i-on Events Don’t miss our AW21 Wardrobe Edit with stylist Prue White

WIN… a Johnstons of Elgin cashmere throw

As the seasons change, it’s all about getting cosy which is why we’ve teamed up with luxury family-owned cashmere brand Johnstons of Elgin to give you the chance to win a merino wool and cashmere throw to upgrade your nights in. Worth £435, the reversible blanket-stitched throw is super-soft, luxurious and comes in neutral shades of ecru and driftwood to match any interior. Characterized by its natural handle and traditional style blanket-stitched edge, the sophisticated home accessory is expertly crafted in the brand’s own Scottish mills using skills and techniques they’ve honed over more than two centuries. Their focus and work on sustainability also means you’ll be getting a truly ethical cashmere product.

To see the full Johnstons of Elgin Home collection, visit www.johnstonsofelgin.com

TO ENTER

For your chance to win a Johnstons of Elgin merino wool and cashmere throw, visit www.ionmagazine.co.uk by noon on 23 October and leave your details. The winner will be notified by email and announced in the November edition of i-on.

Terms and conditions: The prize is nontransferrable, no cash alternative and not valid in conjunction with any other offer.

Congratulations to last month’s winner Janice McBride who won a suite stay at The Edinburgh Grand. For more exclusive prizes, subscribe to the i-on newsletters at www.ionmagazine.co.uk

A DAMN SIGHT MORE THAN A DRAM…

Ailidh Forlan discovers three things to love about Johnnie Walker Princess Street

After decades of planning and years of scaffolding, Johnnie Walker Princes Street, formerly House of Fraser, is officially open to the public. More than just a visitor attraction, this triumph from multinational beverage company Diageo spans eight floors with two rooftop bars to boot. Alongside sampling world-class whisky, here are i-on’s top three reasons why you should visit.

The Personalisation

Despite an impressive capacity to welcome almost 100 guests on a tour every 15 minutes, Diageo has worked hard to deliver a personalised whisky tasting experience. On arrival, each guest discovers their flavour profile via a quiz and receives a wrist band colour coordinated accordingly. Each dram, refreshing highball in the “Grocer’s Sensorium” or perfected old fashioned thereafter is made with a whisky and garnish combination unique to your taste buds; spicy, fruity, fresh, creamy, smoky or tropical. In the Custom Studio (in the ground floor Princes Street retail shop), visitors can bottle, emboss and label their own bottle of exclusive seasonal whisky. Even whisky novices are bound to find a scotch they’ll lover.

The Accessibility

The days of whisky tastings feeling like elitist, alien territory are over. Johnnie Walker Princes Street is welcoming, approachable, and at a price of £25 for the 1.5 hour Journey of Flavour, which includes three personalised drinks, it’s great value for money too. A real highlight is the 200-year history of John Walker & Sons, theatrically performed by a striding storyteller with accompanying 3D projections and surround sound on a moving stage. It’s less a boring whisky history and more of a Disney-esque sensory immersion. So too is the lesson in whisky distilling with an animated figure prancing along mood-lit walls. With the occasional scent of fermented grains wafting throughout the room, it’s an experience like no other.

The Views

Searching for cocktails with a view? The 1820 Rooftop Bar is Edinburgh’s finest. With a wraparound balcony and contemporary modular seating, those lucky enough to bag a spot on the terrace will experience unparalleled views spanning the length of Princes Street, Edinburgh Castle, Lothian Road and Shandwick Place, with all the beautiful rooftops and varying architectural styles in between. Meanwhile, in the Explorers’ Bothy Bar, where there’s no less than 150 whiskies to choose from, an expansive glass window overlooks the magnificent green domed West Register House on Charlotte Square. On a clear day, the Firth of Forth twinkles and Fife feels like it’s just a stone’s throw away. Johnnie Walker Princes Street is the place to marvel at Edinburgh’s spectacular skyline.