Coltart made his celebrated candy in Melrose and sold it mainly there and in Galashiels. It was flavoured with aniseed. He composed a song in its honour.
The sound of his ‘signature tune’ and merry whistle caused every cottage door to open and the children to troop after him like the followers of the Pied Piper, lured no less by his gay garments, his songs, his jokes and antics, than by his wares.
Mither, gie’s ma thrifty doon,
Coltart’s comin’ to the toun,
Wi’ a feather in his croon.
To sell Coltart’s candy!