providing pretty much everything you’d need to know in 30 odd minutes on Whisky. A character to say the least, with a nose insured to similar value as Beck’s right foot in his pomp. Jura whisky is for someone who doesn’t really count themselves as a Scotch drinker is particularly palatable. I normally drink Irish Whiskies finding them smoother and less harsh but newly educated and a fair few drams later can appreciate more than a drop. It’s pretty impressive the level of care and attention put into booze. They source the best barrels from Bourbon makers in the States and also Sherry amongst others from southern Europe. Whisky draws out the flavours in the woods and when knowing what you’re looking for become very flavoursome and palatable.

Having been brought up to speed in the boardroom, we ventured west to Islay by plane and then by ferry to Jura to drink drams on the dock and enjoy a lodge which can be rented for a meer two grand a night. It’s a pretty special journey from London to an Island once on the verge of ruin as its population fled. First to the New World then probably to Glasgow in search of more prosperous times and lest isolated punishable climes. The distillery shut and was left with a half built roof for a number of years until the land owners of Jura got together to save the distillery and inject some life back into the Island. In 1963 they re-open and began distilling Whisky in large, beautifully golden copper stills. You couldn’t find a more difficult and inconvenient location to make and distribute booze from but a special place nonetheless which adds to the experience.

Albeit an arduous place to get to, its Paps usher you on and the natural beauty of the place makes it worth while. The seas surrounded the place were as flat as an iced over lake, but looming about 45 minutes boat journey is on appearance a tame vortex if there ever was one. When the sea gets rough this vortex has sunken a few ships and quite mesmerising on a flat and sunny day. Truly amazing Island, with some of the most hospitable people you could come across. If you fancy a trip, why not head out for the Whisky Festival in a couple of weeks.
 

Thanks to Jura for inviting us out to their lodge and experience the place.

Follow Jura Whisky on Twitter HERE

Probably one of my favourite films from Wil Robson-Scott. Meet Jela…

This film follows Jela, brought up in the heart of the East End of London in a Turkish and English family. He talks about his memories of growing up in the 80s and 90s and his time on the streets and on football terraces.

Jela from Will Robson-Scott on Vimeo.

Tonight make sure your at Soul Provider tonight. Pump the lead up mix tape in the office today.

DJ BASIS – Soul Provider Volume 3 (2013) by Dj Basis on Mixcloud

 

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Locals Do It Better is one of the finest new nights coming out of South London. It’s not too late to jump on the ride with their third instalment taking place this Friday. Holdtight my homiest of homegirls Zezi…

Check out the recent drops from the BEE LINE spring summer collection. In this seasons release there’s a more toned down approach to the use of colour and fabrics, which to some may seem a bit more approachable, but with that said this seasons still holds an inventive assortment of t-shirts, shirts, trousers and shorts. I must say, I am definitely feeling the shirts and shorts with the IKAT print, paying homage to the Navajo print.

The collection is available now, over here.

PUMA teams up with online lifestyle magazine Hypebeast on the Blaze of Glory ‘Dim Sum’ pack.

A first time collaboration between PUMA and Hypebeast sees the release of the Blaze of Glory ‘Dum Sum’ pack consisting of the “Sui Mai” Blaze of Glory OG and the “Har Gao” Blaze of Glory LTWT. Hypebeast is easily recognised as one of the premier online destinations for editorially driven commerce and news, spanning from street-wear to high end fashion.

Dim Sum is the core of Hong Kong’s culinary culture and local lifestyle. Based on food for thought and linking city & culture, Hypebeast have created a unique take on the classic PUMA silhouette the Blaze of Glory OG and the updated version the Blaze of Glory LTWT. The “Sui Mai” Blaze of Glory OG features a soft premium leather and suede upper referencing the yellow wrapper skin used in the dumplings. the PUMA cushionCELL midsole in white adds contrast to the model. The “Har Gao” Blaze of Glory LTWT features PUMA’s lightweight FAAS 250 midsole with a translucent shrimp camouflage patterned upper on a white overlay with red accents. Each shoe comes with a Bamboo steamer inspired dust bag.

The Hypbebeast x PUMA Dim Sum Pack is due to be released IN-STORE ONLY on Friday 17th May at Foot-patrol.

Hypebeast x PUMA Dim Sum Pack from Footpatrol London on Vimeo.

More signs that Boiler Room is on that intergalactic flex…

Raffertie enlisted the help of Somesuch & Co’s director Vincent Haycock for his latest visual. The trend of shooting videos in run down neighbourhoods and featuring the inhabitants is getting rinsed but this is on point. Read up on the back story over at Nowness…

Raffertie: Build Me Up on Nowness.com