Posts by Kenny Smith
Swapping Islay distillery for Irish whiskey
Recently I had the pleasure of meeting Mark Reynier, currently the CEO of the Waterford Distillery in Ireland. Most of us recall him as the previous owner of Bruichladdich on Islay and how he and his team made that Distillery a household name within whisky circles. Mark bought the old Waterford Brewery from Diageo back…
Read MoreRuined Wardhouse is a dream home waiting to happen
A ruined grand palladian mansion is for sale in Aberdeenshire. Wardhouse, near Insch, has been left to the elements for 65 years, but the time is right for it to be revived and restored. Designed by John Adam in 1757, Wardhouse was the childhood haunt of Napoleonic Admiral Sir James Alexander Gordon, on whose life…
Read MoreRural excellence in Scotland will be honoured
Excellence in Scotland’s countryside is to be honoured next week at the Scottish Rural Awards. They are a celebration of the enterprise, innovation, dedication and community spirit of those who live in rural Scotland. Now in their fourth year, the Scottish Rural Awards are partnered by Scottish Field and the Scottish Countryside Alliance, in association…
Read MoreHonours for Scotland’s best in tourism
Scottish tourism’s best of the best were honoured on Thursday. One of Scotland’s most iconic castles, a rural arts trail through Rob Roy country and a record-breaking mountain bike championships were among those named best in the business at Scotland’s biggest awards night in tourism, the Scottish Thistle Awards. Eilean Donan Castle, Loch Earn Tourism…
Read MoreWhisky honours Scotland’s islands and seas
An independent whisky distiller has unveiled its Provenance Coastal Collection, a limited edition single cask series of four bottlings honouring Scotland’s whisky islands and the seas that surround them. Douglas Laing & Co launched the collection with a Bunnahabhain 10 Years Old single cask bottling which has spent its life maturing in a refill hogshead.…
Read MoreThe Macallan Ruby is a real gem of a whisky
A limited number of the Ruby, the pinnacle of The Macallan 1824 whisky series, are now available to buy. The Macallan Ruby 70cl is now available for £225 per bottle, and The Macallan only have a limited quantity available of this hard-to-find liquid. The Macallan Ruby is part of the 1824 Masters Series, a collection…
Read MoreFarming tenants and landlords working together
A survey demonstrating the positive relationships between tenant farmers and landlords, and the conduct of agents within that process, has been welcomed by Scottish Land & Estates. Published by the Scottish Land Commission’s Tenant Farming Commissioner, research seeking the views and experiences of landlords and tenants regarding their business interactions with agents found that: Ratings…
Read MoreRed Deer offers the perfect home for retirement
Now is the time to make the perfect move to a stunning retirement park in Scotland. Prospective downsizers looking to enjoy a fantastic new lifestyle at Red Deer Village, a five star, award winning residential village for the over-50s at Stepps near Glasgow, can now take advantage of the park’s current spring bonanza. This showcase…
Read MoreAn amazing array of talent coming to Scotland
Sir Simon Rattle leads the line-up of stars heading to Scotland this August for the Edinburgh International Festival (EIF), launched in the capital this week. The new music director of the London Symphony Orchestra is back following his acclaimed appearance last year, with Leonard Bernstein’s second symphony, the first of the festival’s celebrations of the…
Read MoreWhen sounds of the sixties meet the nineties
Imagine if The Beach Boys sounded like a Scottish indie band from the 90s. This is Be Like Pablo. The band make hook-laden pop tunes with four-part harmonies, fuzzy guitars and 80s synths. Their new single My Kind of Girl is a love letter to 70s new wave heroes The Cars and classic pop from…
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