Spirits news from the Hebrides

THREE spirits stalwarts on the Outer Hebrides are having a busy start to the year. Angus A MacMillan and Angus E MacMillan, the father-and-son team building Benbecula distillery, have unveiled the first three bottles from MacMillan Spirits. They’ve launched: “Wheelhouse Whisky”, an eight-year-old single cask Islay single malt; “Machair Gin”, a gin that contains heather…

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RESTAURANT REVIEW: Six By Nico – ‘Neverland’ menu

Keith McIntyre reviews the new “Neverland” menu at the Six By Nico restaurant in Glasgow’s Finnieston district. WHEN chef Nico Simeone launched his Six By Nico restaurant in Glasgow’s Finnieston back in 2017, it is very doubtful that anyone could have predicted quite how much of an explosive impact he would have on the country’s…

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ScotHot celebrates its 50th year at SEC Glasgow

SCOTHOT returns for its 50th year showcasing Scotland’s finest food, drink, hospitality, retail, and tourism at the SEC Glasgow on 8 and 9 March. ScotHot23 gives visitors the opportunity to meet with suppliers, network with others to inspire and to be inspired, learn about the latest trends, and – most importantly – try the fabulous…

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Raising 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…

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Edinburgh names ’23 for 23′

SCOTLAND’S capital has revealed “23 for 23” – nearly two dozen eateries it thinks foodies should visit this year. The list – which was produced by Forever Edinburgh, the city council’s marketing wing – includes restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and street food vendors. The guide focuses on local businesses, including A Wee Taste of Edinburgh,…

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Islands share £100m investment

ORKNEY, Shetland, and the Western Isles will share £100 million of public funding once an “islands growth deal” is signed today. The deal pulls together cash from the Scottish and UK governments. Ministers hope the money will trigger a further £393 million of investment from businesses over the next ten years, creating up to 1,300…

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Tiso hosts its first mini-festival

CLIMBER Leo Houlding will visit Glasgow next week for outdoor equipment store Tiso’s first mini-festival. Houlding will read from his new book, Closer To The Edge. The company is erecting tents in its car park to welcome 100 guests to the event on 26 January. Inside the tents, Tiso is placing a cinema screen, theatre…

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Restaurant Andrew Fairlie tops UK list

DINERS have selected Restaurant Andrew Fairlie at The Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire as the best in the UK. The restaurant topped Harden’s “Top 100 Best UK Restaurants” list, which was based on 30,000 reports from 3,000 diners. Leith trio The Kitchin, Restaurant Martin Wishart, and The Little Chartroom reached fifth, 14th, and 31st respectively. In…

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AUSTRIA: THE POWER OF FOUR

The four-resort Skicircus – which includes the grand old ski area of Saalbach – has undergone a radical transformation, writes editor Richard Bath. Why would I ski here? “Skicircus” is basically shorthand for a conglomeration of four alpine towns – Saalbach, Hinterglemm, Leogang, and Fieberbrunn – which together make up the ninth biggest ski region…

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Whisky 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…

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