New Scottish gin aims to conquer the equestrian market

A new Scottish gin aimed at the equestrian market has been given its official launch. And Ginkhana has already received the seal of approval from two Olympian equestrian legends, Sir Mark Todd and Pippa Funnell MBE. Ginkhana launched its first small batch expression in partnership with Twin River Distillery in Royal Deeside. The spirit has…

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Banffshire distillery releases its ‘smokiest’ expression to date

The anCnoc distillery has released its peatiest expression to date – Peatheart. Named after the nearby peat bogs, Peatheart is said to be the ‘smokiest’ whisky produced by the in Knock, Banffshire, distillery. Karen Walker, marketing director of anCnoc whisky, said: ‘When we first launched the Peaty Collection we had no idea how successful it…

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Charles Heidsieck: Keeping something in reserve

Peter Ranscombe explores the use of higher proportions of reserve wines in Charles Heidsieck’s range of Champagnes. Walk along the aisle of any bottle shop or take a quick glance at a decent wine list and the choice of Champagne brands appears almost endless. It’s easy to dismiss France’s flagship sparkling wine as simply being…

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Searching for regionality in English sparkling wine

To mark the start of English wine week tomorrow, Peter Ranscombe ponders whether it’s possible to spot regional identity in the country’s sparkling wines ASK a connoisseur of Champagne about their favourite bottles and more likely than not they’ll start waxing lyrical about the different areas that make up the famous French sparkling wine region.…

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Unfamiliar wines in familiar places

PETER RANSCOMBE MENTION the word “Sancerre” and most wine drinkers will immediately think of a dry white wine, then slip the name “Beaujolais” into conversation and they’ll picture a light and fruity red. We’re all guilty of it – we taste a wine we enjoy from a specific region and it becomes fixed in our mind,…

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Alternatives to Chablis

PETER RANSCOMBE CHABLIS will always hold a special place in my heart. As a red drinker, it was the white that opened the door for me to a whole world of elegant and exciting wines, eventually leading to delights such as riesling and gruner veltliner. That’s why last year’s news sent a shiver down my spine…

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A delicious simnel cake recipe, just in time for Easter

Simnel Cake Recipe from Sopwell House’s Executive Head Chef Gopi Chandran  Just in time for Easter, Executive Head Chef at Sopwell House, Gopi Chandran, has shared his fool-proof Simnel cake recipe. The traditional Easter treat has been enjoyed since the Medieval times as a cake symbolic of the Easter story. Simnel cake is a light…

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