Its difficult to have a favourite place in the world, there are just so many great places. Saying that though if I’m pushed then Beirut certainly has a place in my heart. What a city, what a people and what a welcome. Passing through the duty free shop at the airport (which I am told is the biggest seller of Cuban Cigars in the world) I was greeted by some old friends; bottles of Original, the Whyte and Mackay 40 year old. By complete coincidence the shop in question had sold a bottle of this rare whisky earlier that day. The people of this nation have an enviable optimistic resilience and attitude even in the face of so much adversity. They are second to none, a bit like the Glaswegians! Enjoying the city was easy, I was there doing a number of tastings and got to meet some amazing people who spoke very highly of their surroundings. In fact what the British Ambassador to the Lebanon Francis Guy told me blew my socks off. Francis is the lovely lady sat next to me in the photograph (the one toasting to my good health). Sorry I can’t repeat her words but boy was it optimistic.