[artificer]

Oh, Mael Coluim...

You shouldn't do that to a chap first thing in the morning!

It's a terrible thing to be sitting here, drinking my tea, and get blind sided by a HUGE desire for a dram of Laphroaig

[brooklyn_wannabe]

i agree-- just seeing that great picture gave me an awful thirst-- and it's 9:30 in the morning here. had a nice bit of 12 yr. balvenie double aged in oak and sherry casks, last night as i was perusing the forums. i have to plan a trip to scotland-- trouble is my partner in crime and best bud is an irishman and he only drinks jamesons.

[Dale Seago]

Originally Posted by brooklyn_wannabe

i have to plan a trip to scotland-- trouble is my partner in crime and best bud is an irishman and he only drinks jamesons.

But that's perfect then, he'll leave the Good Stuff for you!

You could try breaking him in on some peated Connemara Irish single malt; the transition's easy from there.

[Mike_Oettle]

Well, gentlemen, when it comes to strong drink, you could always try some of South Africa’s specialities.
There is an old tradition of peach “brandy”, also known as mampoer, which is often encountered in the northern provinces, but not unknown in the Cape. It has long been distilled illegally, but one can obtain licensed varieties too.
Mampoer is also made from the fruit of the marula tree (Sclerocarya birrea).
In the Cape there is a drink called witblits (“white lightning”), distilled (usually) from wine. An alternative name is wit hond (“white dog”).
Both of these reputedly have a kick like a mule.
I haven’t tried either, but they have a considerable following.
My own preference is for the brandy liqueurs that are produced in this country. You have the run-of-the mill crème de menthe and a variety of other flavours, including cherry.
A national speciality (unique to the Cape) is Van der Hum, which is flavoured with tangerines (which we call nartjies). Unlike Cointreau, which I gather is made from tangerine peel, this has a fruity flavour and a slightly orange colour.
Less potent than mampoer is another drink made of marula berries and is sold under the brand name Marula.
The tree bears a fruit that is rich in vitamin C (eight times as much as in oranges). It often ferments on the tree, at which stage the tree will be visited by a variety of animals, including baboons, monkeys and elephant, which all have been known to be rendered drunk by just eating the fruit!
Both Marula and Van der Hum are also sold in the form of a cream (the liqueur mixed with cream).

But since this thread started with a question of ghillie brogues, a word or two on that subject, too.
I am so ignorant as not to know the difference between ghillie brogues and the shoes properly worn for Scottish dancing (are they the same thing?).
But I don’t see myself wearing such footwear unless I take up Scottish dance.
My footwear at the moment is Cats (a brand that uses the same artwork as Caterpillar earthmovers), which seem more than adequate for most purposes with either trousers or kilts. (I have a black pair and a brown pair.)
I still have a pair of black army boots which I wear on odd occasions.
But I see no harm whatever in wearing a kilt with velskoene. These are a South African tradition. They are made of uncoloured smooth cowhide, and can often be seen worn with red shoe- or bootlaces.
Not for best wear, of course, but I can see myself wearing those with the caracal sporran I plan to have made.
Regards,
Mike

[longhuntr74]

Firstly, to the OP, welcome to the forum.

Regarding the initial question, I don't own a pair of ghillies, but I do own a pair of Thistle standard brogues (regular wingtip oxfords) and want to share my experience. I'm sure (at least I hope) that it is an anomaly that the first time I wore them the sole showed signs of separating from the upper...it almost looked as if the stitching was loose or incomplete in the instep and that it was mainly just glue holding the sole on. I can't speak about the quality of Thistle shoes in general...again, I'm hoping that I just got a misfit...but I know I wouldn't buy them again.

Had I purchased a pair of Florsheims, etc, I'd have returned them immediately for a replacement or refund, but since I had purchased them from Scotweb, I was kinda stuck with a pair of shoes that are falling apart or spending $20 to get some of my money back or a replacement pair that I would have to hope wouldn't fall apart too. I've decided to keep the Thistles and recently wore them to the highland games...I'll get around to using some Shoe-Goo to glue the sole and upper back together (there's about a 3/16" gap when pulled apart). I've replaced the Thistles with a new pair of Florsheims for wear on better occasions and will continue to use the Thistles as a pair of beat around, highland games, etc. shoes.

It looks as if you decided on the Loakes...I think they are probably better quality. I'm familiar with the name, but have never been able to compare in person.

[artificer]

Originally Posted by longhuntr74

Firstly, to the OP, welcome to the forum.

Regarding the initial question, I don't own a pair of ghillies, but I do own a pair of Thistle standard brogues (regular wingtip oxfords) and want to share my experience. I'm sure (at least I hope) that it is an anomaly that the first time I wore them the sole showed signs of separating from the upper...it almost looked as if the stitching was loose or incomplete in the instep and that it was mainly just glue holding the sole on. I can't speak about the quality of Thistle shoes in general...again, I'm hoping that I just got a misfit...but I know I wouldn't buy them again.

Had I purchased a pair of Florsheims, etc, I'd have returned them immediately for a replacement or refund, but since I had purchased them from Scotweb, I was kinda stuck with a pair of shoes that are falling apart or spending $20 to get some of my money back or a replacement pair that I would have to hope wouldn't fall apart too. I've decided to keep the Thistles and recently wore them to the highland games...I'll get around to using some Shoe-Goo to glue the sole and upper back together (there's about a 3/16" gap when pulled apart). I've replaced the Thistles with a new pair of Florsheims for wear on better occasions and will continue to use the Thistles as a pair of beat around, highland games, etc. shoes.

It looks as if you decided on the Loakes...I think they are probably better quality. I'm familiar with the name, but have never been able to compare in person.

If you take them to a cobbler, he could probably fix them up a treat. The price would likely be less than posting them back to Scotweb.

[brooklyn_wannabe]

i must agree with artificier-- it'll cost you about $15-$20 at a shoe repair to get them set right. it might involve replacing the half-sole with re-stitching of the welt, but i can assure you that the shoes will live a long life afterwards
so long as you don't expose them to excessive water ( i.e. mud wrestling, tramping through puddles). i speak from experience: my dad's a shoe-man, my grand-dad was a cobbler.
for the record, i ordered the loakes, and am now eagerly awaiting delivery from somewhere in Albion. i'll happily let you all know the results, both in look and feel, once i get them on my feet.
for all us americans, happy labor day weekend, go out and raise a bit o' hell.

[Kiltman]

Welcome from Eastern Washington State USA.

[BobsYourUncle]

Originally Posted by Mael Coluim

from the Old Dominion State!

What he said. Rich, peaty--even the nose is astounding. You won't be sorry.

[Dr. Mac]

from Bryan/College Station!