Whisky Directory Guide of Shops, Bars, Distilleries and Online Retailers

The Coo was born in Crieff in April 2009.

Looking for a USP, Mandy Silver decided to open a whisky bar and The Coo was born in Crieff in April 2009.  Starting with 6 bottles of malt.  “I was very green, so it took an age to decide what next to order. Over the years I'm pleased to say my knowledge has improved (still so much to learn though) and glad to say the collection has grown to around 150 bottles.

Whisky has turned into my passion, having tried all my bottles (some more than once!) how lucky am I?

I take selling my drams very seriously, and it is very important to me that a customer enjoys their dram; so I like to spend a little time chatting with a whisky drinker, ensuring they choose the right dram for themselves.

I had lots of lovely customers coming from Sweden and Germany each year to visit me, as well as my loyal locals who supported the Coo.  During that time I was awarded a 5 star from Trip Advisor for 2012 and 2013, won the Drammie Award in 2013 and was voted ‘The Best Whisky Bar in The World’(!!) and had an entry in ‘Lonely Planet Travel Guide’ 2013.

Sadly in 2013 the Coo building was sold and I had to relocate. Before I left, I trademarked Curly Coo Bar so I was able to continue my business elsewhere, and my many lovely foreign visitors would be able to track me down…” Mandy Silver.

Award winning whisky bar relocates to Stirling city centre.

Once the capital city in Scotland, the city of Stirling continues to remain one of the country’s most significant historic settings.  With sites such as Stirling Castle, The Wallace Monument and the Old Town Jail, Stirling is truly a city of national significance that continues to appeal to hundreds of thousands of tourist’s year in year out.  As well as being a city of historic and cultural importance, Stirling is also home to one of the country’s most impressive whisky bars. Appealing to not just tourists, but students and other local residents alike, Curly Coo Bar now situated centrally in the city’s Barnton Street offers all the appeal of a tucked away Highland retreat right in the heart of Stirling.

Offering in excess of 130 malt whiskies, not to mention many beers, wines and spirits of choice, Curly Coo Bar is one of those bars that just have to be sampled and enjoyed.  The Drammie Award winning bar of 2013 & 2014 boats a 5* rating on Trip Advisor for 2013 & 2014 and prides itself in being very much a whisky bar with a personal touch.

Bringing with her a wealth of experience and knowledge, owner Mandy Silver is the absolute perfect hostess ensuring your experience in Curly Coo Bar is enlightening, educational and ultimately memorable.

“Since opening the new Coo in Stirling, I have built up a loyal customer base. It's a cosy wee bar, with a stove to keep you toasty in the colder nights... It's also very exciting being in a University town and I introduced malt whisky to many of the students (in moderation of course) I hold regular whisky tastings and an annual Wee Whisky Fest in October.

In 2015 I was voted Whisky Bar of the Year in Scotland in the Scottish Field Whisky Challenge and also shortlisted in the Dram magazine for Whisky Bar of the Year.

For the non-whisky drinkers I have a good selection of local craft kegs, Scottish cider and a great selection of Scottish Gins.  If you're in Stirling I look forward to seeing you at the Coo.”

Mandy Silver

Visit Curly Coo Bar

Nickolls and Perks is the UK's oldest provincial wine and spirits merchant; established in 1797, the company has been trading independently ever since. Today Nickolls and Perks remains a close knit organisation, operating from the heart of the West Midlands with a small dedicated team under third generation family ownership.

We specialise in Cru Classé Bordeaux, Champagne, Whisky and Vintage Port, however we have a rapidly growing concern in fine Burgundy and top cru Rhône wines. We regularly hold tasting events in our own 16th century sandstone cellars. We are also the organisers behind the Midlands Whisky Festival.

Our expertise and our commitment to personal service and quality merchandise ensured that we have been shortlisted in the 2013 IWC Merchants Awards under two categories:

Regional Merchant of the Year (Midlands-north)
Bordeaux Specialist Merchant of the Year

Please visit our website or contact us for more information.

Spirits by Post is a small business founded in 2012, The Purveyor of the World’s Finest Whisky and other spirits. Serving satisfied and enthusiastic customers worldwide each day.
Since the beginning Spirits by Post has continued to gradually grow and develop a strong following of customers and become one of the main retailers online in the UK offering spirits of all types and ages. Improving our service in every aspect of the business to become a well-oiled machine, continuing to make improvements based on customer feedback and satisfaction.

We believe in excellent customer service and strive to provide this with responsive assistance to customers whether they are a newcomer, an enthusiast or a connoisseur. With a variety of diversities and requirements we aim to meet our customers’ needs with our ever-increasing experience and knowledge.
Always looking for new and interesting lines of spirits to add to our catalogue of whisky, champagne, vodka, rum and more – Spirits by Post endeavour to offer the highest quality of product variety to our loyal followers and intrigued newcomers.

Our company may be smaller than some of the bigger guys in our field, however we are always injecting new ideas including website functionality improvements, advanced packaging methods, great customer service, organising interesting events and of course providing the world’s best spirits.

Old Pulteney 12 year was the victor and this experience left me feeling that the personal touch is never really far away when it comes to customer service in Whiski.  My own experience with the bar staff was in itself very personable.  Whiski is the kind of bar you enter and instantly feel welcome.  The offer of a drinks list is always a nice introduction to any bar and coupled with a warm and friendly welcome can’t help but leave you feeling appreciated.

Inside the layout is very much that of a bar come café and the varied choice of background music does make for a relaxed and memorable experience.  Being mid-afternoon on a Saturday the bar was filled with a mixed array of customers.  Families, couples and lads out for a catch up, all adding to the open and welcome feel the bar offers.  As far as decoration goes, this is about as varied as those eating and drinking inside.  A combination of stag heads and whisky paraphernalia line the walls, mugs and tea cups are displayed in a similar way to your grannies dining room and old fashioned musical instruments intertwined with flashing Christmas tree lights all help to create something akin to the whisky induced abstract dream you had last weekend.  The lighting is equally varied and comes from a collection of 30’s style hanging lanterns, traditional table lamps and mounted wall lights.  The atmosphere is vibrant, lively and constantly changing and really sums up the younger changing feel that exists in today’s whisky fraternity.

In summing up you have to think about how this compares to other Edinburgh whisky establishments and it would be fair to say that the Whiski really does capture everything you would want a cosmopolitan whisky bar to be. Walking into the bar you instantly feel an air of relaxation and mystique in equal measures.  You can’t help but look at the extensive whisky collection on the back bar along with everything else displayed throughout the bar.  It is very much a place that combines both old and new and does so very well.

Definitely worth a visit when visiting Scotland’s capital.