Whisky
The Grail Tastings wins at People’s Choice Drinks Awards
THE Grail Tastings has won the “Consumer Drinks Communicator of the Year” title at the 2023 People’s Choice Drinks Awards. The Callendar-based business won the prize after coming top during a public vote. Jennifer Laird and Rachel Grant opened The Grail, their first whisky and spirits shop, in Doune in 2018, before moving to Callendar…
Read MoreWhisky news round-up: tourism, auctions, and more
Peter Ranscombe takes another irreverent look at all the latest whisky news. IT’S been a week for splashing the cash in the world of whisky. The Scotch Whisky Experience unveiled plans to spend £3 million upgrading its tourist attraction on the approach to Edinburgh Castle. Susan Morrison, chief executive of The Scotch Whisky Experience, said:…
Read MoreScotch £6bn exports bonanza and more whisky news
SCOTCH whisky exports broke through the £6 billion barrier last year for the first time. Distillers exported £6.2bn-worth of our national drink, climbing from £4.52bn in 2021, and up from £4.92bn in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic struck. The equivalent of 1.67 billion 700ml bottles left Scotland’s shores last year, up by 21% year-on-year. That…
Read MoreDram good time in the glen
Two powerhouses of Perthshire tourism have combined to produce a whisky tour quite unlike any other I’ve been on, writes editor Richard Bath. STRALOCH ESTATE has joined forces with Spirit of Perthshire to produce a whisky-soaked weekend that combines stellar drams with some of the most stunning scenery in Highland Perthshire. Spirit of Perthshire is…
Read MoreREVIEW: Old Perth PX
Drinks blogger James Robertson reviews Old Perth PX Blended Malt Scotch Whisky. SOMETIMES it seems we get too caught up with single malt Scotch whisky. That means the age-old tradition of a bottle of blended malt is often overlooked as something inferior. The other day I went to possibly one of the best bars in…
Read MoreWhisky news round-up: Skincare and more
Peter Ranscombe raises another irreverent glass to all the latest whisky news from Scotland. THE Scotch Malt Whisky Society has nearly notched up 40,000 members as it prepares to mark its 40th birthday. “I started the whole thing for a lark – at the time, most of the Scotch whisky industry was very dull and…
Read MoreWhisky news round-up: Speyburn, Macallan, and more
Peter Ranscombe takes another look at the world of Scotch whisky. SPEYBURN distillery is preparing to welcome visitors for the first time in its 125-year history as part of the Spirit of Speyside whisky festival. Distillery manager Euan Henderson and his assistant, David Rogerson, will lead tours during the festival, which runs from 26 April…
Read MoreRaising a glass to this year’s whisky festivals
SCOTLAND’S whisky festival season is getting underway, with The National Whisky Festival returning to SWG3 in Glasgow tomorrow as part of Celtic Connections. The festival began in 2015 and has grown from its Glasgow base to include events in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Inverness. Gareth Croll, the festival’s coordinator, said: “After such an incredible year touring…
Read MoreWhisky News Round-up: Bond, Bere, and more
Peter Ranscombe pours over more news from the world of Scotch whisky. IT’S been a busy start to the year for Scotland’s whisky distillers. The Macallan’s collection of six bottles to mark the 60th anniversary of the James Bond film franchise goes on sale today. The collection, which was unveiled in September, marks the whisky…
Read MoreWhisky news round-up: Glenfarclas, training, and more
Catch-up on all the latest whisky news with Peter Ranscombe‘s tongue-in-cheek round-up. CHIVAS BROTHERS – Scotland’s second-largest distiller and owner of brands including Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, and The Glenlivet – has reopened its international graduate programme. The company, which is owned by French drinks giant Pernod Ricard, wants to find its next batch of brand…
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